Disco de Oasis: “Standing on the Shoulder of Giants [Clean]”

I'm posting my review on the "clean version" section since there doesn't seem to be enough here.. (click on the explicit one for loads of reviews)

This album is incredible; I loved it right away. Go outside and get yourself a copy, IMMEDIATELY. If Be Here Now rubbed you the wrong way (I disagree with the critics, Be Here Now was rockin) SOTSOG won't. Its got the rocking pit stuff (I Can See a Liar, Pur Yer Money Where Your Mouth Is) the anthemic sing-alongs (Go Let it Out, Roll it Over) and the heartfelt Noelesque songs, which are the true jewels of the album (Who feels love?, Gas Panic!, WDIAGW?, and Sunday Morning Call). Noel's lyrics on this album also surpass any of the ones before- listen carefully to the Gas Panic lyrics; they're pure genius. The songs will take you on an incredible journey through Noel's mind- it seems as if he's exploring many personal issues he's had to deal with after becoming so huge- (an increasing paranoia along with an anxiety of growing older) that is obvious in his songs. It makes the album that much more appealing and endearing to any listener who has any knowledge of what Oasis is all about. However, I do miss the long intros/musical interludes and some of the `earthiness' that was present in WTS(MG)? and Be Here Now. An incredible song like Gas Panic deserves more `air time' to set its mood. I wonder if it's because the pop-inclined Mark Stent polished up and chopped off too much of the ruggedness of the album. Nonetheless, this album is enormously addictive and absolutely fantastic! (And, if you can see them, Oasis are even better live. They play a super tight set and Liam's voice is flawless!)

Ok, so if all you Oasis kids are listening out there, this album is pretty darn good. Yes, I expected another, "Definetly Maybe", but come on, we're all in need for a change, right? I have no complaints about this except for track #5 "Little James" (Liam is god in my book and I love him to death, but Noel is the songwriter and he is the singer and it should stay that way). They took a huge leap from the last album and I have to say that that is why they will always be my favorite band--because they reinvent themselves musically and lyrically (cheers to Noel). And Liam still has the most unique sounding voice that there is in music today in my opinion (Liam is my baby! ) "Roll it over" is a song that I think everyone can relate to, "Gas Panic" is one of those songs that you can't stop listening to (trust me, I should know :) ), and in my opinion, "Sunday Morning Call" touched me on a personal level (it will to you too, I'm sure). If you're a true fan than you will appreciate this album. If you're not, then you have no idea what you've been missing. All the doubters have said, "Oh, they're trying to be like the Beatles, screw them", but I'll tell you what. Every band that is out today has gotten some style from another band before them....Oasis is the only band that has the balls to admit it....Cheers

This album is not as bad as some reviewers said.It is a very good one after Oasis releases thier best for all time"What's the story,morning glory" . I think most songs' guitar sound is not distinguishable,thus the melody is not so cathchy.But if you turn the "BASS" OF YOUR STEREO DOWN,YOU WILL KNOW HOW GOOD THIS ALBUM IS. BELIEVE ME!

This was Oasis' fourth album after the disappointing "Be Here Now". I think most fans had expected a step upwards again with this album, but unfortunately this was not the case. Compared to the excellent "What's the Story, Morning Glory?" this is really a disappointment. In every respect this albums falls short compared to WTSMG. It does not have all the great songs, it is a much poorer production, Liam's vocals sound strained in comparison and the overall impression is one of lack of inspiration.

Having said all this, it does have some minor highlights. "Go Let Let if Out" is not a bad single, and one of the few tracks that has the old sound of the band. "Who Feels Love?", with it's Bee Gees vocal harmonies is also decent, but too long. The same can be said about "Gas Panic", a track which also suffers from too heavy production and too much sound - not a bad song, though.

"Sunday Morning Call" has a nice melody, but some very poor synth-choir keyboard sounds - still my personal favourite on the album.

"Roll it Over" is also a good song in the same vein as Champagne Supernova" and "Cast No Shadow", though not quite in the same league - again too longwinded.

Maybe the fact that only "Go Let it Out" was chosen for their "Stop the Clocks" compilation, says it all.

Released in February of 2000 after a bit of a hiatus and with Paul Arthurs and Paul McGuigan both gone, "Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants" finds Noel Gallagher determined to re-invent Oasis. Quite frankly, he didn't really succeed (as Noel would be the first to admit), but that doesn't mean this album is a failure. There are some mild techno/ electronica flavorings to be found, plus some gospel-like backing vocals on a few tracks, but realistically, for the most part "...Giants" wholeheartedly embraces the trademark Oasis sound. Furthermore, you can hear a lot of traces of previous Oasis songs on here--notice the choruses on "Who Feels Love?", the chord progression is a carbon copy of the chorus from "Hey Now!"; "Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is" is strikingly similar to "(I Got) The Fever"; and the riff-rocker "I Can See A Liar" seems to incorporate snippets/ pieces from at least a handful of previous Oasis songs. All that said, this is still a great album. Liam Gallagher gets his first songwriting credit on an Oasis release with the amusing yet heart-tuggingly earnest and charming 3-chord power ballad "Little James". Apart from that, Noel's once again running the show, often filling in on bass as well, and he's got lots to offer. "Go Let It Out" is a great rousing anthem. The haunting and explosive "Gas Panic!" is intense and cathartic. The album-closer "Roll It Over" has arrestingly dreamy verses, forceful Liam vocals, & a flawlessly-executed "Come Together"-ish guitar solo. The moody "Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is" sounds a tad forced with Noel's cameo vocal appearance toward the end, but otherwise it's a great surging rocker, as is the raging "I Can See A Liar". Noel sings lead on two songs--"Where Did It All Go Wrong?" isn't a bad song, although it does sound startlingly generic for Oasis; "Sunday Morning Call" is a little rote and melodramatic, but it's still strong, and again, has an arresting dream-like atmosphere. The Eastern-flavored "Who Feels Love?" is marred by an annoying loop, but overall it's pretty great and has excellent vocal harmonies.

I think some listeners were expecting this album to sound more different and uncharacteristic of Oasis than it does. It's worth mentioning that 2 of the b-sides from the "...Giants" era--"Let's All Make Believe" and "One Way Road"--sound more like an extention into exciting new territory for Oasis than most of the tracks on the actual album; perhaps Noel simply felt these two tracks didn't fit in on here, hence their b-side status. One wonders this even more since "Let's All Make Believe" was on a bonus disc that was included in supposedly "limited edition" pressings of the album.

I do feel that "Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants" is weaker than each of Oasis' preceeding albums, but like I said, this is still a great album, and it certainly doesn't deserve the mind-boggling negativity that it has received by many fans.

(P.S. Don't let the fact that "Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants" was released in this "clean version" give you the wrong idea--the only swearing on the album is provided by samples from the movie "Message To Love--The Isle Of Wight Festival" on the otherwise instrumental opening track "F***in' In The Bushes".)