Oasis Album: “Standing on the Shoulder of Giants”

I guess Im still from the old school camp who thought that Be Here Now wasnt really THAT bad. I agree with Noel who has been quoted in interviews saying that it (BHN) really didnt deserve all the credit that it got when it first came out but, by the same token, didnt deserve all of the slagging it got after everyone realized that they had given it 8 out of 10. But isnt that what is so great about Oasis anyways? That they can release albums which meet a public both feverish and fed-up with them. They have always been, for me, the perfect antidote to the Pavements and more "literate" rock of the 90's...or the spotlight-fearing likes of Eddie Vedder and Co. Deceptively simple and straight ahead...the songs and the band seem much more obvious than they really are. It's more in the feeling and emotion that those who still hold Definitely Maybe so dear still know and feel. Producer Mark "Spike" Stent has given that sound a more dense, hypnotic sense...and the album, overall, a less-polished feel. If you don't like Oasis chances are you still aren't going to like them after this record. I've gotten in way too many arguments trying to make converts out of some of my friends :) Go sit and listen to SOTSOG...take it for what it is...NOT Definitely Maybe, NOT Be Here Now, Not WTSMG, NOT The Masterplan...but, rather, another step and more great pop/rock music.

"I dont believe in magic cause life is automatic...." ----Noel

First of all, I own every other Oasis recording, know every note of every song ever committed to disc by them, and as such am obviously in agreement with the obvious: Definitely Maybe and Morning Glory ARE CLASSICS of 5-Star quality. Be Here Now is unnapreciated for sounding cliche-ridden and sounding like the other two, but it is UNDERRATED, seeing that it contains some classic Oasis songs... Standing on the Shoulder is the work of a more mature Noel Gallagher, who no longer seems to swagger a la "Rock and Roll Star", ditto for Liam, who should stick to singing and banging the tambourine... "Little James" is only redeemed by Noel's melody. Do they sound like the Beatles? Yeah... And like Big Star, T-Rex, Slade, The Stones, The Stone Roses, and The Jam, too. SO WHAT? WHO CARES? Did the Beatles invent tape-looping, overdubbing, tablas, and sitars? Did they rip off Brian Wilson, Phil Spector and Ravi Shankar? This is much mellower than "Definitely Maybe" and "Be Here Now", more like "Morning Glory", though Noel seems to be seeing Cornershop as his main artistic rivals now, now that Blur and The Verve are no longer challenges. Thus, the "Tomorrow Never Knows" feel to Liam's voice and the studio trickery. There are only two singles here: "Go Let It Out" and "Where Did It All Go Wrong", but "Roll It Over" is haunting and challenging. This is NOT tired and mediocre, merely more challenging and textured: the work of a more subdued band. The loss of Guigsy and Bonehead SHOULD be felt, however... That's the main challenge for this band, not the general MTV-based public's opinion. Who cares about fair-weathered John and Jane Q.Publics who now own Ricky Martin and Backstreet Boys records and who once owned Morning Glory? Real fans' opinions count only. And being real fans give us the right and obligation to TRY to be objective. Which is why I give it 3-Stars.

It seems that nowadays when entities in the public eye get really big, those who are not astute supporters thereof jump on the wagon of condemnation. Oasis is a really big band- and no exception to the abovementioned rule.

This is a good rock 'n roll album: good melodies, good instrumentation, brilliant vocals. Gas Panic is awesome (listen out for the tempo change at the beginning of verse 2); F**king in the Bushes is their most original piece of music in years; Who Feels Love? is lush, brilliantly sung and does NOT sound anything like ANY of George Harrison's music; Sunday Morning Call is easily my favourite Noel Gallagher-led tune; and Roll It Over is as enduring as anything else released of late.

The unmentioned trax are all solid in their own right- it's no disgrace for a song on an Oasis album not to get a mention.

All in all this is a fine effort from a fine band- don't let the bad reviews discourage you, and don't draw anything from the Realplayer samples- the REAL thing sounds a LOT better...

Just fron the album cover and their new logo, you'll know Oasis has a few new things in store for their fans. While I do like Be Here Now, it did suffer from overkill and runs a little too long. SOTSOG is a excellent change of pace and while they've added some new elements to their music, it is very much vintage Oasis. Most of the songs are shorter but are still filled with the terrific sense of melody that Noel has captured since day one.

The opening track is rowdy and archaic built on samples from the legendary 1970 Isle Of Wight concert film. Go Let It Out is a fun and straight out rocker. Who Feels Love, Gas Panic, Where Did It All Go Wrong, Sunday Morning Call and Roll It Over are the other standouts. Little James isn't nearly as bad as it's been made out to be. The overall production is a little grittier than before and the use of keyboards and organ gives many of the songs a classic psychedelic feel to them. The performances are all first rate. Along with Liam, Noel's vocals are feature on several tracks and sounds great. The backing female vocals is a nice touch and adds something different to those songs as well.

On first listen, it may not sink in but give it a chance. Unfortunately it seems that today's young music listeners have the attention span of a canned ham which pretty much explains the current state of popular music. For me, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants is a keeper and a worthy return for Oasis.

I can only start this review by saying that this is the first Oasis album which I find myself skipping over several of the tracks. Even the harshly criticized "Be Here Now" had songs which were instantly listenable, the tracks on this CD have to grow on you and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.It starts with the instrumental "Fuckin' In The Bushes" which features lots of sampling, drum loops, etc. Noel apparently was going for a dance-feel which no doubt is inspired from his club hopping days as a youth. However this is a let down. Considering his fantastic work with the Chemical Brothers I was expecting something much more interesting but this track turns out to be a repetitive bore. It doesn't even come close to their earlier rock instrumental "The Swamp Song"."Go Let It Out" was the first single and rightly so. A very upbeat tune with noticable basslines (bass was not something that was easily picked up on in previous Oasis songs.) The lyrics harken back to their previous efforts with happy-go-lucky, positive vibes.The creaky and overly psychedelic "Who Feels Love?" shows it's face and the words that Liam sings sound like some hippie chant. A bad 60's sound-a-like.Oasis finally shake it up with the rock track "Put Yer Money Where Your Mouth Is" though it is strictly a by the numbers Oasis tune though it is well paced and the keyboards are a nice touch but Noel, sometimes *less* distortion is better.By far the most laughable aspect of the album is Liam's inept lyric writing which takes the form of "Little James", an ode to his step son. Calling it "simplistic" would be too kind. Lyric sample; "You live for your toys, even though they make noise." Please Noel, keep Liam away from pen & paper.Lyrically, "Gas Panic!" might be one of Noel's best ever, dealing with his past drug abuse sounding more like a poet than I've ever heard..."My pulse pumps out a beat to the Ghost Dancer. My eyes are dead and my throat's like a black hole..and if there's a God would he give another chancer an hour to sing for his soul?" Noel sings lead on "Where Did It All Go Wrong?" on one of the 2 true gems from the album. Is Noel letting his age get to him? He seems to question his whole life on this album.."Do you keep the receipts for the friends that you buy? And ain't it bittersweet, you were only just getting by." Noel has a gift for stressing the words at the absolutely perfect moment in *just* the right way. You *feel* what he's singing about and is the mark of a wonderful singer."Sunday Morning Call" is the other gem I was speaking of and once again features Noel on lead vocals. I do think this is the best of the album. Beautifully arranged and Noel sounds so angelic, it has "single" written all over it as it's possibly the most radio friendly of the bunch with one of the best crescendo's I've ever heard. Again Noel finds himself questioning his past songwriting as "Live Forever" once proclaimed he would do just that but now..."your thoughts and words won't last forever more.." Sad to be sure."I Can See A Liar" and "Roll It Over" round out the album on a somewhat dulled note. These last 2 tracks are almost entirely uninspired and probably commit the worst crime a song can do.....you can't remember how they go when they're finished playing.Lyrically this CD contains Noel's most mature work but other than a few of the stand outs I've mentioned, the music is far from catchy though I applaud him for straying from the tried and true "Oasis sound" and doing something different combining 60's sounds with 2000 technology.This is the last album to feature "Bonehead" and "Guigsy" (their original bass & rhythm guitarists) which is ok by me. They were decent enough but the new members, Gem Archer and Andy Bell are BIG mark ups + they're songwriters who will contribute to their next album in a few years finally giving Noel a rest and making Oasis a true "band". Now that I'm looking forward to.Note; The U.S. release contains a bonus CD featuring "Go Let It Out" (again!?!) and the wonderful "Let's All Make Believe" which was a B-side to "GLIO" in England. The B-side *should* have been on the album and it's inclusion alone would have made me give the album **** instead of ***, it's that good a song. Lyrically simple yet somehow powerful as it brings out strong emotion in me...."Let's all make believe that we're still friends and we like each other.." that's a good line to end on I think.