LIAM GALLAGHER C ’ Mon You Know ( Warner Records )
With a tossed-off album title like C ’ Mon You Know , expectations for the new Liam Gallagher solo album weren ’ t exactly high . If he spent more than thirty seconds conjuring up that name it would be surprising . After two solo albums of varying quality ( 2017 ’ s As You Were and 2019 ’ s Why Me ? Why Not ), Liam Gallagher put out a rousing MTV Unplugged session , finally making it right after Oasis ’ controversial 1996 MTV Unplugged taping where Liam claimed he was too sick to perform whilst drinking , smoking and heckling his own band from the balcony . The new MTV Unplugged session found Liam ' s fine voice merging his new solo material with Oasis classics all bolstered by the addition of original Oasis guitarist Paul “ Bonehead ” Arthurs in his live band . The new solo LP finds Liam once again collaborating with songwriter / producer Andrew Wyatt ( writer of the Grammy-winning “ Shallow ” from A Star Is Born ) to create a sound both reminiscent of Oasis and also sincerely interested in experimentation . While his bread and butter will always be stadium anthems like the Dave Grohl cowrite “ Everything ’ s Electric ” it is also fun to hear him messing around with Clash-esque reggae / punk like on “ I ’ m Free .” “ Diamond In The Dark ” finds him effortlessly riding a slick pop hook that would be suitable for Adele but he throws enough pathos into his vocal delivery to give it a swaggering menace . With Oasis reunion rumors circulating , it is true that Liam could use his brother Noel ’ s knack for songwriting , just as Noel could benefit from having an iconic frontman in his band . However , with C ’ Mon You Know hitting number one in England and Liam performing in front of 160,000 Knebworth Festival attendees a few weeks ago , it seems like an Oasis reunion isn ’ t exactly a priority for Liam anymore . When Liam Gallagher steps up to the microphone , holds his hands behind his back , and raises his chin there is still something magical that can ’ t quite be quantified .
- Andy Derer
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TAFOYA Freedom ( Self )
Upon the first notes of Tafoya ’ s debut EP Freedom , I was instantly hooked by their upbeat classic rock sound . Led by legendary Chicago guitarist Mike Tafoya ( formerly of The Boyzz , TheB ’ zz , Raw Dogs , and Tafoya ’ s Lost Boyzz ), he wows and dazzles the listener with his guitar wizardry , engaging vocals , and magical songwriting throughout the diverse five-track album . From the explosive opener “ Boogie With Me ,” its boo-
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