Oasis

Be Here Now

Not Great

Review Score:

(6/10)
After hearing Oasis mentioned in the same breath as the Beatles in various places, I got a copy of Be Here Now. After all, I'd love to find some new bands that can make good toe-tapping, sing-along rock music. It is often relatively simple, and usually has an upbeat quality to it.

Based on this album, Oasis isn't the answer to my quest. That's not to say Oasis is bad, but they are certainly nothing like what was recorded by classic rock bands like the Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, Doors, Mac, Who, Airplane, etc. When you listen to albums by these bands, each song has a different sound to it. Styles, arrangements, melodies, tempos and harmonies change. The mix between country, blues, folk and other influences is ever-changing. Conversely, the first six cuts of BHN all sound practically the same (to me, at least). As someone else here says, every track is filled with guitars. The result is a wall of sound that make the songs almost indistinguishable from one another. The seventh cut, "Fade In-Out", is somewhat different, and is probably my favorite cut. Individual instruments are discernable and there is a basic riff. The title song is also rather catchy, and I liked "It's Getting Better", as well. "All Around The World" starts out OK, but instruments are gradually layered on until it ends up with a ponderous, droning sound like much of the other material here. Overall, studio tricks and sound effects are used liberally, but whatever melody is present is often buried except during the lead-ins and fade-outs at the beginning and end of songs. More varied arrangements and tempos would make BHN much more listenable.

Many other reviewers here seem to be of the opinion that BHN isn't Oasis' best work, so I will probably give "Morning Glory" a try. I must say, however, that I was somewhat disappointed by this album. Perhaps my expectations were too high. Fans of this band or of this type of rock will probably find plenty to be pleased with in this album, but classic rock fans should proceed with caution. I found it interesting enough to give it a mediocre three stars, but I wasn't tapping my toes or singing along.

More Reviews: