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This album marks something of a departure for Oasis in that
the greedy brothers actually allow their other band members to write
some of the songs. Fortunately for you and me, it still sounds like
Oasis. They've got the lyrics set out in the insert, and there is
a strange mix of woefully cheesy (including excruciating use of apostrophes
and lower class British spelling in "Love Like A Bomb")
and occasionally thoughtful - there are actually some lyrics scattered
throughout this album that resonate with me. Hard to believe these
lads can relate to common human experience, but maybe they're thinking
back to their pre-Notting Hill days. Even if you don't give a toss
about lyrics, though (and really Oasis tends to be more about the
music and the sound of Liam's voice), musically this is still
one of their best offerings in recent years. There's not a major clunker
in the lot. As usual, there are heavy 60's overtones, and as always
for the band that claimed they were a modern day Beatles, that
includes ripping off the Beatles. And the Rolling Stones. Oasis
overlays it with their own swagger and attitude, Noel's rock
god guitar and Liam's distinctive snarl, so you still know who you're
listening to. This album is best played really loud so you can pretend
you're singing along at Wembley.
The record is mostly comprised of solid, guitar-driven rockers of
the type one expects from Oasis, sprinkled with a few of the slower,
more melodic songs that I'm a sucker for. The opener, "Turn Up
the Sun," kicks it all off in classic stand-up-and-nod-along
Oasis style, and "Lyla," the first single off the album,
does too, taking us all the way back to the beginning of "Turn
Up The Sun" 7 minutes and 30 seconds earlier. See, they don't
just copy the Beatles! Until you hear "Love Like A Bomb,"
which has lots of ye olde Beatles in it, "A Bell Will Ring,"
which starts with a slightly slower riff than the one from "Day
Tripper" it could be modeled on, and my favorite song here, the
album's closer, "Let There Be Love." How they resurrected
John Lennon to sing on Liam's parts, I'm not sure, but the
song is surely going to be an arena sing-along classic. Other fine
offerings on the album include the circus-tent, vaguely burlesque
style of "The Importance Of Being Idle," the quick little
number, "The Meaning Of Soul" (although the lyrics are pompous
twaddle, appearing to affirm Liam's continued belief that he is god),
and "Guess God Thinks I'm Abel," which is a pretty little
number, but a little creepy, since when you see the title you immediately
think of the weirdo contentious relationship between Liam and Noel.
Some of the lyrics support that, too, but then there are the lines
"I could be your lover" and "Let's make it tonight."
Ew, who says "make it"!?! After a few listens I even fell
for the chorus of "Keep The Dream Alive," which at first
sounded like a bad amalgam of Tom Petty, Counting Crows,
and about thirty shitty, interchangeable bands you hear on "alt-rock"
stations. "Mucky Fingers" was a little weak, but then I
loathe harmonicas and would be okay with melting them all down so
Sporty Spice and other cuties never have to worry about running
out of metal crowns. I'll overlook the lapse.
If you like Oasis - and it seems to me people either love 'em or
hate 'em - then you probably already have Don't Believe The Truth.
If you like Oasis and don't have it yet, get off yer arse! You need
it now.
-Heidi Lamer
Track Listing:
1. Turn Up The Sun
2. Mucky Fingers
3. Lyla
4. Love Like A Bomb
5. The Importance Of Being Idle
6. The Meaning Of Soul
7. Guess God Thinks I'm Abel
8. Part Of The Queue
9. Keep The Dream Alive
10. A Bell Will Ring
11. Let There Be Love
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