Why Me? Why Not. [Bonus Tracks]

by Liam Gallagher

Overview

Give Liam Gallagher considerable credit for a streak of wry self-awareness. The shrug lying within the title Why Me? Why Not. doesn't read as arrogance, it plays as a joke. Coming from a singer who once sneered at any emotion that came his way, this is a sign of maturity. The album -- his second as a solo artist -- sounds mature, too. Working once again with a bevy of producers headlined by Greg Kurstin and Andrew Wyatt, Gallagher essentially expands upon 2017's cleanly polished As You Were, relying on the same blend of comforting psychedelia and controlled six-string roar. Every song here could trace its musical roots back to Oasis -- there's a cheerful reliance on classically constructed pop tunes and heavy-booted stomps -- but Why Me? Why Not. consciously lacks the abandon that was present in even the band's last records. Gallagher may still possess a voice that naturally adds sandpaper grit to the smoothest of surfaces, but that doesn't change that he's singing songs that aspire to be nothing pleasing pop tunes. That's why he's fortunate that he's working with the likes of Kurstin and Wyatt. These producers -- who complement each other and occasionally collaborate -- give Why Me? Why Not. considerable color and flair without seeming fussy. The productions are painted in bold, primary colors, as are the melodies, which effectively make the individual tracks easy layups for Gallagher. All he needs to do is to step in and do his thing, lending these immaculate tracks personality. Granted, Gallagher isn't as potent a personality as he was a quarter-century earlier, but his middle-aged control has its charms, too. He sounds relaxed on Why Me? Why Not., maybe for the first time ever. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/20/2019
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0190295408381

Tracks

1. Shockwave
2. One of Us
3. Once
4. Now That I've Found You
5. Halo
6. Why Me? Why Not.
7. Be Still
8. Alright Now
9. Meadow
10. The River
11. Gone
12. Invisible Sun
13. Misunderstood
14. Glimmer

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Liam Gallagher   Primary Artist,Vocals,Tambourine,Tambourine Shakers
Scott Poley   Pedal Steel
Dan McDougall   Drums
Gaby Lester   Violin
Briana Lee   Vocals (Background)
Mark Diamond   Vocals (Background)
Dave Daniels   Cello,Violin
Richard Craker   Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Frances Grime   Violin
Katie Burke   Cello
Gene Gallagher   Bongos
Alistair Blayden   Cello
Kirsty Mangan   Violin
Rachael Lander   Cello
Nick Zinner   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Lizzie Ball   Violin
Christian Madden   Keyboards
Emlyn Singleton   Violin
Nick Movshon   Bass
Parker Kindred   Drums
Andrew Wyatt   Bass,Drums,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Accordion,Harmonium,Tambourine,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Virginia Slater   Viola
Daniel Bhattacharya   Violin
Jamie Hutchinson   Violin
Paul Spong   Trumpet
Dan Ellis   Percussion
Lucy Morgan   Viola
Janice Graham   Violin
Paul Willey   Violin
Fiona Brice   Violin
Peter Hanson   Violin
Vicky Matthews   Cello
Charlie Brown   Violin
Caroline Dearnley   Cello
Martin Williams   Sax (Tenor)
Reiad Chibah   Viola
Perry Montague-Mason   Violin
James Boyd   Viola
Christopher Tombling   Violin
Chris Clad   Violin
Charissa Nielsen   Vocals (Background)
Marianne Haynes   Violin
Mike Moore   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Chris Elliott   Conductor
Warren Zielinski   Violin
Antoinette Scruggs   Vocals (Background)
Ryan Quigley   Trumpet
Nick Barr   Viola
Toni Scruggs   Vocals (Background)
Andy Wood   Trombone
Homer Steinweiss   Drums
Chris Laurence   Double Bass
Kate Musker   Viola
Ian Humphries   Violin
Greg Kurstin   Bass,Drums,Organ,Piano,Marimba,Clapping,Recorder,Harmonica,Mellotron,Chamberlin,Tambourine,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Julian Burg   Engineer
Brandon Bost   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Will Purton   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Richard Craker   Producer
Jacob Munk   Engineer
Geoffrey Alexander   Arranger,Music Preparation
Nick Zinner   String Arrangements
Lewis Jones   Engineer
Liam Gallagher   Composer,Cover Design,Art Direction
Mark "Spike" Stent   Mixing
Paul Spong   Contractor,Orchestra Contractor
Michael Tighe   Composer
Michael Freeman   Mixing,Mixing Assistant
David Emery   Mixing
Adam Noble   Engineer,Producer,Programming
Tom Elmhirst   Mixing
Andrew Wyatt   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Programming,String Arrangements,Synthesizer Programming
Alex Veis   Composer
Jay Reynolds   Mixing
Michael Oliver   Composer
Alex Pasco   Engineer
Randy Merrill   Mastering
Tom Beard   Cover Photo,Photography
Simon Aldred   Composer,Producer
Richard Welland   Cover Design,Art Direction
Chris Elliott   Arranger,String Arrangements
Damon McMahon   Composer,Producer
Constantin Veis   Composer
Greg Kurstin   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording