Be (Beady Eye album)

BE
Studio album by
Beady Eye
Released10 June 2013 (2013-06-10)[1]
RecordedNovember 2012 – March 2013
StudioState of the Ark, Richmond, London
Genre
Length49:09
Label
Producer
Beady Eye chronology
Different Gear, Still Speeding
(2011) 		BE
(2013)
Singles from BE
  1. "Second Bite of the Apple"
    Released: 29 April 2013
  2. "Shine a Light / The World's Not Set in Stone"
    Released: 19 August 2013[2]
  3. "Iz Rite / Soul Love"
    Released: 25 November 2013[3]

BE (stylised as BE) is the second and final studio album by English rock band Beady Eye, released on 10 June 2013 (2013-06-10).[4] It was recorded between November 2012 and March 2013 and produced by Dave Sitek.[5] The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, behind Black Sabbath's 13.[6] Contemporary reviews were mixed, often focusing on Sitek's production and the band's shift toward more overtly psychedelic textures compared to their debut.[5][7]

Background and recording

After releasing Different Gear, Still Speeding (2011), Beady Eye looked for a producer who could push them further than their debut had. In a 2013 interview with The Quietus, Gem Archer said that Dan Auerbach and Nick Launay were both considered before "Dave's name came up".[8] In the same interview, Liam Gallagher said the band did not want "a run of the mill" producer and were looking for something "a little bit leftfield", while Andy Bell said "the fact that we took chances musically" developed from the band's rapport with Sitek.[8] Chris Sharrock joked that the only thing he had previously heard associated with TV on the Radio was "Tommy Vance".[8]

Gallagher said that Sitek had already begun reworking "Flick of the Finger" before the rest of the band had properly settled into the sessions, and that hearing what he did with that song and "Soul Love" persuaded Beady Eye to let him keep reshaping the material.[8] Bell added that Sitek's fast working method suited the band because they were "quite impatient", and contrasted the sessions with an earlier, slower attempted collaboration between Oasis and Death in Vegas.[8] In a separate ShortList track-by-track feature, Gallagher described "Second Bite of the Apple" as the song Sitek changed the most and said, "There's a lot more magic on this album."[9]

Gallagher later said he had wanted the album to be titled Universal Gleam, but was outvoted by the rest of the band and label.[10] The phrase was later used for the title of a track on Gallagher's debut solo album As You Were.[11]

Composition and lyrics

Reviewers frequently characterised BE as a rock album with prominent psychedelic colouring, and as a deliberate departure from the comparatively straight-ahead approach of Beady Eye's debut.[5][7] The Guardian highlighted motorik and Velvet Underground-like impulses in the rhythm section and arrangements, while noting brass and disorienting guitar textures across the record.[5] Pitchfork argued that Sitek's cleaner, more detailed production emphasised the band's songwriting strengths and weaknesses more starkly than on earlier work.[7] Paste described the record as darker and more brooding overall, while also pointing to moments of warmth and uplift in the sequencing.[12]

Release and promotion

The first track released from the album was "Flick of the Finger", premiered via the band's official website alongside a music video.[13] Although it charted in the UK, it was not billed as the lead single.[14]

The first official single was "Second Bite of the Apple".[15][16] The song was originally scheduled for first UK radio play on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 programme on 15 April 2013 before being rescheduled to 29 April.[17] It was later performed on The Voice UK during the semi-final broadcast on 15 June 2013.

The double A-side "Shine a Light" / "The World's Not Set in Stone" was released on 19 August 2013, followed by the double A-side "Iz Rite" / "Soul Love" on 25 November 2013.[18][19]

The band used an internet-based promotional campaign in which users could unlock stems for "Flick of the Finger" by sharing the group's website. On 4 June 2013, NME reported that the album was streaming in full online via iTunes ahead of release.[20] BE was issued in standard and deluxe editions, with deluxe and Japanese editions featuring additional tracks.

Artwork

The album (and subsequent single) artwork was designed by Trevor Jackson and features photographs by Harry Peccinotti, originally shot for NOVA magazine.[21] The cover was reportedly banned in several outlets due to visible nudity; Gallagher criticised the ban in interviews.[22] Later physical copies used a sticker to obscure the image, and some digital versions cropped it.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic59/100[23]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[24]
Clash8/10[25]
The Guardian[5]
The Independent[26]
NME7/10[27]
Pitchfork5.8/10[7]
Paste[12]
Sputnikmusic1.5/5[28]
Uncut7/10[29]

BE received a mixed critical reception.[30] Several reviewers praised the band for attempting to broaden their sound through Sitek's production choices, while detractors criticised the lyrics and the coherence of the experimentation.[5][7][26]

Some later fan discussion has treated the album as a stronger statement than the group's debut, particularly for its more adventurous production approach.

Track listing

All tracks produced by Dave Sitek and Beady Eye.

Standard edition
No. Title Writer(s) Length Critical commentary (examples)
1 Flick of the Finger Gem Archer; Andy Bell; Liam Gallagher 3:46 Reviews highlighted its aggressive tone and prominent rhythmic drive.[5][26]
2 "Soul Love" Gallagher 5:10 Noted for its spaced-out, psychedelic ambience; The Guardian and Clash singled out the track's atmosphere, while The Quietus felt it moved in a "late Beatles/Lennon" direction.[5][25][31]
3 "Face the Crowd" Bell 4:00
4 Second Bite of the Apple Archer 3:28 Often treated as a key single and one of the album’s clearest attempts at a more contemporary groove-based sound.[12][26]
5 "Soon Come Tomorrow" Bell 4:58 Mentioned by some reviewers as a pop-leaning highlight.
6 "Iz Rite" Archer 3:26 Paste described it as one of the record’s more straightforward moments before the closing run turns more reflective.[12]
7 "I'm Just Saying" Bell 3:45 The Guardian and The Independent cited it as an energetic, hook-forward moment amid the album’s heavier textures.[5][26]
8 "Don't Brother Me" Gallagher 7:30 Described as a lengthy centrepiece; reviewers pointed to its slow-building structure and atmosphere, and interpreted its lyrics as a conciliatory message to Gallagher's brother, Noel Gallagher.[5][26][31]
9 "Shine a Light" Gallagher 5:04 The Independent compared its melodic feel to late-period Oasis balladry, contrasting it with the album’s more experimental tracks.[26]
10 "Ballroom Figured" Archer 3:31 The Guardian called out the track when describing the album’s brass-driven and groove-oriented detours.[5]
11 "Start Anew" Gallagher 4:29 Several reviews treated the closer as a reflective finale, with Paste specifically highlighting its consoling tone.[12][5]
Bonus tracks
Additional tracks on double LP release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Dreaming of Some Space"Bell1:56
13."The World's Not Set In Stone"Gallagher4:46
14."Back After the Break"Archer4:09
Deluxe edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Off at the Next Exit"Archer3:36
Additional tracks on Japanese edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
16."Girls in Uniform"Bell6:23
17."Evil Eye"Gallagher5:01

Personnel

Beady Eye

Production

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Silver 78,000[49]

References

  1. ^ "Beady Eye announce second album". NME. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Shine a Light" official video The Fire Note
  3. ^ "Iz Rite / Soul Love | Beady Eye". Beady Eye. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Beady Eye announce second album". NME. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Simpson, Dave (6 June 2013). "Beady Eye: BE – review". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 16/6/2013". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d e Hyden, Steven (28 June 2013). "Beady Eye: BE". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e "INTERVIEW: Beady Eye". The Quietus. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  9. ^ "Beady Eye on their new album". ShortList. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  10. '^ "Liam Gallagher: 'I didn't want to call new Beady Eye album BE". NME. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Universal Gleam – Song by Liam Gallagher". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  12. ^ a b c d e Cosores, Philip (11 June 2013). "Beady Eye: BE". Paste. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Liam Gallagher jams 'Wonderwall' with 14-year-old fan at video shoot". NME. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  14. ^ "Liam Gallagher jams 'Wonderwall' with 14-year-old fan at video shoot". NME. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Beady Eye unveil new single 'Second Bite of the Apple'". NME. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Beady Eye debut 'Second Bite of the Apple' video". Gigwise. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  17. ^ "Beady Eye to premiere new single on 15 April". NME. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  18. ^ "Shine a Light" official video The Fire Note
  19. ^ "Iz Rite / Soul Love | Beady Eye". Beady Eye. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Beady Eye streaming new album 'BE' in full online". NME. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  21. ^ "Beady Eye Announce New Single 'Shine A Light' To Be Released August 19th 2013". Contactmusic.com. 8 July 2013.
  22. ^ Barker, Emily (17 December 2013). "40 outrageous banned album sleeves". NME. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  23. ^ "BE Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  24. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "BE – Beady Eye". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  25. ^ a b "Beady Eye – 'Be'". clashmusic.com. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Gill, Andy (7 June 2013). "Album review: Beady Eye, BE (Beady Eye)". The Independent. London. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  27. ^ "Beady Eye – 'Be'". NME. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  28. ^ "Beady Eye – BE". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  29. ^ "Beady Eye – 'BE'". anydecentmusic.com. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  30. ^ "BE Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  31. ^ a b Mackay, Emily (10 June 2013). "Beady Eye — BE". The Quietus. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  32. ^ "ARIA Chart Week 10th June 2013". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Beady Eye – Be" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  34. ^ "Ultratop.be – Beady Eye – Be" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
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  36. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Beady Eye – Be" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  37. ^ "Beady Eye: Be" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  38. ^ "Lescharts.com – Beady Eye – Be". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  39. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Beady Eye – Be" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  40. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Beady Eye". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  41. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Beady Eye – Be". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  42. ^ "ビー". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  43. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 16/6/2013 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  44. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Beady Eye – Be". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  45. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Beady Eye – Be". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  46. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Beady Eye – Be". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  47. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 16/6/2013 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  48. ^ "End of Year 2013" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  49. ^ White, Jack (10 October 2017). "Liam vs Noel: their post-Oasis careers in numbers". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  50. ^ "British album certifications – Beady Eye – BE". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Formats field. Type BE Beady Eye in the "Search:" field.
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