Oasis

Be Here Now

A disastrous comedown

Review Score:

(4/10)
Oasis had a formula. They liked it. It produced two very well-received albums for them, the first of which was good and the second of which perfected the formula and was wonderful. Then, of course the dilemma arrives. What to do next? And Oasis, somewhat understandably, opted to try and replicate the formula.

Now this is never a good idea. Oasis, because of their arrogant swagger, northern attitude and brash rock music, while being an excellent band, were always balanced precariously closely to dropping into self-parody. While they avoid this, they're wonderful. When they do, the result is bad. That is the story of Be Here Now. An attempt to replicate previous success drops into self-parody.

The lyrics, rather than being wonderfully obvious representations of the young working class generation, seemed forced in their attitude. This was probably because Oasis were less naive, and not technically working class anymore, meaning they needed to evolve, something they delayed until the following album, when their reputation was already destroyed.

You see, Be Here Now must be viewed as the album that destroyed Oasis' reputation. Whilst most British people still like some Oasis anthems from the first two albums, their public image went from brilliant rock idols to soggy Northerners making copycat, soggy songs. Which was a shame, especially considering that it marred the public reception of the next, and considerably better, album, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.

D'You Know What I Mean is a perfect example of their attempt to replicated themselves. Firstly, the title is a forced, working-class phrase to try and establish themselves as your mate down your local. Secondly, some of the lyrics are worryingly similar to those of 'Don't Look Back In Anger'. 'Look into the wall of my mind's eye, I think I know but I don't know why' says D'You Know What I Mean. 'Slip inside the eye of your mind, don't you know you mind find a better place to be' said Don't Look Back In Anger.

There are, however, a couple of good tracks. Don't Go Away is a welcome change from the Sour Mash, an emotional ballad. Also, Stand By Me is the only genuinely great anthem on the album, where as the others are trying to be that way.

You can understand how Oasis got into the situation they did, and on reflection it seems somewhat inevitable that they would someday make a Be Here Now. At least it forced change on them for the next album, showing them that they couldn't make the same music over and over again.

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