Oasis

Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants

Took a while to warm up to it, now it's great!

Review Score:

(8/10)
I can only start this review by saying that this is the first Oasis album which I find myself skipping over several of the tracks. Even the harshly criticized "Be Here Now" had songs which were instantly listenable, the tracks on this CD have to grow on you and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.It starts with the instrumental "Fuckin' In The Bushes" which features lots of sampling, drum loops, etc. Noel apparently was going for a dance-feel which no doubt is inspired from his club hopping days as a youth. However this is a let down. Considering his fantastic work with the Chemical Brothers I was expecting something much more interesting but this track turns out to be a repetitive bore. It doesn't even come close to their earlier rock instrumental "The Swamp Song"."Go Let It Out" was the first single and rightly so. A very upbeat tune with noticable basslines (bass was not something that was easily picked up on in previous Oasis songs.) The lyrics harken back to their previous efforts with happy-go-lucky, positive vibes.The creaky and overly psychedelic "Who Feels Love?" shows it's face and the words that Liam sings sound like some hippie chant. A bad 60's sound-a-like.Oasis finally shake it up with the rock track "Put Yer Money Where Your Mouth Is" though it is strictly a by the numbers Oasis tune though it is well paced and the keyboards are a nice touch but Noel, sometimes *less* distortion is better.By far the most laughable aspect of the album is Liam's inept lyric writing which takes the form of "Little James", an ode to his step son. Calling it "simplistic" would be too kind. Lyric sample; "You live for your toys, even though they make noise." Please Noel, keep Liam away from pen & paper.Lyrically, "Gas Panic!" might be one of Noel's best ever, dealing with his past drug abuse sounding more like a poet than I've ever heard..."My pulse pumps out a beat to the Ghost Dancer. My eyes are dead and my throat's like a black hole..and if there's a God would he give another chancer an hour to sing for his soul?" Noel sings lead on "Where Did It All Go Wrong?" on one of the 2 true gems from the album. Is Noel letting his age get to him? He seems to question his whole life on this album.."Do you keep the receipts for the friends that you buy? And ain't it bittersweet, you were only just getting by." Noel has a gift for stressing the words at the absolutely perfect moment in *just* the right way. You *feel* what he's singing about and is the mark of a wonderful singer."Sunday Morning Call" is the other gem I was speaking of and once again features Noel on lead vocals. I do think this is the best of the album. Beautifully arranged and Noel sounds so angelic, it has "single" written all over it as it's possibly the most radio friendly of the bunch with one of the best crescendo's I've ever heard. Again Noel finds himself questioning his past songwriting as "Live Forever" once proclaimed he would do just that but now..."your thoughts and words won't last forever more.." Sad to be sure."I Can See A Liar" and "Roll It Over" round out the album on a somewhat dulled note. These last 2 tracks are almost entirely uninspired and probably commit the worst crime a song can do.....you can't remember how they go when they're finished playing.Lyrically this CD contains Noel's most mature work but other than a few of the stand outs I've mentioned, the music is far from catchy though I applaud him for straying from the tried and true "Oasis sound" and doing something different combining 60's sounds with 2000 technology.This is the last album to feature "Bonehead" and "Guigsy" (their original bass & rhythm guitarists) which is ok by me. They were decent enough but the new members, Gem Archer and Andy Bell are BIG mark ups + they're songwriters who will contribute to their next album in a few years finally giving Noel a rest and making Oasis a true "band". Now that I'm looking forward to.Note; The U.S. release contains a bonus CD featuring "Go Let It Out" (again!?!) and the wonderful "Let's All Make Believe" which was a B-side to "GLIO" in England. The B-side *should* have been on the album and it's inclusion alone would have made me give the album **** instead of ***, it's that good a song. Lyrically simple yet somehow powerful as it brings out strong emotion in me...."Let's all make believe that we're still friends and we like each other.." that's a good line to end on I think.

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