Photo: wenn.com
The second album from Liam Gallagher's Beady Eye could be the best record the ex-Oasis man has ever made - or at least that's what his manager thinks.
Scott Rodger, of Quest Management, told Music Week that of all the albums on Quest's roster he is most enthused about the forthcoming Beady Eye album.
That's quite a statement considering Quest's roster also features Arcade Fire and Paul McCartney.
The band began recording the follow-up to 2011's Different Gear, Still Speeding last month with TV On The Radio's Dave Sitek, and are under pressure to deliver a better album than their debut.
"It's probably the most exciting record I've worked on for as long as I can remember," Rodger said.
"Everyone thinks they know exactly what record Beady Eye are going to deliver, but they've completey turned it on its head."
Last month Noel Gallagher remarked that his brother Liam was letting Beady Eye down.
"The thing with Beady Eye is...their singer does them a great disservice," he said in an interview with BBC 6Music. "I think they caught a lot of flak that was quite undeserved really.
"I think they've got a great album in them next time. They need one. They fucking need one, that's for sure."
If Rodger is to be believed, a great album is what the Beady Eye boys will indeed deliver.
"I think Liam Gallagher is making the best album of his entire career," he said.
"That's a big statement because he's made some classic records - usually with his brother's songs. But Beady Eye are very talented players and writers and are technically fantastic."
Beady Eye at Brixton Academy in 2011
Dave Sitek apparently jumped at the opportunity to work on the new record.
"I sent him the demos and a link to the studio after being told he'd never leave his LA home. He gets straight back to me to say 'I'm there'," Rodger remembers.
"They's tracked 21 songs in nine days [in London]. Sitek called at 6pm the other night to say, 'I need a brass section. Get me a brass section now'. Everyone in the building was calling to sort it for him, and we did - within two hours it was recorded.
"It was a track that was never going to make the album, but Sitek completely changed the vibe and now it's an amazing song."
"Everyone's going to be shocked when they hear this record."
The second Beady Eye album is expected to arrive sometime in the first half of next year.
With the lack of critical acclaim achieved by Different Gears, Still Speeding coupled with Rodger's comments it'll have a lot to live up to.
Watch 'The Beat Goes On' by Beady Eye below.
Below: the many faces of Liam Gallagher - and they're all the same
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