When Oasis released their debut CD last year, Definitely Maybe, amidst brotherly fighting, pissing off many of the "business" people associated with the band, and in general being hyped in the UK from here to the Mohave, I was certain that Oasis would be a one album wonder. Well, it's nearly one year after that release, more than ten strong B-sides later, and their second album, (What's The Story) Morning Glory has completely proven me wrong.
It could be mentioned that the Gallagher brothers still wear their late 1960's (see: Beatles) influences on their sleeve, but also show a little more with their nicking of the Gary Glitter track "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again" on the opening track "Hello". Just as "Rock And Roll Star" was the perfect opening to Maybe with its proclamation that Liam was, already a star, "Hello", via Gary Glitter, lets the listener know that the band is back.
And, yes, the Beatles influence is still prominent; "She's Electric" starts with a snippet from "With A Little Help From My Friends" and ends with the Billy Shears fade from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". "Don't Look Back In Anger" opens with a "Let It Be" piano intro then launches into a powerful piece which evokes a vision of an unmade video, with 20,000 people waving their hands while Liam Gallagher warns "Please don't put your life in the hands / of a rock and roll band / who'll throw it all away".
These influences, however, aren't ripped off, but fully integrated into a blend which will make critics 20 years from now talk about the "Oasis sound".
"Wonderwall" is "Live Forever", part 2, and will probably be the band's American huge modern rock hit. And, the UK single "Roll With It" actually comes off as a modern rock-by-numbers which loses its flavor in several listens. Don't judge Oasis off their slower commercial tracks, however - it would be throwing away the rest of today's best rock and roll band. The closer, "Champagne Supernova", brings in Paul Weller on an 8 minute epic jaunt that could just be the song of a new generation.
The verdict is in, and (What's The Story) Morning Glory? is a masterpiece from start to finish. Oasis is to the 1990's what R.E.M. was to modern rock in the 1980's - definitely brilliant.
