Give Liam Gallagher considerable credit for a streak of wry self-awareness. The shrug lying within the title Why Me? Why Not. doesnt 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 2017s 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 -- theres 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 bands last records. Gallagher may still possess a voice that naturally adds sandpaper grit to the smoothest of surfaces, but that doesnt change that hes singing songs that aspire to be nothing pleasing pop tunes. Thats why hes fortunate that hes 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 isnt 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

Rovi