Single Review: Noel Gallagher, ‘If I Had a Gun’

Noel Gallagher ‘s High Flying Birds release ‘If I had a Gun’, the 3rd single from his eponymous debut album, ahead of a sold out tour of Japan and Australasia.

One of the more memorable tracks on a mixed bag of an album, ‘If I Had a Gun.’ scales things back from the infectious incessant rhythm of previous single ‘AKA…What a Life.’ to provide us with a traditional slice of what we know him for best.

A fragile opening, reminiscent of 90s rivals The Verve’s classic ‘Lucky Man’ sets the scene before Noel’s vocal crashes in with his statement of intent. “If I had a gun, I’d shoot a hole into the sun, and love, I’ll burn this city down for you.”

Lyrically the song is classic Noel, the effective simplicity of his imagery, that has served him and Oasis for so many years is in dominant display here on a song that fits snugly alongside other Oasis mid-tempo classics of years gone by. The track’s rather unformulaic structure is tied together beautifully by a rousing chorus of ‘aaahs’ and sweeping strings, perhaps making the song more of a sing-along epic than it might deserve.

‘If I Had a Gun’, is the sound of an artist maturing with a freedom of expression untempered by the traditional Oasis sound. Watch your back Beady Eye.

By James Stapleton

@realjstapleton