Why Me? Why Not.

Backed up by polished and expensive-sounding production, notably some lovely piano work on “Alright Now” and a hazy blur of strings and Kurt Vile-like chanting on “One of Us”, this is a strong, nicely workmanlike record, Gallagher never totally rocking the boat but delivering something far more personal and (for him) experimental than he easily could have done.

There are a few other naff moments, but Gallagher's voice carries everything, sounding fantastic, high and bright in the mix. [Oct 2019, p.82]

It is a track or two too long. ... But that aside, Why Me? Why Not. is a triumph, one that proves As You Were was no fluke and that Lia Gallagher is well and truly back on track. [Oct 2019, p.104]

Gallagher remains an excellent interpreter of others’ lyrics, but he takes the skill further here and it results in a collection of classic songs drenched in melody, accompanied by clearly expressed, noticeable lyrics.

This album lacks the novelty factor – Liam finally going solo – that made ‘As You Were’ so welcome. But it’s more diverse (everything’s relative) and textured.

Gallagher embraces acceptance on a deeper level with this album than we’ve seen before; he’s game for going all in on “Now That I’ve Found You”, but he also displays the power of reflection on “Once” and “Alright Now”.

For all the vein-bulging intensity--which reaches heroic levels on standout The River--you're left with the sense that Gallagher remains a great singer short on top notch material. [Nov 2019, p.81]

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.

Sure, single ‘Shockwave’ and ‘Be Still’ plod slightly, but Liam’s second is a whole lot more sentimental. ... Elsewhere, love song ‘Halo’ jams like the ‘Stones’ ‘Let’s Spend The Night Together’, the title track hints at later Weller, and - of course - there’s an unmistakeable Beatles-esque guitar solo on ‘Meadow’. All of which are references welcome to anyone who’s stuck around for Liam’s new stuff.

It wouldn’t be a Gallagher record without an ode to John Lennon, and Why Me? Why Not checks all the boxes.

His further point of recognizing singing as his strength and songwriting as his weakness is the most self-aware and perceptive comment either Gallagher has ever made professionally, and Why Me? Why Not clearly benefits as a result.

Why Me? Why Not. ticks a number of boxes for his fanbase. [Nov 2019, p.25]

Why Me? Why Not. is not the swaggering, confident album you might expect. Rather, there is a vulnerability and a sense of humility to go with the polished songcraft. While the musical influences are pretty standard Liam Gallagher fare these are surprisingly accomplished, memorable songs. The lasting, overall impression is of Gallagher discovering a belief in himself as an artist rather than simply as a singer in a rock 'n' roll band.

Why Me? Why Not. largely succeeds when Gallagher allows himself to dig deep into his past and get a bit personal.

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. Despite the disappointments of teasers like the Paul Weller-lite of "The River," it's a record that has a lot more to offer than basic rock 'n' roll but is equally happy giving you just that when the mood takes it.