Disco de Oasis: “There & Then”

Although "Familiar to Millions" tops this one for interviews, slick bonus material, and production value, true Oasis fans should get "There and Then" first. Why? Because Liam's performance here is much better.

While the overall band performance on FTM is superb, Liam's voice is weak and disappointing. I hate to say that as I love this band, but it's true.

"There and Then", on the other hand, captures Liam at his best. You will keep watching this for the great live performances. The video shows Oasis at the peak of their worldwide popularity and it is magical.

I keep going back to FTM to watch the hilarious interviews with Liam and Noel and to get a sense of the atmosphere at Wembly Stadium, but get this one first for the music!

I should mention that I haven't yet seen "Live by the Sea".

Watching the tour Oasis launched in 1995-96 in support of "(What's The Story) Morning Glory?" was a bit like seeing the rebirth of rock and roll. I did not get to see their English shows, but did catch them stateside, and what an amazing thing it was to see this band, five guys on a stage, with guitars, no ridiculous special effects (a la Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd) - just playing brilliant music with brilliant attitude. This film, capturing two English performances from the era, is a time capsule of what Oasis' early brilliance and what made us love them before they went a bit crazy. Never have they sounded better live than the Maine Road performance captured here. To be honest, I do not think I have ever heard better live rock and roll than the Maine Road show. Highly recommended, even to non-Oasis fans, for the exhibition of the rock show as power musical performance, rather than effects-laden side show. Absolutely brilliant.

Previous to receiving this DVD this Christmas, I had allready owned the VHS version of the same title. I'd gotten hooked to watching REM Road Movie on DVD while I dinked around on the computer and I was looking forward to seeing the same great picture with Oasis. I was let down because the picture is very grainy and full of pixels. Though I love being able to hear the great live songs while I surf the net, it is upsetting that even though they had a chance to get that razor-sharp look they passed it up. I would opt to just stick with VHS for this title.

It's hard to believe but it's been 15+ years since Oasis crashed onto the music scene with its debut album "Definitely Maybe", which now sounds to me like a greatest hits album in and of itself. Over the years, Oasis has releases 4 official live recordings on tape/DVD: "Live at the Sea" (recorded in 1995), this one (recorded in 95-96), "Familiar to Millions" (recorded in 2000) and "Lord Don't Slow Me Down" (recorded in 2006).

"... There and Then" (17 tracks; 95 min.) is culled from 4 shows, 2 from London in November, 1995, and 2 from Manchester City in April, 1996, when the band was touring relentlessly behind the "Morning Glory" album. Now looking at it, it is clear that this is the band at its absolute peak. Just take the 2 opening numbers, the searing "Swamp Song" instrumental, and "Acquiesce", a B-side that is as good as any song the band has ever made. The 17 songs on here are mixed pretty evenly between the 2 albums the band had made so far. Liam is in top form, as is the rest of the band. I bought this when it first came out on VHS, and it's now even better on DVD, with the sound clearer and crisper. The editing is a bit herky-jerky at times, but in all this feels like a slice of history, frankly, as the band has never been better (The "Live at the Sea" was recorded earlier than this, although released later, but the band is not yet as good as on here.)

I saw Oasis for the first time live in the Fall of 1996 at the Murat in Indianapolis (only months after part of this was recorded), and what a great show that was. The band was hungry to conquer the US, and it showed. If you want to watch the band at its peak, don't hesitate and buy this.

There is nothing conceptually better than Rock n Roll. And this band proves it well with their music. OASIS is better than everyone else! Live forever!