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Review: Jack Foley
SAY what you will about Oasis, but they remain one of the most
important bands of the times. It's been eight long years since
the Manchester bad boys burst onto the scene with their glorious
debut, Definitely Maybe, but each new offering (and Heathen
Chemistry is their fifth) is greeted with a breathless anticipation
reserved for only the best bands in the world.
The band's second album, (What's The Story) Morning Glory?,
is the stuff of legends, prompting a weight of expectancy that
no band could be expected to reasonably burden. Needless to say,
follow-up efforts Be Here Now and Standing On The Shoulders
of Giants disappointed in their 'mediocrity'.
Yet you have to feel a tinge of sympathy for the Gallaghers. Whereas
current bands of the moment Doves and Idlewild have been efficiently
doing their thing for years, before finally breaking through with
The Last Broadcast and the upcoming The Remote Part
(which is already earning raves), Oasis announced their arrival
with two classics and have struggled to reach those heights ever
since.
Heathen Chemistry, while not quite in the same mould as Definitely
or Story, marks a second coming of sorts. Buoyed by two
breathless singles - The Hindu Times and Stop Crying
Your Heart Out, which mark the band at its best - plus a sell-out
Finsbury Park gig (in July), fans have every reason to feel excited
again.
Yet if you were expecting anything different from the norm, or
anything groundbreaking, you are in for a disappointment. Heathen
Chemistry remains the sound of a great band doing what they do
well. We're talking rock anthems, gutsy guitars, Beatles-inspired
vocals, sing-a-long choruses, the works. The only difference being
that more of the songs have been written by different band members
- Liam weighs in with three, while Gem Archer and former Hurricane
#1 supremo, Andy Bell, add one each. The sound remains the same,
however - distinctly Oasis.
Not that this is a bad thing, of course, because if it 'aint
broke, why fix it? Radiohead have tried to, with varying degrees
of success, as have Primal Scream. Yet, done well, experimentation
can prolong and broaden a band's appeal, as in the case of U2
and The Rolling Stones, who have journeyed through the decades
with an ever-increasing army of fans.
Oasis, however, seem content to go with the flow and have millions
to show for it. And there is much to admire on the new album,
aside from the singles, which have been reviewed to death (check
out our singles guide, updated weekly, by clicking here).
For starters, there is the instantly catchy (Probably) All
In The Mind, a Noel-penned anthem which recaptures the spirit
of The Beatles' psychedelia, while also evoking memories of early
Kula Shaker. Born On A Different Cloud, penned by Liam,
is another which owes much of its inspiration to Lennon and co,
while Little By Little (with its enticing mix of acoustic
and electric guitars) is just a great track - the type you will
want to skip back to almost as soon as it's finished.
Another Liam effort, Songbird, is also a simple treasure
- acoustic, piano-laden and effortlessly upbeat; it's the kind
of track which will have you wanting to play tambourine alongside
every beat.
Elsewhere, however, the album feels uninspired and lazy. Track
6, an instrumental interlude called A Quick Peep, may as
well be called Fuckin' In The Bushes, part two, while Hung
In A Bad Place, by Gem Archer, is just a bland piece of rock;
an album filler, if you will. Force of Nature is another
track which sounds too heavily-influenced by other artists to
be great, although it is a grower.
Yet, overall, this is a really good listen and well worth adding
to anyone's record collection. It won't bring the Gallaghers any
new fans, yet the die-hard followers will no doubt hail the return
of Manchester's favourites. Oasis are back then... but have they
ever really been away? Roll on Finsbury...
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Track listing:
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) In My Mind,
9. She Is Love,
10. Born On A Different Cloud,
11. Better Man
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