REVIEW: Oasis, Be Here Now (Epic)
- Tim Kennedy
Oasis have assumed a Beatlesesque importance in the life of the British public. Adored by millions, despised by indie purists, detested by political pundits for their presumed bad influence on the young. The controversiality of the band mirrors maybe the period the Beatles went through when they announced they were doing acid. Liam is as hotly debated for his bad attitude as was the Stones way back when. And of course the music they make is played everywhere. They are a fully fledged phenomenon.
This album is two years since the second, Morning Glory which established them in the wider public gaze. It comes amid a ruthless publicity campaign which has made Creation Records widely reviled by critics around the country. It has sold by the truckload in the past several days since release.
The first thing that strikes you about this album is it sounds big! Loud, cacophonous guitar makes this almost metal in parts. But once your nerves have learned to cope with the assault, great tunes come running out like beetles from under an upturned rock. The album opens with the sound of World War 2 bombers, possibly aiming their loads at the press who have given the band a bit of a hard time over the last year.
"D'You Know What I Mean" is a fitting opener and makes a lot more sense in the context of the rest of the album. Over repeated listens what becomes attractive about this song is the feeling of eager anticipation it engenders.
"My Big Mouth" is very punky, in a Sex Pistols vein. It describes Noel's chequered relationship with the media, especially in relation to his outspoken comments on drug use. Exciting, fast and furious, this song harks back to the first album Definitely Maybe.
"Magic Pie" is a lowkey psychedelic-tinged rocker that has a peculiar vocal effect in parts. Based upon a Moog-ish keyboard riff it goes on a little long and the chorus is maybe a little pedestrian a tune for an Oasis song.
"Stand By Me", is notable as one of the two standout tracks on the album. It has a tune that sets the hairs on the neck a-prickling, better even than "Don't Look Back In Anger". The lyric starts implausibly with 'Made a meal and threw it up on Sunday/ I've got a lot to learn'. Liam is in best-ever form on this album and this song is possibly his best performance yet. The ironic 'What's the matter with you/sing me something new' pokes at detractors who accuse the band of plagiarism; in rock music, that particular accusation is like handing out speeding tickets at the Indianapolis 500.
"I Hope, I Think, I Know" is a typical Oasis rocker which is decorated by the again-superb singing of Liam. It thunders along in a familiar punk rock fashion.
"The Girl In The Dirty Shirt" is a love song explicitly aimed at Noel's wife Meg. Whilst entreating her to cheer up, the track lopes along with a tune which whilst seeming at first humdrum, actually hides some sparkling gems of hooklines.
"Fade In Fade Out" is a blues-tinged call to arms, and a dare to any other band that might stoop to criticise Oasis. The guitar is almost inflammatory with its stop-start intro. This track would be eminently suitable as the track to play when your favourite soccer/football/whatever team were taking the field. It isn't a million miles from Jon Bon Jovi's "Blaze Of Glory" either.
"Don't Go Away" is the other stand-out track on the CD. The lyric is a heartrending one, which clearly refers to the pain of leaving his wife whilst touring abroad, and the clash of band versus relationship priorities. The guitar intro steps a little on the toes of the old Oasis favourite "Slide Away" from the first album, but it develops into a thing of awesome majesty which Noel could justifiably have carved on his gravestone.
"Be Here Now" has an unusual techno-ish intro/riff, and on immediate listen appears a bit ordinary, but on repeated listens proves to be quite catchy. The refrain 'Been kickin' up a storm / since the day that I was born' constitutes two references to his birth so far!
"All Around The World" is clearly meant to be the keynote track of the album, with its lets-all-get-together-and-be-mates concept, and the chorus is repeated for an astonishingly long time 'All around the world/tell 'em what you heard/Gonna make a better day'. For the more cynical listener, this may be difficult to stomach. However it is couched in a rather humourous set of verses. Some might say (!) that there are rather too many na-na-na-na's here. The tune is again, on immediate listening, a bit ordinary, but it soon insinuates itself into your senses, and delivery men will soon be whistling it. The brash optimism of the track ('It's gonna be ok') wins in the end.
"It's Getting Better Man" is a fine, raucous punkoid anthem which steps back from the almost ludicrous singsong-ism of the previous track. It is definitive traditional Oasis territory and an old punk could even pogo to it.
The album ends with an orchestral reprise to "All Around The World" which reiterates the 'message'. The band have now managed three good albums in a row which is quite an achievement in these times. They don't claim to be original - they aren't original anyway - but they are the best at what they do. What they do is create songs that strike a chord with an astonishingly wide-ranging audience. This is a rare talent for a serious rock act.
The final sound on the CD is someone walking away, and a door slamming - a mysterious portent...
