Chasing Yesterday
by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
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  1. American Songwriter
    Mar 4, 2015
    80
    There is always room in the world for another well written, classy pop-rock gem, and with Chasing Yesterdays Noel Gallagher proudly delivers 10 of them.
  2. Mojo
    Mar 3, 2015
    80
    Ultimately, Chasing Yesterday is an assured second step on Noel Gallagher’s solo path--more sure-footed lyrically, while bearing a very becoming new-found musical spaciness.
  3. Q Magazine
    Feb 25, 2015
    80
    It all adds up to an album alive with lyrical purpose, bookended by outright classics, and plenty of interesting moves and grooves in between. [Apr 2015, p.92]
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  5. AllMusic
    Feb 23, 2015
    80
    It moves deliberately, never rushing and rarely rocking, preferring to find pleasure in majesty instead of hedonism.
  6. Sputnikmusic
    Mar 3, 2015
    76
    Chasing Yesterday is crammed full of natural sounding songs by a man who has only ever known one way of making music, and long may it continue.
  7. Boston Globe
    Mar 3, 2015
    70
    Gallagher doesn’t distinguish himself with his cliche-prone lyrics, but as he just told one interviewer, “The words? Who cares about the words?” Well, some of us do, but the melody-rich music here compensates nicely.
  8. Rolling Stone
    Mar 3, 2015
    70
    It's hardly rocket science. It is a great ride worth repeating.
  9. Exclaim
    Feb 27, 2015
    70
    It sounds like the kind of album Ryan Adams would enjoy. Whether or not you find that notion attractive will define how you feel about this record.
  10. Clash Music
    Feb 26, 2015
    70
    The most impressive thing about Chasing Yesterday is the playfulness that’s woven throughout it.
  11. The Line of Best Fit
    Feb 26, 2015
    70
    With Chasing Yesterday it certainly ain’t broke; it may not be as wacky as he imagined it, but it does its job rather well.
  12. Drowned In Sound
    Feb 23, 2015
    70
    Chasing Yesterday [is] an exceptionally easy listen that manages to stay just the right side of Easy Listening. An excellent record for Sunday mornings or autumn car journeys, staring at the landscape going by.
  13. New Musical Express (NME)
    Feb 23, 2015
    70
    Chasing Yesterday has its flaws, but they’re far outnumbered by moments where it succeeds in catching up with its titular quarry.
  14. The A.V. Club
    Mar 3, 2015
    67
    Chasing Yesterday is airless and compressed, more like an idea of a great rock album than an actual one.
  15. Magnet
    Apr 15, 2015
    60
    Standout moments exist but the apparent slap across the face of preparedness results in meandering transitions, misplaced sax bleating that's part downtown jazz, part "Careless Whisper," and the feeling that there was a fair amount of sleepwalking through the process. [No. 119, p.55]
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  16. The Telegraph (UK)
    Mar 2, 2015
    60
    More solid, stadium stompers bulk out this second album.
  17. DIY Magazine
    Mar 2, 2015
    60
    Thieving like a magpie from his own box of tricks, there’s no denying that Gallagher is a songwriter from the very top of his class.
  18. The Independent (UK)
    Mar 2, 2015
    60
    Much else here settles into comfort-zone turf.
  19. musicOMH.com
    Mar 2, 2015
    60
    Gallagher has done a very competent job of producing the album by himself, but his High Flying Birds glide effortlessly at mid-altitude rather than aiming for the heights.
  20. The Guardian
    Feb 26, 2015
    60
    Chasing Yesterday really isn’t a bad album as such: it’s alright, it has its moments, it’ll do.
  21. NOW Magazine
    Feb 25, 2015
    60
    Chasing Yesterday breaks no new ground but does show more range than we normally expect from Noel Gallagher, possibly a result of his taking on production duties this time.
  22. Uncut
    Feb 25, 2015
    60
    "The Right Stuff" is carried along by a nifty percussive shuffle and lovely layered brass that make you wish the entire album carried their production imprint. [Apr 2015, p.76]
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  23. Pitchfork
    Mar 2, 2015
    59
    While the songwriting may be on autopilot, Gallagher’s decision to self-produce Chasing Yesterday was a smart one, resulting in an album that feels both intimate and expansive.
  24. Consequence
    Feb 26, 2015
    58
    Chasing Yesterday, the second album from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, sounds an awful lot like Gallagher’s past efforts, which isn’t a bad thing at all.
  25. PopMatters
    Mar 5, 2015
    50
    Chasing Yesterday, despite alluding to the framework of time in its title, is an album of no time: not interested enough to truly mine from the past, seemingly incapable of moving forward with new ideas, and too stuck in old rhythms to be called music of its time.
  26. Pretty Much Amazing
    Mar 2, 2015
    50
    Despite its numerous shortcomings though, it’s a difficult album to completely dislike--largely because of its wistful, nostalgia-inducing melodies. But it’s impossible not to expect better from the former Oasis mastermind.
  27. The Observer (UK)
    Mar 2, 2015
    40
    This is not so much a dreadful record as a wasted opportunity.

Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Most Discussed Album of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 125 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 104 out of 125
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 125
  3. Negative: 15 out of 125
  1. LondonTexas
    Mar 4, 2015
    10
    Noel Gallagher's second solo effort is a traditional pop-rock album with "Noel Gallagher"-type songs. It also happens to be fantastic. HeNoel Gallagher's second solo effort is a traditional pop-rock album with "Noel Gallagher"-type songs. It also happens to be fantastic. He produced it himself this time, and, surprisingly, the result is a far more "lived in" and lively sounding album than the first High Flying Birds record. Noel apparently recognized the only major flaw in that first album - the stiff production sometimes stifled the songs and music. The new record has great flow and more musical variety. All of the songs are good, the weakest song for me being the second song, In the Heat of the Moment.
    The extra tracks are also interesting - Do the Damage in particular rocks in Noel's new found way. There are a couple of Oasis throwback songs on here, but generally this does not sound like any Oasis album. There's even a bit of mild weirdness and experimentation on the Right Stuff, and it works wonderfully. Chasing Yesterday is a grower in the best sense - great melodies, an abundance of guitar solos, a touch of melancholy; all the Gallagher hallmarks are there in a slightly new and interesting package. It is somewhat laid back and rockin' at the same time. You can also tell Noel Gallagher is having fun here, unlike on the later day Oasis albums. I am really glad someone is trying to make this type of music today - and doing so successfully.    … Full Review »
  2. Noiseblock
    Mar 7, 2015
    6
    Frankly, Noel Gallagher seems to be chasing some sort of yesterday all too often, but this might well come naturally when you once were partFrankly, Noel Gallagher seems to be chasing some sort of yesterday all too often, but this might well come naturally when you once were part of one of the/the most popular Brit-Pop band in existance. Inevitably, much on this new album seems a bit like it could have been an Oasis-song of some sort even though the willingness to change is recognizable. Chasing Yesterday seems like the transition from a band that sounds quite a bit like Oasis to a band that could well establish its own sound but has not fully embraced its potential yet. At least, Noel seems to be ready to move on. And to be honest, nearly everything on Chasing Yesterday is more elaborated and sophisticated than the lazy efforts of his brother Liam & Beady eye which did nothing else than just rehashing EVERYTHING Oasis did before. So have hope for the future, maybe Noel can establish a band that will be remembered for being formed by Noel Gallagher, not just one half of Oasis. The signs are there.… Full Review »
  3. davim
    Mar 3, 2015
    7
    If there’s one thing about Mr. Gallagher, its that he knows how to construct a song, and Noel has been around long enough now to know theIf there’s one thing about Mr. Gallagher, its that he knows how to construct a song, and Noel has been around long enough now to know the tricks of the trade. This album intelligently provides a good balance of slightly more mellow numbers, such as ‘The Girl With The X-Ray Eyes’ and ‘The Dying of The Light’, compared to the more rocking ‘The Mexican’ and ‘The Ballard of Mighty I’. The track ‘Riverman’ is a fantastic opener to the album, another well-crafted song. A number of these tracks have a groovy feel to them, with a good use of instrumentation, syncopated drum patterns in particular.

    I’d say this album isn’t quite as up to the standard as Noel’s debut back in 2011, but it’s certainly not far behind. A decent effort.    … Full Review »
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