Britpop titans Liam Gallagher and John Squire join forces for anthemic "Just Another Rainbow"

What do you get when two of the biggest stars of the late 20th Century Britpop movement join forces on a collaborative single? Exactly what you’d expect, a broadly appealing cinematic anthem overflowing with easy confidence and natural charm but unrivaled in the sheer magnitude of unquestionable talent. That track is “Just Another Rainbow,” a fresh conception from Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and lead guitar for Stone Roses, John Squire.

“Just Another Rainbow” soars with the illuminating incandescence of sunlight fractured into a breathtaking array of psychedelic hues splashed molasses-like across a blank canvas like the Pollock-esqe aesthetic of Stone Roses’ iconic early 45s. The general vibe is that of a recently uncovered Oasis B-side with some extra Roses lemon zest, which isn’t surprising considering Gallagher’s admittance of Squire and Stone Roses’ influence on his own band. The pairing is a natural one, with Gallagher and Squire leveraging their own individual aptitudes to amplify the combined effort while deftly displaying a mutual reverence for their co-conspirator. It’s a marriage of equals, and that’s primarily why “Just Another Rainbow” succeeds.

What Liam Gallagher has always lacked in nuance he makes up for in spades with sheer bravado and demigod levels of self confidence. His inherent ability to relate to the everyman while remaining untouchably aloof was the secret ingredient to Oasis’ widespread appeal, a quality that kept the entire proceedings grounded even when conceptually the band was operating far beyond the stratosphere of reasonable restraint. In this sense, “Just Another Rainbow” is Gallagher in peak form, a sterling example of aspirational blue-collar lyrical ambiguity, earnest and genuine with the broad appeal of a frothy pint. There are some admittedly clumsy moments, such as when Gallagher recites the spectrum in schoolboy style, but these stumbles are infrequent and charmingly humanizing.

The back half of the track is where John Squire lets loose, unleashing a minutes long megasolo that radiates with dazzling brilliance, a perfect showcase for his legendary abilities. Squire’s influence on generations of psychedelically inclined artists from Oasis and beyond is undeniable when viewing his talents through nearly 40 years of careful study and countless reinterpretations. His signature tone helped to define the ethereal edginess of Stone Roses’ sound and placed him squarely on the level of fellow iconic guitar heroes such as Johnny Marr and David Gilmour. In 2024 you can clearly hear echoes of Squire’s disciples crop up throughout the track, lending layers of credence to his enduring influence on Liam’s brother/arch-nemesis Noel Gallagher, Kevin Parker, and others.

“Just Another Rainbow” isn’t wholly original, but Gallagher and Squire’s combined talents keep the 5-and-a-half minute track from feeling like an emotionless ego-trip, jamming the entirety of their respective careers worth of accomplishments into a track that artfully dodges classification as a cult of personality and rather celebrates each players’ abiding impact on a genre that is long overdo for a resurgence.

Stream “Just Another Rainbow” on Spotify. Follow Liam Gallagher and John Squire on Instagram.