TotalTelly.co.uk
Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV
Don't Believe the Truth
Partly, though, it’s because Oasis sound like they’re functioning less like a not-so-benevolent dictatorship and more like a real band again. With only five songs written by Noel, contributions from Liam, guitarist Gem Archer and bassist Andy Bell have space to spread their wings a little: in particular, Bell’s "Turn Up The Sun" – a gargantuan opener that sees Liam deliver one of his best opening lines to date ("I carry the madness/ Everywhere I go") – proves mighty testament to Oasis’ new democratic bent. --Louis Pattison
RRP: £16.99
Our Price: £2.66 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Oasis have been accused of losing it and recovering it more times than any sane mind should rightfully remember, but whatever trajectory their controversial discography takes from here, Don’t Believe The Truth should come out looking like a rather proud success. Partly, it’s because Liam and Noel sound on such rude form: the younger, fronting with some of the old menace and successfully channelling his rather simplistic songwriting impulses on the lightly trippy, shaker-ridden "Guess God Thinks I’m Abel"; the elder playing some of his more devious tricks, imagining The Beatles’ Revolver played by a Mariachi band on "The Importance Of Being Idle", and doffing a cap to late-period Velvet Underground on "Mucky Fingers".
Don't Believe The Lies (and idiot reviews below)
Review date: 2008-09-21 Rating: 8 out of 10
Constructive criticism is one thing, but some of the scathing reviews I have read on here are nothing short of pathetic.
Quite what the hell people expect from Oasis in this day and age is beyond me. After years of relative underachievement, 'DBTT' should be celebrated not berated.
Between the release of 'Supersonic' in 1994 and the enormity of Knebworth in 1996, Oasis were untouchable. Two classic albums, nine fantastic singles (with phenomenal b-sides often topping them), a clutch of era-defining gigs... they weren't a band, they were living legends, and like many teenagers back then, Oasis meant the world to me.
But 'Be Here Now', for all its inspired moments (DYKWIM?, Fade In/Out, Don't Go Away) arguably pushed the formula too far, with a bored/arrogant Noel going through the motions, creating an overcooked monster built on foundations of feedback and rock cliches. The fact he denounces it so much now pretty much sums it up. I'd love to hear a stripped down/edited version of it, slimmed down by about 20 minutes or so.
'SOTSOG' was very much a transitional album, with Noel in reflective mood post-drugs, post-Creation... and, of course, the departures of Bonehead and Guigsy. It's a flawed record, sure, but there ARE good moments on there. You just have to stay awake through the rather bland production to hear them.
For me, though, I'd long since lost interest in Oasis, and I only bought SOTSOG out of habit/curiosity, as 'Go Let It Out' hinted Noel was striving towards new horizons, though the rest of the album never really caught up with it (that promise was arguably fulfilled on DBTT and maybe the new "groove-based" album, too)
I didn't buy Heathen Chemisty, though quite liked the (slightly Oasis-by-numbers) singles, and the interviews were still hilarious. I just didn't care anymore, and felt nothing they could do would live up to my earlier memories of them as a once-great band.
I had the same attitude towards DBTT, too, to be honest, and didn't buy it when it first came out. Liam's voice sounded shot to pieces on the live footage I'd seen of them, and I just assumed the music was just as poor.
But I was wrong! Yes! I admit it! I liked the new single, Shock of the Lightning, so gave DBTT a go on YouTube and was pleasantly surprised by what I was hearing, so I finally bought the album last week and haven't looked back.
Honestly, people, this album is A RETURN TO FORM. I say that in capitals because it's as cliched as it is true. The songs are tight, they sound like they're enjoying themselves again, the contributions from Liam, Gme and Andy add new depth to the music... and the only track I don't really care for is the most Oasis-sounding on there, Let There Be Love.
The music here is as honest reflection of where Liam and Noel are at now as any of their previous albums ( DM - mean, lean and keen; MG - confident, celebratory; BHN - arrogant, out of touch; SOTSOG - reflective, sober; HC - reborn, trying to move on), and that my friends is middle age.
They'll never produce another album like Definitely Maybe again, because they're no longer young, skint or living for the stars to shine anymore. Nor will they create another Morning Glory because you get the impression Liam and Noel have tired of trying to be The Biggest Band In The World anymore, and just want to make good music again.
They're acting their age, and have finally escaped the straightjacket of Beatledom, adding a more acoustic edge to their songs on DBTT, perhaps recognising that Liam has effectively had to shout through gigs for many years, and realising that sound of The La's wouldn't be a bad basis for future records.
But anyway, enough waffle. This is a good album, and proof (in my case) that you never forget your first love. After 8 years of indifference, I'm actually really looking forward to the new record.
But as for this record, listen without prejudice, appreciate for what it is (not what it isn't) and don't believe the lies.
Similar Products
- Heathen Chemistry
- Standing on the Shoulder Of Giants
- Be Here Now
- The Masterplan
- (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
Reviews
Worse than worst
Review date: 2008-09-06 Rating: 2 out of 10
Why the hell were the Gallaghers ever allowed to get near a recording studio. Ones is a loud mouth yob with a Lennon fixation. The other a talentless rip-off merchant. Boring tuneless drivel. What on earth is a talent like Andy Bell doing playing second fiddle. If you want to hear superb rock guitar listen to Andy on Ride's 'Grasshopper'. If you want to hear anything better than Oasis try anything-even the Osmonds!!
Nice singles but propably their worst album.
Review date: 2008-08-26 Rating: 6 out of 10
Be Here Now is a pretty controversial album, standing on the shoulders is too. Heathen Chemistry seems to have bared the brunt of a critical and public shunning and this one for some reason this is held up by fans as their best in 8 years.
The thing is the period following from WTSMG where Oasis abandoned their pop rock tendencies to write deeper music and experiment a bit has been cut off dead. Heathen Chemistry was a bag of tricks, some less well realised than others, it was also Oasis's most recent strong album with loads of great songs that didn't get on the best of LP. This album however sees Oasis writing a lot of songs that sound the same.
Turn up the Sun is an attempt to make a tidy opener. We all know the best way to open an Oasis CD is with a powerful rocker (see Hindu Times/ Hello / Rock and Roll star / D'ya Know what I mean) this song actually reminds me of Travis more than Oasis. Like Oasis are forcefully trying to not be so heavy. Mucky Fingers is a dirty useless acoustic track with smart lyrics and an impressively dull musical component.
Lyla and The Importance of being Idle are also available on the best of Stop The Clocks and if you don't mind missing out on the brilliant starry eyed ballad Let There Be love, I suggest you just get that. Love Like a Bomb / Meaning of Soul are unsuccessfully half songs, dumb lyrics, boring guitar riffs (especially the Liam penned Guess God thinks im able)
After this is a set of songs that sit well together A Bell will ring, is a nice bouncy little number, Queue in this town / Keep the dream alive sounds pretty similar. I suppose these 3 make me give the album an average mark 3/5.
Overall this album is far too dull and uninspired, yet so short it never gets into anything intresting. Theres some nice singles, but try and get them seperatly. The redeeming feature is of course the power drumming, peaking into every track and adding some momentum and action to the basic uninspired guitar work.
Unfairly Treated
Review date: 2008-08-23 Rating: 10 out of 10
Oasis are the last bastion of real Rock, they deserve better treatment. They've kept good music alive for at least a little while longer while utter dross like the Hoosiers and Girls Aloud release their appaling 'music' but still its oasis who get bad press because this isnt as good as their first 2 albums. Well thats unfair, oasis are rock legends and this is some way better than anything else that was in the charts at the time of its release. Just stop criticising it and show some respect!
The Future Is In This Album...
Review date: 2008-06-16 Rating: 8 out of 10
... for Oasis that is. It's certainly not on terms with their debut or follow up, but it easily surpasses anything most artists release these days. This album show incredible maturity and doesn't try desperately to sound like the 'old' Oasis, like on the previous album Heathen Chemistry.
Lyrically, it's one of Oasis best, and Liam just gets better with his songs on each album. The production is stripped right down - a far cry from Be Here Now - and attempts to sound like something from the 60s. And thankfully, it works.
The album shows a lot of potential for future work and let's hope they keep it up.
Product Details/Specifications
Artist(s):
Oasis
Recording label: Big Brother
Manufacturer: Big Brother
EAN: 5050053007926
Binding: Audio CD
Release date: 2005-05-30
Number of discs: 1
Disc 1 Tracks:
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
Publishers: Big Brother