Liam Gallagher and John Squire have a shared past dating back to 1988. At the age of 16, Gallagher attended a Stone Roses concert in Manchester’s International 2 Club with his older brother Noel. This experience had a profound impact on Gallagher, who credits it as the inspiration for him to join a local band called the Rain, which later became Oasis. Six years later, during the recording sessions for their second album, the members of the Stone Roses took a break to watch Oasis’s debut performance on Top of the Pops. Some may see this as a symbolic moment, representing a passing of the alt-rock torch from the outspoken Mancunian group to Oasis. However, Squire reportedly did not think highly of their debut song “Shakermaker.” Two years later, Squire joined Oasis on stage at Knebworth, solidifying the latter’s status as the biggest band in Britain. Despite this, Squire’s guest appearance carried a sense of blessing due to the Stone Roses’ influence on Oasis.
If we see Liam Gallagher’s recent solo career as a way to taunt his older brother, Squire’s return to his guest appearance at Gallagher’s 2022 Knebworth show can be seen as a power move – showing that he embodies the essence of Oasis. The announcement of a collaborative album only adds to this. However, when listening to their first joint project, “Just Another Rainbow,” it seems more like a victorious jab at Noel rather than a song. The track sounds exactly as one would expect from a collaboration between the two. Squire’s agile and smooth guitar playing is reminiscent of the chiming riff from the Stone Roses’ debut album, while also incorporating the heavier and more expansive sound of their 1994 release, “Second Coming.” Gallagher’s vocals channel his usual Lennon-esque style, singing “no pot of gold waiting here for me.” The rhythm is a fusion of the Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” and the Stone Roses’ baggy shuffle. And that’s about it.
The combination of Oasis and the Stone Roses in this song lacks the impressive chorus that both bands were known for in their prime. The lyrics, written by Squire, feel like a temporary substitution. At one point, Gallagher even lists the colors of the rainbow in order (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). However, it has been a long time since anyone has purchased a song by Liam Gallagher or Oasis for deep lyrical meaning. In comparison, it is a definite improvement from the two disappointing singles released by the reunited Stone Roses in 2016, who wisely decided to end their reunion before their reputation was further tarnished.
The music enthusiast described above, with a particular style featuring Weller-esque hair, a parka, and Wallabee shoes, will undoubtedly praise it as a masterpiece based on the names credited on the album cover. Others may criticize it as being predictable, but that may have been the intention. Liam Gallagher has been very adamant about staying true to his musical style. In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, he stated, “I’m here to give people what they want and if that’s boring, so be it…I like to maintain consistency.” Some may label this as uninspired or restricted, while others may see it as clever, recognizing his understanding of his target audience and the commercial success he’s achieved: his upcoming tour, where he will perform Definitely Maybe in its entirety, has sold out four consecutive nights at the O2. In any case, this mindset is clearly reflected in Just Another Rainbow: there are no surprises, for better or for worse.
Source: theguardian.com
