(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (©1995 Epic)

1: Hello 2: Roll With It 3: Wonderwall 4: Don't Look Back in Anger 5: Hey Now! 6: (Untitled) 7: Some Might Say 8: Cast No Shadow 9: She's Electric 10: Morning Glory 11: (Untitled) 12: Champagne Supernova

A decade on, and it’s clear that Oasis will eventually have the last laugh at the expense of their numerous detractors. With their second album the brothers Gallagher were high on themselves, and so damn cocky about their place in history it took an effort to look past their attitude and actually listen to what they were playing.

I’ve had these albums sitting on my shelves for years, and have slowly been getting around to plopping out my thoughts. What do I say that hasn’t been said a thousand times already by smarter critics than me? I guess that’s really the rub, I’m not a critic so much as I am a fan of music.

So as a fan of music I’ll state right off that (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? has a number of songs that have become anthems, and back in ’95 I thought they were pretty bloody cool. Here I am years later still going on about old news. The guys were so far ahead of everyone else they actually appeared to be stuck in the past. Well, take a look around and you can hear the echoes of Oasis is any number of knockoff rock acts touting attitude today.

If the boys had packed it in and imploded after this album, (and at times it looked like they would self destruct before our very eyes – although there’s still time) their place in history would have been assured. The fact that as they’ve matured they’ve only gotten better is icing on the cake.

Essential listening. “Wonderwall”, “Don’t Look Back in Anger”, “Morning Glory” and “Champagne Supernova”.

There’s so much crap out there it’s nice to find a little Oasis (oh ack, what the hell was that? If I didn’t write that I’d actually be embarrassed).

Reviewed January 12, 2006

Masterplan (©1998 Epic)

Acquiesce / Underneath the Sky / talk tonight / Going Nowhere / Fade Away / The Swamp Song / I Am The Walrus (live) / Listen Up / Rockin' Chair / Half The World Away / (It's Good) To Be Free / Stay Young / Headshrinker / The Masterplan

A collection of B-sides, the band tossed off for the fun of it. A lot of rock and roll bands would be lucky to have "A" material this good. There are a couple of givens when referring to Oasis: 1. The Gallagher brothers are conceited goofs that need to grow up. 2. Oasis is a real rock and roll band, not some assembled marketing ploy.

There are some cheesy moments on the disk, and flashes of brilliance. If you're a fan this is probably a part of your collection.

Reviewed July 21, 2000

Familiar to Millions (©2000 Epic)

disc one: FXXkin' in the Bushes / Go Let it Out / Who Feels Love?/ Supersonic / Shaker Maker / Acquiesce / Step Out / Gas Panic! / Roll With It / Stand By Me

disc two: Wonderwall / Cigarettes & Alcohol / Don't Look Back in Anger / Live Forever / Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) / Champagne Supernova / Rock 'N' Roll Star / Helter Skelter

The world's most annoyingly arrogant rock and roll band makes a live album. The brothers Gallagher like to say the phuk word and use it a lot. Which means I can't crank this album with the kids around. Bummer; but this is rock and roll after all, and these boys despite their little foibles are probably the best rock act to come around in a long time.

This album rocks, and Liam is in fine voice - even though he sounds like he's got a mouth full of marbles at times. I've never found Oasis to be an overly hook laden band, but the 70,000 at Wembley knew the words and sang along in all the right places. No wonder Noel's so pretentious. That kind of rush would go to anyone's head.

Reviewed November 13, 2001

Heathen Chemistry (©2002 Epic)

1: The Hindu Times 2: Force Of Nature 3: Hung In A Bad Place 4: Stop Crying Your Heart Out 5: Songbird 6: Little By Little 7: A Quick Peep 8: (Probably) All In The Mind 9: She Is Love 10: Born On A Different Cloud 11: Better Man

I’ll admit that when I first got this it only got spun a few times and then got lost admit a bunch of other stuff that was floating around my desk. As with all things Oasis the best things about the band are also the worst things. I was cleaning up my desk, and found it again. So I put it on, and was reminded again why these guys are possibly the greatest rock and roll band on the planet.

These guys aren’t trying to solve third world debt, or tell you how to live. I’m pretty sure the guys could give a flying fig about you or me – this is about the music, and they still have something to prove, and a chip on their collective shoulders as big as the Gallagher ego.

There’s nothing quite so exciting as pure rock and roll, and Heathen Chemistry has enough spark to make things interesting. Liam continues to channel John Lennon’s rasp – which is especially noticeable on “Born on a Different Cloud” a song he also wrote. It’s nice to see him develop as more than just a voice and attitude. Noel is sharing more, and the guys are stepping up Gem and Andy each contributing songs. If their songs sucked you can bet your ass they wouldn’t be here.

There are some who hate the boys, and some who love ‘em.

I love ‘em. Long live rock and roll. It may indeed be better to burn out than fade away, and so far these guys are still burning pretty bloody bright.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Reviewed May 5, 2006

Don't Believe the Truth (©2005 Epic)

1: Turn Up The Sun 2: Mucky Fingers 3: Lyla 4: Love Like A Bomb 5: The Importance Of Being Idle 6: The Meaning Of Soul 7: Guess God Thinks I'm Abel 8: Part Of The Queue 9: Keep The Dream Alive 10: A Bell Will Ring 11: Let There Be Love

The brothers Gallagher have once again managed to put a slightly different spin on their brand of pop. The boys have gone more jingle jangly psychedelic – this time around. The results are typically Oasis. When the guys are on, it’s freakin’ great – when they aren’t the results are still more pleasing to the ear than a couple of cats fighting over a dead fish. Although Liam seems to be getting more like Marlon Brando with each passing album. A little diction wouldn’t hurt. Noel’s voice really surprises me with the depth and range he’s pulling off on many of the songs.

The album opens with “Turn up the Sun” a song which is classic Oasis. Most of the songs here work pretty well. The mix is a wall of thick sound sludge. It often sounds a little distorted (I blame the trand to master things into a wave form resembling a brick, bastards! This is music dang it) – but works to emphasis the attitude of the band.

“Mucky Fingers” is a song with great potential that never manages to get out of first gear. The tap tap tap of the snare drum becomes a horrid form of torture after the first few measures. Which is a shame, as the song feels brutally restrained – and I wonder what it would have sounded like if the drummer was allowed to cut loose.

“Lyla” is supposed to be the big hit, and frankly sounds a lot like Soundtrack of Our Lives musically – it’s a pretty good song, but not one I would have picked. The other songs are pretty solid, and I like the variety of sounds between acoustic and rock. The guys may still be mining the 60’s for inspiration but the results of the musical alchemy are pure Oasis. They do it better than just about anyone else out there. “Let There Be Love” is the album’s anthem and is a great album closer. Both Liam and Noel trade vocals here and the results are wicked.

It’s nice to know there are still a few sneering rock and roll bands out there who aren’t merely posing in front of a mirror trying to look cool.

Reviewed August 16, 2005