Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Chasing Yesterday/Sour Mash
Noel Gallagher’s stellar second solo effort, Chasing Yesterday, furthers the notion that Noel was the creative thrust behind Oasis (compared with the failure of Liam ’s band Beady Eye). Riff-heavy hook fests like “Lock all The Doors” demonstrate that Gallagher’s flair for rock ‘n’ roll dramatics hasn’t dwindled since the band’s 2009 split. Yet, similar to his 2011 solo debut, the majority of the album is more about subtlety and variety than Oasis 2.0. “Riverman” and “The Right Stuff” feature saxophone solos, and there’s a healthy dose of cowbell on “The Mexican.” Gallagher’s vocals are arguably the strongest and most melodic they’ve been since the early days in the band of brothers, and whether he’s waving away nostalgia for his musical past (“You Know We Can’t Go Back”) or belting it out on the first single (“In the Heat of the Moment”), the guitarist singer-songwriter wanders from jazzy to raucous to bluesy with a familiar pop sensibility.
Joe Pug
Windfall/Lightning Rod Records
Known for his laid-back acoustic folk, Joe Pug delivers the goods once again with a largely accessible, Americana folk record that is easy on the ears while tugging at your heart. “Stay and Dance” is a classic romantic acoustic number that’s perfect for setting the mood, while the light, upbeat folk opener “Bright Beginnings” is augmented by bouncy keys to get the album off on a happy note. Ironically, the brightest moments on the record tend to be when Pug is most introspective, as on the brooding, electric guitar-led “Great Hosannas,” or on the engaging finale “If Still It Can’t Be Found,” where he waxes philosophical about seeking answers. Pug’s dusty, lower register vocals lend a steady presence, occasionally stretching into a Dylan-esque ramble to give the songs extra weight, and making Windfall a solid release.
Ships Have Sailed
Moodswings/self-released
The jangly full-length debut from Ships Have Sailed delivers on the promise of last year’s Someday EP. Will Carpenter provides an electric presence as the singer and songwriter for the group, proving that he’s just as comfortable belting a Killers-esque hook (the dance-happy “Boomerang”) as when he’s delivering stirring lyrics like, “If only I could find a way/To make you take back your goodbye” (“If Only”). The album has energetic rockers such as the anthemic “Summertime” and echoing, reverb-heavy tumblers like “Out of Time,” as well as moody, borderline apocalyptic-sounding epics like “The Tide.” Equal parts ebullient and introspective, the aptly titled Moodswings takes you on a wild, and ultimately fulfilling ride.