REVIEW: Oasis, The Masterplan (Epic)
- Bob Gajarsky
In the spirit of their forefathers the Beatles and rekindled during the eighties by the Smiths, Oasis consider each track available for commercial consumption to be an opportunity to establish themselves as the greatest band in the world. Now, finally, American audiences get the opportunity to judge Oasis' claims for themselves on the B-sides compilation The Masterplan.
Whether displaying the acoustic charm of book-ends "Half The World Away" and "Fade Away" (the latter appearing in an electrified form on the Bosnian relief album Help! ), a driving Southern-rock boogie instrumental "Swamp Song", or covering the Beatles on a spitting image cover of "I Am The Walrus", the 14 tracks here represent a smattering of the other side of Oasis.
The title track is a five-and-a-half minute epic-in-the-making taken from the same cloth as "Don't Look Back In Anger" and "Champagne Supernova" with the same full-orchestra feel, while the best song of all, "Acquiesce" brings together all the elements that people love and hate about Oasis; the Gallagher sneer, Noel's classic writing in the style of Lennon, and a perfect segueway from verse to chorus to verse without missing a beat. Sure, the writing is simple, but no one else seems to be doing it right quite like this.
There are at least five songs here which, in their native England, could be considered legitimate smash singles. In one sentence, that about sums up the power of Oasis - a B-sides album that is stronger than many bands best efforts.
With such a wealth of material in the Oasis 'vault' (nearly 35 non-album tracks from 14 singles and EPs), it would have required a minor miracle to screw up this compilation. Completists may rue the loss of Japan-only tracks (such as a cover of the Beatles "You've Got To Hide Your Away") or the vinyl-only tracks released in England (such as "Bonehead's Bankholiday", an ode to Ringo), but American fans should rejoice at the opportunity to add this album to their Oasis collection. TRACK LISTING: Acquiese, Underneath The Sky, Talk Tonight, Going Nowhere, Fade Away, Swamp Song, I Am The Walrus, Listen Up, Rockin' Chair, Half The World Away, It's Good To Be Free, Stay Young, Headshrinker, The Masterplan
