As far as supergroups groups go, Liam Gallagher and John Squire are some of the most star-studded. Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr forming Electornic, Alex Turner and Miles Kane in The Last Shadow Puppets, don’t come close to the Oasis frontman and The Stone Roses guitarist. But in terms of sound, the Mancunian icons delivered their best release in decades.

When Gallagher returned to a sell-out Knebworth in 2022, Squire’s appearance to deliver a sensational rendition of Champagne Supernova showed the pair at the peak of their powers. It was at that moment all music fans desired a collaborative album. But once those wishes became reality, the ceiling was incredibly high for the two Mancunian icons.

Gallagher has had a successful solo career since Oasis’ split in 2009, but it certainly hasn’t reached the heights of the Britpop group. When The Stone Roses reunited for their sell-out 2012 Heaton Park shows, it inevitably went down as one of the greatest gigs in Manchester’s history, which was followed three years later by some mediocre singles. It was the chance for arguably Manchester’s two most successful groups to join forces and reestablish themselves as music royalty, and it didn’t disappoint throughout the 39-minute album.

Whilst the lyrics fall short on some of the songs (Just Another Rainbow, I’m looking at you) the whole album is a musical masterpiece from Squire, whose sensational musicianship on the guitar is close to perfection. The title of the album, Liam Gallagher & John Squire, seems to have been given as much thought as the lyrics, but if anyone can make up for lacklustre lyrics, it’s Gallagher. However, there were glimpses of promise with the enthralling opening in Mars To Liverpool, ‘Jesus Christ, about last night, I can only apologize.’

When Just Another Rainbow was released, the general feeling fell a little bit flat, which left me reeling off the colours of the rainbow as if I were back in primary school. But Mars To Liverpool saved all of that and truly captured the essence of the album. This feel-good anthem shows the creative freedom of the duo and put the hype train for the release on 1st March back on track.

Manchester music icons, Liam Gallagher, frontman of Oasis and John Squire, guitarist of
The Stone Roses. Photo Credit: Tom Oldham

The album boasts some heavy-hitting tracks, but all in all, is navigated extremely well with breaks in the listings coming from Make It Up As You Go Along before being plunged into the standout track on the album for me, You’re Not The Only One, which gives glimpses of Jimmy Page and Led Zepplin. 

The inspirations for the album are worn on the pair sleeves with Love You Forever showing glimpses of Jimi Hendrix, as well as the moody and Soulful, I’m So Bored giving a nod to The Beatles. But it goes beyond this as Squire capitalises on the tantalising guitar riffs he laid down on The Stone Roses’ second album, Second Coming, with greater execution across all of the tracks, rather than sporadic glimpses, just take the first 12-bars of, I’m A Wheel. It once again affirms Squire as one of the greatest guitarists of any generation. 

The album fittingly concludes with Liam Gallagher’s favourite, coming in the form of Mother Nature’s Song, which is filled with emotion, heartfelt lyrics, and intricate fingerpicking. 

Even before the release, when imagining what the pair could create together, it was this album to a tee. It has the hallmarks of Gallagher’s snarly lyrics and Squire’s melodic guitar lines that set this album apart and will certainly please fans of the former groups. 

In my humble opinion, it is undoubtedly the best release since the break up of The Stone Roses, and since Gallagher embarked on his solo career, but cannot top what preceded it – that would take something pretty remarkable. However, it does perfectly fuse the best aspects of the Roses and Oasis, so what isn’t to love? Well, another album would do nicely.

Feature Image Accreditation: Liam Gallagher & John Squire via Warner Music Group.