... That unfortunately didn't happen with "Be Here Now". Noel Gallagher called it the album written by "two gob shites on Charlie" and in places it sounds like it! Expectation would lead to the critics and the fan base demanding another album stuffed full of Wonderwalls, Rock and Roll Stars and ... Read review
In retrospect, it's hard to see how Oasis could have possibly equalled the hype ... more
surrounding the release of this, their third album. Arriving as their popularity was at its peak, it's a confusing, faintly self-indulgent collection. The first single, the...
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In retrospect, it's hard to see how Oasis could have possibly equalled the hype ... more
surrounding the release of this, their third album.Arriving as their popularity was at its peak, it's a confusing, faintly self-indulgent collection. The first single, the ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
In retrospect, it's hard to see how Oasis could have possibly equalled the hype ... more
surrounding the release of this, their third album. Arriving as their popularity was at its peak, it's a confusing, faintly self-indulgent collection. The first single, the...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
In retrospect, it's hard to see how Oasis could have possibly equalled the hype ... more
surrounding the release of this, their third album. Arriving as their popularity was at its peak, it's a confusing, faintly self-indulgent collection. The first single, the...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Some good tracks Disadvantages: Over indulgent production. Some weak tracks.
...a good notch or six. Be Here Now's main problem is not the album it's self but the fact it came after two mega albums and it was assumed it would be mega too. Take "Be Here Now" as an album in it's own right and you know something it's not that bad, It's not mega good, it's B minus if you were to give it a school report mark. It's when you compare it to the proceeding pair that it runs into problems as it's then you know Oasis could have ... ...card. It's never going to be a firm favourite and I doubt many Oasis fans if asked to name their personal favourite Oasis album would shout without hesitation "Be Here Now".
"Be Here Now", released in August 1997 was produced by Owen Morris who two years previously had produced "What's the Story Morning Glory". During the period 94 -97 Noel Gallagher had already written two albums and stuffed singles ... more
When your first album was perhaps the album of the 90's, your second album gave it a good run for it's money you end up having to produce an album in the same league for your third album. That unfortunately didn't happen with "Be Here Now". Noel Gallagher called it the album written by "two gob shites on Charlie" and in places it sounds like it! Expectation would lead to the critics and the fan base demanding another album stuffed full of Wonderwalls, Rock and Roll Stars and Champagne Supernova's unfortunately "Be Here Now" failed to live up to the hype and was written off as dirge, mediocre at best and dire in some quarters. On first hearing I shelved it thankful I'd bought it on Ebay and not HMV. But it suddenly occurred to me What if it was the first album I'd heard? What if they'd released "Be Here Now" as the debut album? So I played it again, not comparing it to any thing released previously but listening to it as if it was the only Oasis album and you know something it went up in my estimation a good notch or six. Be Here Now's main problem is not the album it's self but the fact it came after two mega albums and it was assumed it would be mega too. Take "Be Here Now" as an album in it's own right and you know something it's not that bad, It's not mega good, it's B minus if you were to give it a school report mark. It's when you compare it to the proceeding pair that it runs into problems as it's then you know Oasis could have done so much better it's then you give it the " Could have tried harder" comment on the report card. It's never going to be a firm favourite and I doubt many Oasis fans if asked to name their personal favourite Oasis album would shout without hesitation "Be Here Now".
"Be Here Now", released in August 1997 was produced by Owen Morris who two years previously had produced "What's the Story Morning Glory". During the period 94 -97 Noel Gallagher had already written two albums and stuffed singles with B sides that could have been singles in their own right It is perhaps this generosity that led to a distinct lack of outstanding material for "Be Here Now". If you flip a few of the singles in the period prior to "Be Here Now's" debut you really will see some outstanding material that lesser writers would have hoarded to showcase on an album and not on a b side. Why such a great as "The Master Plan "- one of the best ever Oasis tracks was a B side to "Wonderwall" and not saved for an album I'll never know. If "The Master Plan" had been on "Be Here Now" along with other superb B side tracks like "Talk Tonight" and "Acquiesce" then just maybe "Be Here Now" wouldn't have been the tired third album or the album Noel Gallagher has referred to as " The Great Rock And Roll Swindle"
Before you assume that "Be Here Now" is a tired jaded album stuffed full of tracks written on the back of fag packets on the way to the studio it's not. It's like most albums, it has some good tracks, it has some ok and it has some bad tracks. As state previously "Be Here Now's" greatest problem is two fold, it had to compete with two mega albums and a distinct lack of outstanding material. Over production is an offender in places, "D' you know what I mean" is a classic example of this. It was rightly the first single of the album going to number one in the month prior to the albums release but it's a track the starts of as some kind of Art School meets psychedelia then goes into classic Oasis, to end again with a self indulgent Art School approach. At 7minutes 42 seconds it's far too long and the meat of the track is lost amongst the experimental intro and exit. "D' you know what I mean" could have been classic track if experimental over production had been left in the taxi on the way to the studio. It's a great track, it's got that pure thundering Oasis sound in places but it's gift wrapped with an arty approach that bares little relation to the track, which is a shame as it could have been up there with the greats you know!
Thankfully the Art School experimentation has been ditched on several of the tracks along with the excessive timings. Perhaps someone should have informed the band that it's ok to knock out a rock track in under 5 minutes, but don't try under 5 minutes in the bedroom. Unfortunately the longer tracks stand out for all the wrong reasons as to be honest they would have been a hellva lot punchier if a couple of the over indulgent sounding minutes had been lopped off in the studio. Why it was thought The wonderful "All Around the World" needed nearly 10 minutes I'm not too sure. The essence of the song got lost after about 5 minutes for me. A short, sharp and punchier version would have been so much better .
Don't get me wrong this is not an album full of long self indulgent tracks as it's not. We have the classic straight for the jugular tracks, the mean, snarling tracks that are something Oasis can pull off with a certain flare and on some they do it with flare, two that spring to mind are "My Big Mouth" and "Be Here Now" -They've both got that classic Oasis sound - it's about playing music and using the tried and tested pack a punch method . Others that you would stick into the back to basic mode are: "I Hope I think I know" and "Don't Go Away".
If Noel Gallagher can do one thing well it's write those tracks that I've heard him call " and there's something for the ladies as well" I'll not debate the overt sexism in that remark but yes "Be Here Now" does have those certain tracks. Unfortunately these tracks had to live up to the classic gentler, melodic tracks on "What's the Story, Morning Glory". It's unfair in a way because the bluesy sounding Magic Pie with Noel Gallagher on lead vocals is wonderful but of course it wasn't going to compare to "Champagne Supernova" or "Cast No Shadow" was it? No track was going to that at the time. Even "Stand By Me" which reached number 2 in the singles charts wasn't going to do make it. The trick I found is not to compare, see them for what they are and yes Noel Gallagher has managed to tuck in a couple of excellent tracks "for the ladies"
For all of you that wrote off Oasis after buying "Be Here Now" go back, blow the cob webs off it and play it again. Don't compare it to anything else, forget it's self indulgence in places and just listen to it because in places it's really not that bad at all. It had a lot to live up to, yes it might not be "Definitely Maybe Mark 2" but it's not the worse album I've ever heard, it grew on me. To call it the album that, finally sent Oasis to the bargain bin would be completely wrong. I'll not say it's a firm favourite of mine as "What's the Story, Morning Glory" will always be the best Oasis album EVER for me -well for this week……
Track Listing: 01. D'You Know What I Mean? 02. My Big Mouth 03. Magic Pie 04. Stand By Me 05. I Hope, I Think, I Know 06. Girl In The Dirty Shirt, The 07. Fade In-Out 08. Don't Go Away 09. Be Here Now 10. All Around The World 11. It's Gettin' Better (Man!!) 12. All Around The World (Reprise)
Advantages: Some cracking tracks, another example of why Oasis have been so successful Disadvantages: The first signs of slightly poorer tracks
...natural that the third wouldn't be quite as good. That's not saying it was a bad album, because it wasn't, it just didn't compare to the earlier 2. They set the standard so high with the firs two albums that the expectation was extremely high. The more I've listened to the album the more I've appreciated it and I think that's probably more what Noel was going for.
Rather than hook you straight away, Be Here Now is more of a grower. Again it had ... ...why they are considered to be one of the best Indie rock bands in the world. There is a higher tempo to this album than What's the Story and with certain tracks that really works well. One of my favourite tracks on the album is "I Hope, I Think, I Know", which provides the perfect blend of up tempo guitars and a decent backing drumbeat. As with all tracks on the album the vocals merge into the track nicely and that helps to make it a lot more listenable.
...
Andy.mack 05.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Be Here Now - Oasis
Advantages: 5 Good tracks, still displaying that Oasis verve and sparkle Disadvantages: 7 Not so good ones, tired, complacent and reeking of arrogance
...sounding...a track that deserved to be a single, I think it received an outing in Australia.
'Be Here Now' is another plain irritating track that you might as well be listening to down the Dog and Duck on a Saturday night. Pub rock crap, for the sake of a 50 minute album just look at what could have been jettisoned from this album. That brings us to the execrable 'All Around the World'. This novelty Beatles rip-off is an insult to the fab four, ... ...far too familiar sounding to be of any note.
The album ends unwisely on a reprise of 'All Around the World', which kinds of sums the album up...Bloated. It feels very tired and complacent in places and just far too pompous in others, a mixed bag alright. Too loud by half, no real changes in emphasis or feel. Even the sleeve design is a hackneyed pastiche.
A potentially good 40 minute album, but instead a 72 minute yawn fest. ...
dadmancat 14.04.2001 (15.04.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Be Here Now - Oasis
Advantages: best song included in the album. Disadvantages: none
This album is my favourite simply because it includes the greatest oasis song they have done so far - don't go away, a truly brilliant song. Other good songs on the album include, magic pie and stand my me. All true Oasis fans will of course know this but i thought i would just let people know one of the many milions of fans favourite songs. This album actually does not include the largest amount of my favourite songs, but is still the best. The ...
supermac 12.10.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Be Here Now - Oasis
Advantages: Simplicity, Vocals Disadvantages: Lyrics, doesn't compete with the first two albums
Now Be Here Now is an album that was hammered by the critics, and since he has been clean from drugs, Noel Gallagher has certainly been critical of this album. I don't blame him, because he's the songwriter of Britain's most important guitar band and you've got to have high standards, but overall, Be Here Now is definetley listenable and has a few high points. If this was made by another, lesser known band i'm sure it would have been critically acclaimed. ... ...they were writing and recording Be Here Now. It results in an album that was certainly over hyped, especially by the Gallaghers. An example of everything seeming better than it actually is when you're under the influence. Some of the tracks lack direction. It's obvious that some of them are too long, and some just lack anything exciting. But remember this is Oasis were talking about and they hadn't put a foot wrong before rteleasing this album. Some ...
Doobster 06.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Be Here Now - Oasis
Advantages: A couple of classic tracks Disadvantages: Every song over-produced and most substandard self-parodies
In the middle of the 1990s Oasis brought us two of the most outstanding albums in the history of popular music. Then they released 'Be Here Now'. Few bands have fallen from grace quite so quickly in terms of quality. This album was recorded with almost exactly the4 same line-up and back room staff employed in the making of the excellent '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?)'. It is longer, with more guitars, more stings, more production, but zit really ... ...due to over-production by Owen Morris or just because they're bad songs in the first place.
Oasis themselves now know the reasons why this album is so s**t. People heaping praise on them, the exotic lifestyle, not to mention the drugs. It was the ultimate Rock 'n' Roll excess that led to this LP. The government should play young drug addicts this album to show just how harmful drugs can be. Now, let's run through the songs. The opener 'D'You Know ...
kfingleton 14.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Be Here Now - Oasis
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Despite their absence, personal problems and flagging musical reputation (BeHereNow) Oasis made a surprise return to form with last years ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’. Defiantly one of the best albums of the year along with Radiohead’s ‘Kid A’ and Primal scream’s ‘Exterminator’. Oasis have found a much need new direction in tracks such as ‘Sunday morning Call’ and ‘Whole feels love’ but perhaps most admirably the opening instrumental ‘Fucking in the bushes’. ‘Go Let it out’ is the usual Oasis anthem and sounds rather monotonous and received much more attention than the better tracks ‘Gas Panic’ and ‘Where did it all go Wrong?’.
However Oasis have always had had a downside; he’s called Liam ...
Advantages: Hopefully their last album Disadvantages: everything
It is becoming increasingly apparent that Oasis should have packed it in after BeHereNow, as this is sven worse than that dire effort. It is not hard to see why half the band left and even Noel is getting sick of Liam. While trying to add a bit of 'modern' influence to their music but outting in a bit of loops and a whistle fails miserably and shows how totally irrelevant Oasis are today. While BeHereNow had about 4 decent songs this album fails to meet that, with the first two singles sounding like they wouldn't even have made it onto a b-s-de in the first or second album period. No doubt this will be their last album and it'll be a bout 4 years too late. Pack it in boys, you done all you can and you're only becoming an embarassessment. Crap. ...
Advantages: Very unique album compared to their others Disadvantages: Few skip tracks on there
That's what I thought the first time I heard about it. But how wrong I was, shocked me. You know a great band when they can pull out an album like this, composed entirely of b-sides! It opens on the all time classic "Acquiesce", and ends on the album titler
"The Masterplan" which is also an all time classic. The album remains consistent throughout, with few exceptions. The only issue I have with it, is that some of the tracks lack orignality such as "Fade Away" and "Half The World Away". But it's what Noel does best, recycling old tunes.
The variation in tracks is also very evident, as the songs are plucked out of 3 different era's of Oasis, right from their debut up to BeHereNow. I also noticed how Noel Gallagher, was taking most of the lead vocals on this album, which helped to make this album even more unique from the others ...
Big Brother / PIAS UK/Sony DADC, Creation / Sony Music/Arvato Services, Big Brother / Vital/TEN
Producer
Owen Morris; Noel Gallagher
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
5055019600821, 5017556602195, 5099748818720
Catalogue Number
RKIDCD 008, 4881872
Additional notes
Album Notes
Oasis: Liam Gallagher (vocals); Noel Gallagher (guitar, background vocals); Bonehead (guitar); Guigsy (bass); Whitey (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Johnny Depp (slide guitar); Mark Feltham (harmonica); Mike Rowe (keyboards); Mark Coyle (programming). Recorded between November 1996 and April 1997. "All Around The World" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video. Shamelessly enamored of The Beatles, Oasis uses BE HERE NOW to serve up another heaping platter of larger-than-life rock and roll garnished with Fab Fourisms. Noel Gallagher's ambitious songwriting and production (which, not coincidentally, was done at Abbey Road) result in an average song length of almost six minutes and the full, gnarly guitar sound that's become Oasis' trademark. "Magic Pie" and "All Around The World" incorporate brassy orchestration reminiscent of "Let It Be," while the former's name seems a less-than-subtle nod to Macca's FLAMING PIE album released a few months prior. Aside from the band's constant worship at the Beatles shrine, Gallagher occasionally draws from other sources, sharply addressing the uncertainty of fame with the slam-bang rock and roll of "I Hope, I Think, I Know" and the latter-day Stone Roses sound of "Fade In-Out" which prominently features guest Johnny Depp's slide guitar. With their nemesis Blur busy trolling the noisy depths of lo-fi, American indie rock, BE HERE NOW proves to be another jewel in the crown of Brit-pop, which is now perched more firmly than ever on the collective, if occasionally swollen, head of Oasis.
Album Reviews
Q (1/98, p.114) - Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1997." Melody Maker (12/20-27/97, pp.66-67) - Ranked #8 on Melody Maker's list of 1997's "Albums Of The Year." NME (12/20-27/97, pp.78-79) - Ranked #25 in NME's 1997 Critics' Poll. Rolling Stone (9/4/97, pp.65-66) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...'60s and '70s rock classicism writ large and loud, all broad strokes and bullish enthusiasm....[Noel Gallagher] fires up sing-along hooks with industrial-strength glam-rock licks..." Melody Maker (8/16/97, p.49) - "...At their best Oasis is untouchable. Here they occasionally reach a best which is better than any best you might have previously imagined possible." NME (8/16/97, pp.50-51) - "...Mammoth. Probably. But without the large hairy bollocks....each song already resonates with the vast, communal spirit that has propelled them thus far....here are yet another 11 songs the slightly sozzled world will be bursting to sing..." Entertainment Weekly (9/5/97, pp.72-73) - "...They're still angling for the set-in-Stones title of the World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band....a truly massive attack, a thick-as-Guinness crunch of guitars and drums all cranked to 11....each track [is crammed] with keyboards...sound effects, and layer upon layer of Noel's twisting, shimmering guitar overdubs..." - Rating: B
Titles on disc 1
1.
D'you Know What I Mean
2.
My Big Mouth
3.
Magic Pie
4.
Stand By Me
5.
I Hope I Think I Know
6.
Girl In The Dirty Shirt
7.
Fade In Out
8.
Don't Go Away
9.
Be Here Now
10.
All Around The World
11.
It's Gettin Better (Man)
12.
All Around The World (reprise)
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