Oasis

Be Here Now

Diamonds in the rough.

Review Score:

(8/10)
Coming off the success of Definitely Maybe and What's the Story (Morning Glory)?, Oasis had a lot to live up to. Be Here Now (1997) doesn't match the panache of the group's debut album, nor does it capture the complete glory of their sophomore effort. However, to malign Be Here Now as an overblown piece of garbage would hardly be doing justice to an album that offers an outstanding mixture of good-time rock 'n roll and orchestra-laden ballads. Few of Noel Gallagher's songs match the heartbreak of "Don't Go Away," the love of "Stand By Me," or the heights of "All Around The World." While some of the album's tracks can rightly be dismissed as self-indulgent throw-aways ("Fade In-Out" and "My Big Mouth" come to mind), it would be rash to dismiss the entire album. Remember, hard rockers like the title track and "D'You Know What I Mean?" remind us why Alan White replaced Tony McCarroll's wind-up drumming. Though it's likely not an album that anyone but fans would immediately warm up to, there are enough shining moments on Be Here Now to remind us why Oasis is the best thing to come out of Great Britain in a very long time.

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