MTV Unplugged

Week 22: Liam Gallagher- C’mon You Know

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I remember when Liam promised us all a “Rock out with your chin out” album in reply to the mocking of his middle brother’s High Flying Birds albums (Or Low Flying Turds as he pathetically calls them), branding them “Songs you stroke your chin at”. Funnily enough, Liam has never delivered a “Rock out with your chin out” record, and he still hasn’t. This album is the same as the rest. They are like more sitting in the front room, stroking the cat on the sofa. It’s hard to believe that Liam used the “sore throat” excuse to get out of the MTV Unplugged with Oasis in the mid-90s. I wish I could find the quote from the book I read about that night when Noel took over vocal duties for the first time for an entire set (The second time would be in Dublin in 1997).

Unfortunately, I cannot locate the book at the moment, but it was known that Liam hated performing acoustic songs at the time. It’s quite funny when most of his songs like ‘Songbird’, ‘Pass Me Down the Wine’ and ‘Guess God Thinks I’m Abel’ are all acoustic songs written by Liam.

It’s pretty sad to see Liam letting his songwriting ability go to waste yet again when you consider that he has written songs like’ like ‘the Meaning of Soul’, ‘I’m Outta Time’, and ‘Ain’t Got Nothin’. He wrote these great songs in Oasis, so the ability is there. He doesn’t know how to use it. For “C’mon You Know”, he has once again employed Greg Kurstin, the Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, and Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig. You would think the latter two would improve this record, but no. Dave and Ezra’s talents have been wasted. Yes, this has elements of Oasis, but also a sound more akin to the late Bo Diddley, but overall, it is lacking. The lyrical content is once again cringeworthy. I mean, it is a nursery rhyme level. When I heard some of the lyrics, I shuddered.

‘World’s in Need’ reminded me of the late Bo Diddley’s songs, but it doesn’t do his songs justice. The album has some good moments, like the Dave Grohl penned ‘Everything’s Electric’. However, Dave’s song is ruined by Liam’s nursery rhymes. Many complain about this album because Liam dares to experiment, but I welcome it. It is just a shame about the rest of it. 

Considering it was made in the studio, I found it surprising how ropey his vocals were. Usually, with the software available in the studio, you can make a person who cannot sing a note sound polished, so I was surprised to hear him sounding so ropey. Some won’t like this review, but I don’t care. The best thing about the record is if Liam wasn’t on it.

Ropey vocals and poor lyrics. However, the production is quite good. I would enjoy an instrumental version of this.

As for seeing him live? I would opt for Stop the Clocks if I wanted to see an Oasis tribute act. I am not interested in hearing Oasis songs (Mainly his brother’s, who he slags off at every turn)when I was there in the moment. That moment has passed. Would anyone go to see him if he didn’t perform Oasis songs? Let’s face it; his solo material is nothing to write home about. You might like “C’mon You Know” if you are a Liam fan. It certainly isn’t for you if you are not or casually listening.

Song recommendations: ‘Everything’s Electric’, ‘World’s in Need’

5/10

Week Twenty-Five: Liam Gallagher- MTV Unplugged

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I remember back in 1994, Oasis did a handful of intimate acoustic gigs to help promote their debut album “Definitely Maybe” at various commercial record stores like His Master’s Voice and Virgin Megastore. I also remember Liam saying he loathed doing acoustic songs, let alone gigs, back then. Let’s consider the infamous 1996 MTV Unplugged at the Festival Hall, where Noel had to take over vocal duties after Liam bullshitted about having a sore throat. Why do I say bullshitted? Because he was up on the balcony drinking and heckling his middle brother at every opportunity. He should have just said he didn’t feel like doing it and let Noel and the others do it without him, which they had to do, anyway. It showed great disrespect to the unplugged series by MTV who have had the likes of George Michael, Nirvana and Alice in Chains to name a few. It’s also more surprising that Liam didn’t do it after doing “120 Minutes” two years before for MTV.

Anyway, the venue chosen for his undeserved second chance with Unplugged came after his middle brother branded Hull “A fucking shithole.” in all fairness, I have heard other musicians call it and one who is even from there. He vowed to play in Hull and even thought the people and city were great.

Many have called this a “Great performance”, but as I have stated many times, Liam might be a nice person in the main (Unless you happen to be Noel, Paul and Johnny.), but his voice has been found wanting since 2004. When I hear the ultra parka monkeys who won’t hear anything wrong said about Liam, I simply cannot believe what the fucking idiots are saying. They sent me links to this gig at the time to songs such as “Sad Song” and suggested I pass comments on his vocals, and, unfortunately for them, I did, and they were not what they wanted to hear. It sounded like a fucking cat walking over a vinyl playing on the turntable. It makes me cringe having to listen to him these days. I feel embarrassed and saddened by what his voice once was.

I am not a fan of his solo material written by several songwriters, and I have to laugh at most of his songs being acoustic after what he said in the past. Again, we have a setlist top-heavy with Oasis songs. I wish he would let it go and enjoy his success. Oasis is the past and should stay there. Many would say, “You wouldn’t go and see Liam or Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds if they didn’t play Oasis songs”. 

That’s a load of fucking bollocks. I will quite happily go to their gigs to hear their material. They both have enough to consign Oasis to television and YouTube archived footage. Liam can’t seem to let go and keeps pushing for a reformation only the ultra parka monkeys or the Supersonic 2016 generation want to see. It’s not the fault of Oasis that you missed the window. I wanted to see the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but you know? It’s just unlucky, and you must learn to accept that.

5/10

Week Forty-Three: George Michael- Listen without Prejudice Volume 1 MTV Unplugged Reissue

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George_Michael-Listen_Without_Prejudice,_Vol._1_(album_cover)

Sadly in December 2016, on Christmas day, George was found dead at his Oxfordshire home. The world was devastated by the news, as you can imagine. Although a very troubled, talented artist, George gave the world great hits such as 1987’s “Faith”. to pay homage to him, his second album, “Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1 MTV Unplugged” from September 1990, has been re-released. I was astonished that this album was elected for re-release when you consider all the bullshit he went through upon its release in America, where they just dismissed it as George trying to gain some credibility after he had left Wham! Indeed, they saw him as an arrogant prick who needed to be taken down from his pedestal and used this album to beat him with that stick.

To make matters worse, this record would also light the blue touch paper with his record label, Sony Music, where he was embroiled in a long and nasty contractual battle. Indeed, he even attacked Sony in 1996’s “FastLove”, where you can see him wearing headphones called “Fony”, evidently in the style of the Sony logo. By this time, he had already got out of his contract and feud with Sony and signed to Virgin Records and Dreamworks, respectively. 

The comeback in the mid-1990s would also see him finally coming out to the public as a homosexual. Although he may have signed to those two labels, he didn’t win the war with Sony. He accused the label of several things but highlighted the lack of promotions of his singles, albums and tours. By highlighting his lousy treatment by Sony Music, he set a precedent for other artists signed to major record labels to rebel against the constraints put on them within the industry. It has only taken until now for the American market to show their appreciation for this record and George after years of snobbery behaviour. To show how timeless this record is, most of the songs on the album, where George touches on the subjects of life, love and his sexual orientation through his lyrical content, are very much as relevant today as they were back in 1990.

Staying with relevance, “Freedom” and “Praying for Time” are probably more apt than ever during the current climate. Then, we have the jazz song with a pop flavour, “Kissing a Fool, ” which puts a smile back on our faces and makes us feel good about ourselves, taken from his 1987 record, “Faith”. There’s even a cover chucked in for good measure from the MTV Unplugged performance in the shape of “They Won’t Go When I Go” from Stevie Wonder’s 1974 album “Fulfillingness’ First Finale”. I must say that George gives the song justice.

Like the remastered “Faith” released in 2011, this record has been released in the following formats, CD/DVD, double disc, vinyl and available for digital download. The triple CD has the following, “Listen without Prejudice” remastered, the 1996 MTV Unplugged Live LP, various remixes, unreleased tracks and B-sides from the recording sessions for the record. Plus, a DVD with a plethora of bonus content. There is the remastered album and the MTV Unplugged Live performance on the other formats.

There is also a bonus disc that will certainly intrigue George Michael’s die-hard fans as it includes tracks from what was supposed to be the follow-up to this record called “Listen without Prejudice Volume 2” (Naturally.). Why was it aborted? Who knows, but it would have seen George return to the Disco genre. The following songs from the aborted record include “Too Funky”, “Crazy Man Dance”, “Do You Want to Know”, and “Happy”. Nile Rodgers also appears on the record with his production of “Fantasy”. This version by Nile is the first single off the reissue. Of all the albums George did in his short career, this one is the most timeless, and all the subjects featured are still relevant. It is also a fitting tribute to George’s talents.

Overall: I enjoyed this record. I must confess that it is the first time I have heard it (Well, the first time, I can recollect hearing it, anyway. I might have heard it back then and not known.). My favourite song of his is a bit clichéd. It is none other than 1984’s “Careless Whisper”. I remember hearing it on plane journeys before taking off in my youth and found it quite soothing. I don’t mind some of his songs with Wham! Like, “I Don’t Want Your Freedom”, but songs such as “Jesus to a Child”, “Careless Whisper”, “Kissing a Fool”, and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” are my personal favourites. The second disc has my favourite track from this record, and it is the revamped version of “Fantasy” by Nile Rodgers. Although I must confess I am not a great fan of acoustic guitar, I love hearing songs played acoustically. It is well-known that most songs begin their life on the acoustic guitar. Artists such as Noel Gallagher, Robbie Williams, Vince Clarke and Andy Bell (There are more that I cannot remember at the moment.) start writing their songs on the acoustic guitar. Most great electric songs can be played in both forms, and that is the sign of a perfect song. I also liked this record because, unlike George’s electric songs, the acoustic versions give the songs a lot more soul, and you can feel and hear their true meanings. Sometimes, this is lost in electric because an awful lot happens, but once a song is stripped back, it reveals itself. This record is well worth the listen to hear the inner soul of the songs and is an apt tribute to George’s legacy and memory.

9/10