Nowaysis… we debate Noel's options.

Noel Gallagher has rightly earned himself a reputation as an 'elder statesman of rock'. His role as the wise and witty leader of Oasis is as much a part of the rock and roll establishment as Keith Richard's resilience, Johnny Borell's arrogance and younger brother Liam's petulance.

With an ability to write tunes that will hammer through your skull, perforate your soul and tattoo themselves on your heart, Noel is the driving force behind the band that helped define the 90s, and he has demonstrably proven throughout the course of Oasis' 13 years in the spotlight that he is the pivotal point of inspiration, not just for the music, but for everything. Their style, their sound, their ethos, the very core of all that binds them together, and that makes them carry on because he knows that in the end its all worthwhile.

But in a recent interview with the NME the leader of one of the greatest bands to ever roar out of Manchester revealed that he may be preparing to embark on a solo career. The question is, should that eponymous chapter of the Brit pop book, the one where Oasis finally disband, ever really be written? And do the fans - and more pressingly Noel himself - even want it to be written?

Definitely Maybe is considered by many to be one of the best, if not the greatest, debut albums of all time. When it was matched, and arguably bettered, in 1996 by second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, it seemed that the musical machine that was Oasis, with cigarettes and alcohol on their lips, whisky in their hands and fire in their guitars, was unstoppable.

However, many fans were disappointed one year later with Be Here Now, the cocaine fuelled third offering from the boys from Burnage, laden with seemingly endless guitar solos and a far cry from the hype. Similarly, the fourth and fifth albums - Standing on the Shoulders of Giants and Heathen Chemistry - did little to quell the general feeling of unease surrounding the creativity in the Gallagher camp. Thankfully, in 2005, with a new album cheesily titled Don't Believe the Truth, the band seemed to have found their feet again.

Speaking to the NME in that interview, he said: "I've actually got a backlog of songs that are slowly building up. The thing about a solo record is the time to do one is between Oasis world tours because you'd have a good couple of years.

"But it takes me so long to write the songs that eventually I run out of time (before Oasis begins again), but I've got a backlog now of about four or five songs which are probably too far in the past as far as the band in concerned, but which could work on my record... it's coming."

But is it really? A statement on Oasis' official website, issued to put a halt to rumours of Noel's impending solo stardom, bluntly reads: "Noel Gallagher is not preparing to launch into a solo career.

"Noel [and] Gem have had a great time performing their semi acoustic shows recently and will continue to do so when it feels like a good idea."

Noel has steadily built up a strong reputation as a top notch solo performer. His recent outings at the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts were applauded by all corners of the music press, and rightly so. Warm and engaging, he held the audience in the palm of his hand and turned out classic hit after classic hit, many of which would never dare to surface on the set list of an Oasis gig.

It could be very easy for Noel to follow the path taken by his friend and inspirational musician Paul Wellar, whose departure from the Jam and dalliance with the Style Council was anything but the best thing that ever happened to many of his fans. However, years later he crept back onto the scene as a solo artist and now the Modfather commands a level of reverence reserved for the musical elite.

But the problem with Noel is, he is Oasis. His presence in the group provides the perfect juxtaposition for Liam, both on stage and on record. Watching Noel perform is clearly never going to be an unpleasant experience, but at the same time it's never going to get your adrenalin pumping and your spirit soaring like an evening spent with the complete line-up. His solo shows are a chance to air the songs that never normally get played live and undeniably that is an experience in itself which hopefully will continue as a superb side project. But you'd be hard pressed to find one Oasis fan who'd rather watch Noel sing Round Our Way than see Oasis sing Live Forever.

Because even though their old songs that you've heard a million times before will always be there best, the Gallagher charm, with Liam's voice all Sex Pistol's swagger and Noel's guitar playing all Smith's-esque steadiness, which will always make them special. Their newer and decidedly lesser impressive songs will always be forgiven for a rousing rendition of Supersonic.

So what of a Noel solo album? Well, it goes without saying that any record from the man responsible for some of the greatest tunes ever written, and with a perhaps unequalled adeptness for 'borrowing' from other artists, would be worth a listen or two.

But Noel is no fool. He may have come a long way from the MTV unplugged show which he self-depreciatingly conceded as a performance where he "died on stage", but he'll never stray too far from the band that catapulted him onto the world's stage in the first place. With eight songs all ready under his belt for the next album, he will hopefully bring the band another step closer back to the greatness of the mad for it, supernova heights, Wonderwall era, even if he does fit in a semi-acoustic offering along the way.

In the world's best B-side, the Masterplan, Noel asserts that "it's up to us to make the best of all the things that come our way". So, should Noel go solo? Definitely. Maybe.

Laura Topp

source: inthenews.co.uk

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