Disco de Oasis: “Familiar to Millions”

It was July 2000, Oasis played Wembley Stadium in London for two nights in a row. The heat was on, the expectations were high, and the thousands of fans that crammed the famous soccor field were "mad for it!" Everything was going good; Oasis were and still are the biggest band in England with a timeless influence on most of the bands coming out of America and Europe today, and they were to take the stage by storm, but there was one too many problems: Liam had just broken up with his then wife actress Patsi Kensit, was seriously drunk, and Noel wasn't talking to him. The effects of all of the above are evident on this recording.

Liam greets the fans as soon as he steps onstage after the intro of F**kin' In The Bushes fades out with a hammering comment at Wembley Stadium, calling it a 'sh*thole', before sarcastically and hilariously saying "Hello, Manchester!" which is welcomed with a few boos from the crowd and a giggle from Noel. After that, the music plays on with a collection of their most recent singles from their 2000 album Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants: the handraiser Go Let It Out and the soothing Who Feels Love, before venturing into a string of greatest hits, in no order: Wonderwall, Don't Look Back In Anger, Live Forever, Stand By Me, Roll With It, Champagne Supernova, and Supersonic. In between songs, Liam and Noel are heard commenting with and at the crowd ("This is for all the people in the front row..." as Liam presents a song), the lighting operator ("...turn the f**kin' light off!" as Noel scorns the poor fellow), and each other ("Let's have a couple more of these songs, Noel...write a couple more of these babies!" as Liam presents Supersonic). The highlights on Familiar To Millions are the cover versions of The Beatles' Helter Skelter (taken from the US tour), and Neil Young's Hey Hey My My (which Noel sings with a passion), and the B-side Step Out (which is an underrated Noel sung number).

Familiar To Millions may not be the best live album ever released; in my opinion, it is not (Liam's tired voice is enough to convince me). But the Gallagher brothers manage to make it unintentionally entertaining and funny at times.

Recommended

B-

Most of Oasis' greatest songs are on here, and they sound just the way you'd expect live: amazing. Don't Look Back in Anger is, if possible, even better than the studio version; the band goes insane on Supersonic and Shakermaker; only Champagne Supernova seems to lose some of its eerie grace with the more rough-around-the-edges live sound. Of course, Liam acts out a bit: it's hard to catch what he's saying most of the time, but it's quite amusing when you do.

"This is for all the people in the front row...no not you...nor you guys...alright, maybe you. And you."

Even songs that were less than classic in the studio, like Roll With It, get a boost from the live energy - on that particular number, Liam now advises us not to let "any f*****" get in our way.

And while the band is great, the audience is impressive in their own right:

-There's a moment during the first verse of Wonderwall when they suddenly sounds like the world's biggest gospel choir.

-Such is Liam's faith in them that he even lets them take the whole chorus of Don't Look Back in Anger - and even though it comes through a bit muted, it's pretty incredible.

Finally, Liam's weary take on Stand By Me, supported by the always-enthusiastic audience, has to rank among the most affecting pieces of music ever recorded. It's just so - _romantic_.

This double album set was amazing. The sound quality was great but it still felt as if you were rockin along right with them live at the concert! Awesome music at real good price.

I tried for years to hate Oasis, calling them "Beatle robbers", etc.

Gladly I came to my senses and learned to accept them for what they are. Not virtuoso players by any means, but you don't need to be when you have consistent, solid rock songs time after time.

If you listen to the Wembley crowd belt out the chorus to "Don't Look Back in Anger" and you don't get chills... well, maybe this music is not for you.

The covers are the weakest parts of the album, but it is still worth a listen as an entire performance.

Highly Recommended.

Oasis's first live album, while fantastic, is unfortunately about three or four years too late. Everybody knows that Oasis was on top of the world in '95-'96, and it would have been nice to have a live record from their glory days, such as Knebworth or my personal favorite, the second night at Maine Road. Unfortunately the new additions to the setlist (Go Let It Out, Who Feels Love, etc.) just don't measure up to some of the older live stuff (Whatever, Some Might Say, Round Are Way). And sure, with the new members Oasis is tighter than they used to be, but at times during the SOTSOG tour (when Noel walked out) the Oasis lineup was beginning to be unrecognizable compared to the original five. Personally, I still miss Bonehead and Guigsy.

I also wish Oasis had not scrapped their acoustic numbers that used to be a staple of their early shows. Even Wonderwall is performed electrically on this album.

Fortunately Oasis is so good that this album couldn't possibly fail, even if Liam's voice is becoming more and more gravelly with every tour. Highlights include an amazing cover of "Hey Hey, My My," a wonderful medley of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" at the end of C&A ("that's rock and roll, mister" says Noel), and an epic end to the Wembley gig, "Rock 'n' Roll Star." All in all, it's a must for any Oasis fan.

For those not as familiar with Oasis, I suggest you check out the live video and DVD "There and Then" to witness the band at the peak of their success. The opening number, "The Swamp Song," will give you goosebumps.