It appears that Beady Eye fully intended on making amends for their somewhat disappointing debut, ‘Different Gear, Still Speeding’, with its follow-up ‘BE’.
The band, led by former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, enlisted the services of producer Dave Sitek, a member of TV On The Radio and a regular collaborator of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, CSS and Jane’s Addiction, to bolster their sonic appeal, but it isn’t enough to avoid a sophomore slump.
While it lacks an imaginative title, the record does possess a solid opener in Flick of the Finger, which certainly offers plenty of early promise and is escorted by a booming brass section and pounding drums.
Unfortunately, the majority of the album proves to be a challenging listen, with the band’s uninspiring sound coupled with Gallagher's deteriorating vocals.
Soul Love takes an unceremonious dip into the deeper waters of mediocrity, while Liam delivers an uneasy, nasal drone throughout Soon Come Tomorrow, a song salvaged only by an excellent guitar solo.
Elsewhere, the experimental, acoustic Don’t Bother Me clocks in at a whopping seven and a half minutes and proves to be way too ambitious. Ballroom Figured, despite its pleasing melody, also quickly becomes wearisome.
It’s disappointing as Face the Crowd, with its aggressive approach, nods to the Who and horns, is a genuine contender. The enjoyable, soppy ballad Iz Rite and the punchy I’m Just Saying also show that Beady Eye do have something in their locker, but it just seems to have eluded them all too often on 'BE'.
Maybe Gallagher is "barking up the wrong tree" with this record, but no matter what Beady Eye produce, through no fault of their own, they will forever find themselves in the shadow of Oasis.
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