Why Me? Why Not.

Liam Gallagher - Why Me? Why Not.
Critic Score
Based on 28 reviews
2019 Ratings: #520 / 805
User Score
Based on 246 ratings
2019 Rank: #750
Liked by 12 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
Albumism

Liam’s inimitable charisma still inspires, still consumes, and the winsome Why Me? Why Not. is unmistakable evidence of this fact.

90
XS Noize
A triumph. The resurrection continues in a confounding fashion.
80
Evening Standard
It’s what he does best, bringing overfamiliar rock ’n’ roll into the present day and giving it extra bite with that inimitable singing style. And now that he’s back on top, he’s doing it with the fullest confidence once more.
80
NME

A classic sequel that adds depth of character, this follow-up to Liam’s Platinum-selling debut is best when he's introspective. And wait ‘til Noel hears the “cosmic pop”.

80
American Songwriter

Why Me? Why Not. builds on its predecessor, 2017’s As You Were, sounding a lot more confident and sure-footed.

80
The Independent

Why Me? Why Not. proves once and for all that, when Liam is as good as he is here, there’s little reason for an Oasis reunion beyond pleasant if vaguely pointless nostalgia.

80
Clash
As one of the greatest frontmen in rock he shouldn’t have to change, even when the ambition to channel a greater, more ambitious outcome is there, and achieving a better, more ambitious record is the aim of Liam Gallagher and his cohorts on ‘Why Me? Why Not?’
75
Consequence of Sound

Why Me? Why Not. revels in the joy Gallagher seems to feel whenever he makes music, an album written by an experienced artist who’s determined to prove the fun doesn’t have to end with Act One.

70
Uncut

Liam evidently has no intention of throwing it all away again. Why Me? Why Not. ticks a number of boxes for his fanbase.

70
The Young Folks
For a guy who loves to instigate-the subdued tone is a nice change of pace.
70
FLOOD Magazine

His existentially titled Why Me? Why Not. seems to be undertaking a therapeutic exercise; a sonic show of maturation, if you will.

70
Rolling Stone

There may not be a “Wonderwall” or “Champagne Supernova” on the record, but hook-laden songs like “Once” and “Alright Now” stand up comfortably next to Oasis’ latter-day work.


 

70
The Line of Best Fit

Where debut As You Were leaned on its rockers – songs Liam’s voice was clearly built for – as an antidote to the album’s largely amorphous, vanilla balladry, Liam’s sophomore offering succeeds despite them.

70
DIY

Sure, single ‘Shockwave’ and ‘Be Still’ plod slightly, but Liam’s second is a whole lot more sentimental.

70
AllMusic

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.

70
PopMatters

The lasting, overall impression of Why Me? Why Not. is Liam Gallagher discovering a belief in himself as an artist rather than simply as a singer in a rock 'n' roll band.

69
Paste
This is a rock record ready for stadiums and festival main stages. But this time, he doesn’t have to work his way back to superstardom—and it shows.
65
Under the Radar

This is a decent album indeed, a step on from his last and a step toward positivity with even a tad of musical and melodic exploration.

63
Pitchfork

Despite the shiny, bright surfaces, what’s left unspoken is that Liam is not quite ready to admit that he’s already had the time of his life and is not quite sure what to do next.

60
The Guardian

It does what it sets out to do: provide Gallagher with material hooky enough that the arena crowds don’t storm the bars and lavatories when he stops playing Oasis songs.

60
Loud and Quiet

This is Liam Gallagher at his most polished, happy to keep on playing the rock star part he’s best loved for, even if that means the music’s just fine.

60
The Observer
Sadly, most of the new songs peddle tame, low-stakes nostalgia, swimming in cliches and drowning in sentimentality, as satisfying as trying to get relationship advice out of a cashpoint. Perhaps his third album should stick to songs about Oasis.
60
Spectrum Culture
This is the sort of broad rock album that will certainly please anyone who’s already on board with what’s being offered with presenting little to anyone expecting anything truly new.
60
The Sydney Morning Herald
An album of two distinct halves: the first not too bad; the second not too good.
60
The Arts Desk
The songs may remain the same, but the delivery has a little more charm.
60
The Irish Times

Look – you know what to expect, so let's be having none of your whining. Liam Gallagher, for all his flaws, can hold a tune, and Why Me Why Not is full of them.

lemuriams
50

Britpop is dead, do not wake him, because he will scare you with albums like this.

21stcenturyschi
68

The Britpop sound was very accurate here, but it's over, and I don't think it should be brought back. It does seem like an Oasis tribute, but that's it, and I didn't get much more than that out of it. A lot of pretty generic tunes here, but none of which are all that bad, and I do think it is an improvement over Liam's last album.

Favorite Tracks: "Shockwave", "Be Still", "One Of Us", "Halo"

Least Favorite Tracks: "Meadow", "Alright ... read more

TheCarioca
70

Shockwave - 3/5
One of Us - 4/5
Once - 4/5
Now That I've Found You - 4/5
Halo - 3/5
Why Me? Why Not. - 5/5 ❤
Be Still - 3/5
Alright Now - 3/5
Meadow - 3/5
The River - 3/5
Gone - 4/5

80

I like this album

92

Best Album of the year

ilovelistening
78

This album shows an improvement on the sound that Liam showed on his debut
The songwriting on this album shows a more vulnerable and sincere side of Liam with songs reflecting on his mother and his feud with Noel that led to Oasis’ breakup
I do think that As You Were has higher highs on this album but this is a more consistent tracklist with only a few duds throughout
Songs like Once, One of Us, Be Still, The River, and NTIFY are personal highlights for me
Overall a solid sophomore ... read more

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Track List

1Shockwave
3:30
68
2One of Us
3:25
84
3Once
3:33
91
4Now That I've Found You
3:20
82
5Halo
3:58
76
6Why Me? Why Not.
3:38
82
7Be Still
3:00
82
8Alright Now
3:47
74
9Meadow
4:05
71
10The River
3:26
79
11Gone
3:45
72
Total Length: 39 minutes
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Added on: June 6, 2019