First Listen Noel Gallagher's High Flying Bird's

Everybody’s On The Run

The potential of this song, everyone has known since the low-fi mobile phone version was getting hundreds of thousands of plays on YouTube and being shared online amongst fans. Even Noel’s biggest fans couldn’t have predicted how ‘epic’ he could get this song to sound. It’s far more complex than its simple acoustic version could have suggested and is a simply brilliant opener to the album fans have been waiting for since Oasis first started.

Dream On

Dream On is arguably the stand out track of the whole album. You wonder why songs this good didn’t make Oasis albums and can only assume this was written recently. It sounds anthemic without needing Liam which is something Noel has questioned in interviews since coming back, the song plays out with horn overtures with the line ‘Shout It Out For Me’, reminiscent of songs like Round Are Way and All Around The World.

If I Had A Gun

Another song that has been around for a few years since it was recorded by a fan at a soundcheck on the Dig Out Your Soul tour, the ‘demo’ suggested a delicate acoustic song but the finished version is certainly beefier in sound. A brilliant first single (if only in the US). With reverby acoustics, this will sound brilliant live.

The Death Of You And Me

The first single released from the album, TDOYAM surprised a lot of people with its waltzy-retro sound and falsetto vocal. In the context of the album it is a perfect follow up to If I Had A Gun and changes things up a bit after the first three quite full-on tracks.

(I Wanna Live In A Dream) In My Record Machine

The new album version of this song is virtually the same as the demo that came out in the spring of 2008 but has much more refined production and feels a lot ‘warmer’ than the demo. It has more emphasis on the contrast between the verse which is really soft and the epic build up/ending. Not quite the ‘9 minute’ epic Noel once talked about but sat in the middle of the album it works perfectly. It’s a shame it has been around for so long because if you were hearing it for the first time it would be arguably the most memorable song of the album.

AKA…What A Life

This song represents unchartered territory for Noel, it doesn’t sound like anything he has done before and is kind of a metaphor for the whole album. It is essentially a dance track and could easily have a house beat over the top and get played in clubs. If this was 1996 the single would probably have about 6 remixes as b-sides. As it is, it represents Noel trying something different out of the framework of Oasis and will be an impossible track to skip. Another (another!) stand out track even if you’ve been playing it non-stop over the last few weeks.

Soldier Boys And Jesus Freaks

This should be a highlight in the live sets. A soft TIOBI style organ and cymbal-snare beat under a choir and horn section. A lot of reviews so far have focused on the lyrics and their political content which does stand out (in a good way). It’s difficult to pin down, sounds a bit like a theme tune to a cop-drama and something closer to Noel’s DBTT era songs.

AKA…Broken Arrow

An up-tempo ballad if that makes any sense? Could imagine this song being sung slow with an acoustic guitar, as it happens this version is quite up-beat and has some percussion in the background. Understated but will be a grower after people have digested the ‘singles’ on this album. No specific influences spring to mind, like with the best Oasis songs. Could describe it as ‘Brit Pop’?!

(Stranded On) The Wrong Beach

The most interesting vocal on the album. An intricate melody and another track that doesn’t sound like anything Noel has done before. Has a sinister tone and although it’s not as instantly memorable as some tracks its far from being a filler. Will be some people’s favourite song on the whole album. Has a slight guitar solo at the end. Will sound mega when it’s being played live in a big venue.

Stop The Clocks

As good as the ‘demo’ was, this is still an improvement. It’s hard to release a track in 2011 that has been in the public domain since 2003 but this first ‘official release’ is fantastic. A perfect album closer, something that finishes what ‘Everybody’s On The Run’ started. Book ends a brilliant collection of songs and next time If Noel releases another album you’d think it will be 10+ new songs. This album is a greatest hits of his stuff that’s gradually come out over the past 10 or so years and having this at the end is a brilliant way to sum up the journey. Some scratchy strings and probably Noel’s most un-hinged and ‘out there’ guitar solo gives an eerily hint of what’s to come with the Amorphous Androgynous album.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds is released on October 17th, visit www.noelgallagher.com for more details.