Disco de Oasis: “Time Flies... 1994-2009”

This is the package that fanatics, newbies and even those who "gave up" after 'What's the Story Morning Glory' will all appreciate. Disk 4 features their last recorded show (which demonstrated how really, really good they were even at the end). You also get on Disk 3 a wide-ranging music video set that smartly brings the studio version of "Acquiesce" into the mix. Those who stopped listening after 'Morning Glory' can see why although the mid and later albums may have not been as good, the singles often were. "The Hindu Times", "I'm Outta Time", "Go Let it Out" -- all have that quality of sounding like some unearthed masterpiece by an imaginary British supergroup. What one realises after hearing most of the best of Oasis is that the band not only stood on the shoulders of giants (to borrow from one of their album titles) but were THEMSELVES giants. The imaginary supergroup isn't imaginary at all. It's them, channeling our collective musical memories of Beatles, Kinks, stadium-rocking Who, T. Rex, Sex Pistols, Hollies/Easybeats singalong pop and "Rust"-era Neil Young into a mythic musical persona of their own.

The main reason why I give the deluxe collection five stars is that there are so few artists capable of even hoping to assemble such a massive and memorable body of work.

What's missing? This is a UK a-side singles collection with additional video and concert material. Therefore you won't hear the original versions (and in some cases any version) of "Champagne Supernova", "Don't Go Away", "Listen Up", "Underneath the Sky", "Step Out", "I Hope I Think I Know", "Where Did it All Go Wrong" or "Roll it Over." Those were either b-sides, album tracks, promotional radio singles or non-UK singles. (Note that "Acquiesce" is present only because of the promotional video for the earlier compilation 'Stop the Clocks.') Too bad, because "Don't Go Away" in its original version stands as one of the greatest rock vocal performances of all time by any band, and "Listen Up" in my view is absolutely timeless. However, these missing pieces of the puzzle demonstrate that the biggest part of the Oasis story wasn't in the singles but on their albums, b-sides and live performances.

Have no doubt: There are brilliant television performances, unused b-sides and various other items sitting in the vault. Those will have to wait for another day.

If you are a hardcore Oasis fan, you would ask yourself: why to get the same songs all over again? and If you are the casual Oasis fan you may ask: should I get this, or purchase the regular collection?... For any of you, this is a recommended collection, it contains all of their singles, 2 Discs filled with them, Including 2 songs never released before as part of a collection, those being 'Whatever' and 'Lord Don'r Stop Me Now', some versions vary on their tracklist, depending on which singles where released where (US, UK, etc) but don't worry, there is a DVD video disc wich contains all of their video singles, and some more videos such as The Masterplan, A rare live Aquiesce version and some more. All of the videos contain commentary tracks by the Gallager's wich are entertaining (and as you may know, hard to understand, specially Liams! haha) as a "bonus" there is a concert, titled their last recorded on CD one, it features a good track selection tough the audio isn't superb, I think I could've been better, but it's a nice adition to this set, which is cased in a nice box. Highly recommended.

most fans are going to have most or all of the music on the two discs already but the videos and live cd are well worth the price.

great having all the videos in one place, plus the commentary on the all the singles videos. I would have also liked commentary on the "non-single" videos like Champagne Supernova but that is a minor quibble. also a few odd choices on the additional videos, like the odd one with impersonators and Gas Panic which appears to be from "Familiar to Millions." would have been nicer to have a clip from one of the other shows that aren't available for purchase elsewhere.

The live disc is also worth the price, though Liam inexplicably stops singing in several songs, the overall sound quaility is great.

on the videos, it's still amazing as an american how bad so many of the britpop bands videos (esp the early ones) were compared to those in the US at the time...it's a shame because back then those were how people were exposed to bands and britpop bands were far better musically than a lot of american groups at the time. it's superficial but probably part of the reason bands like blur, oasis pulp etc didn't catch on the way they deserved to.

This is a very good compilation spanning throughout the whole band history. It's a pity that a few great songs were left behind, but compared to the previous "stop the clocks", this can be considered the "essential" Oasis collection. A big plus on this box set edition are the extra live CD and, finally, the videoclips. I got my box this week and I'm a happy man. Oasis lives forever!

if you are an oasis or rock fan, you must have time flies... their singles are great, they are in a great live performance, and the video quality is awesome! very nice, buy it before it's sold out, i'm listening to it everyday here in Brazil!