Dig Out Your Soul is the seventh studio release from Mancunian Britrock legends Oasis. It was released in October 2008 going straight into the UK Chart Number 1 slot and its first single, 'Shock Of The Lightning' peaked at Number 3 in the UK Chart.

For the few people reading this who are yet to hear of Oasis, they are a five piece indie rock group from Manchester who are quoted as inspiration for many similar bands, past and present. Oasis themselves were a product of the 80s Manchester music scene and are quite heavily influenced by bands such as the Stone Roses. the band is fronted by the Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam. Liam is the main vocalist and occasionally hits the musical peaks of the tambourine or maracas, whilst Noel is the lead guitarist and sometimes sings the vocals, usually on the softer tracks. Liam and Noel, as am I, are huge fans of Manchester City Football Club and have supported in through thick and thin, this being a distinctive characteristic of both the brothers. The rest of the band members have changed since the bands formation as the band has experienced quite a turbulent history.

The Album

[Track 1 - Bag It Up]

The song kicks straight in with a simple, thumping drum beat with a harsh guitar riff for Liam to sing over, quite a charged start to the album in comparison to recent releases, a refreshing piece of news for the more longstanding fans. Noel backs Liam up vocally right through the song apart from when the beat slightly subsides for Liam to take presidence. This is the first time I have heard the album and I'm impressed with the opener. Not Oasis best work, but much better than a lot of their more recent songs.

[8/10]

[Track 2 - The Turning]

A much quieter start, the drums are just as prominent but a little less dramatic. the guitar is slow and resigned to a back seat. There is some personality and distinction added by a subtle piano piece. The chorus ups the tempo of the song and Liam is allowed to go for it in his preferred style. The verses are quite civilised in comparison. The song is pretty good but it lacks any real peaks, more of a 'by numbers' track. Not bad in the least, but forgettable.

[5.5/10]

[Track 3 - Waiting For The Rapture]

The guitar and drums bang out a tune with a nice synchronicity here and Noel is singing this time. Therefore the vocals are a little less gruff and a bit more emphasised. The lyrics themselves incidentally are quite good, if a little challenging to make sense of as per any usual Oasis song. The guitar/drum sync tip seems to carry on for the entirity of the song, I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not but the song as a whole is pretty good and again, quite different to the last.

[5.5/10]

[Track 4 - Shock Of The Lighting]

The songs feedbacks its way into a bouncing and minimalistic drum beat with the guitar employing a brand of rock inbetween soft and hard. Liam behaves himself vocally, not straining any of the words more than he should. (A crime of which he is frequently guilty - although that's half the fun of Oasis.) To be fair in the chorus he does insist on dragging the main line out. (" All in good ti-eei-eei-eei-eeime " in case you can't tell, it was meant to be 'all in good time') That's just me being pedantic as the verses speak for themselves. it is an energetic song and was an obvious choice for a first single, proving Oasis might be getting old but they're not past it yet.

[8/10]

[Track 5 - I'm Outta Time]

There is a backing vocal of 'La La La La' to open here. A slow drum beat and tepid, well-mannered guitar. Liam comes in with very mature vocals and really is behaving well this time, melody and harmony... TOGETHER!!! The bassline is relaxing and I really didn't expect to here a track so mellow on this album. I'm quite pleased with it all the same but its proof that they all grown up now. Even the older acoustic tracks had an attitude to go along with them, but the song has an air of men who have done it all and just want a rest now.

[6.5/10]

[Track 6 - Get Off Your High Horse Lady]

The songs start with a clapping in the background and a modest tune. The vocals appear sort of distant and are presented quite slowly. A more electric guitar creeps in after the first chorus and the drumbeat switches up a notch, as does the thump of the bassline although the slow backing guitar and the claps are still in the picture. The song, in honest is a little dull, I'm waiting for more to happen but I can't see anything else on the horizon.

[5/10]

[Track 7 - Falling Down]

This was the B-side the first single from Dig Out Your Soul and really starts much less abruptly than the A-side which it accompanies. The drums are quite heavy although the guitars are slightly less energetic. The lyrics are quite deep and Noel once again is singing. This song is caught halfway between a chilled tune and a pretty rocky anthem. Fortunately, this IS a good thing, the song is one of the best so far and it is probably the most intelligent offering so far.

[7.5/10]

[Track 8 - To Be Where There's Life]

There is a laboured guitar chord over quite a punchy drum beat. The lyrics are very suited to Liam and he delivers them quite typically on this track. The track is difficult to categorise, I would even go so far as to say the chord in the background sounds a little Bhangra. The songs picks up it's pace ever so slightly as it progresses and overall, not a bad track. I'm not bowled over thoguh to be fair,

[5.5/10]

[Track 9 - Aint Got Nothin]

The track begins with intention feedback, the guitars and drumbeat work in unison and back up the style of the vocal delivery on offer. The track is not all this way however. the guitars are unleashed for brief periods and Liam's vocals tend to vary from very rocky to a quite unexpected roaring almost. Not a bad track, but nothing better than 'alright.'

[6/10]

[Track 10 - Nature Of Reality]

Feedback plus maracas to open this song, then a grungy kind of guitar loop is added to a big bass drum and a pair of cymbals, with the ingredients making quite a decent tune for Liam to go to work on. The verses are isolated and feel less important when the bass drum is taking the lead. A few two syllable words turned into eight syllabled words and thats why I love Oasis in the first place.

[7/10]

[Track 11 - Soldier On]

The bass kicks the final track off, with a lethargic bassline and a basic punctuating drum beat. The vocals are slightly reminiscent of a cross between Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines and of course, Oasis. It's just so easy to distinguish Liam's voice he could never really pretend to sing like anyone else. As per usual for a last track, this is quite a mellow song in comparison to a lot of the others but it still has plenty of Oasis about it. The vocals are soothing in comparison to other songs and the ambience of the track is added to by a soulful harmonica about 3 minutes in to it. The song isn't miraculous or particularly groundbreaking, but it does exactly what it's supposed to, which is finish the album on quite a high and positive note in musical terms.

[7/10]

Overall

Firstly, there is a Japanese release for this album (which is the one I have) and it has two extra new songs. 'I Believe In All' which is quite a country rock type of number, the guitar probably is the best part of this song and it is quite a shame this song isn't included. Uplifting in comparison to some of the rest of the album. There is also an alternative version of 'The Turning' but not much special really.

To be honest, I'm quite relieved by this album. It isn't as good as the early days when Oasis still had all their youth and swagger, but it is much better than the last album 'Don't Believe The Truth' which only managed one or two good songs. The songs are a bit more creative and the band have tried to reignite their rock 'edge.' this album isn't exactly a 'must own' album but it is definitely a worthy release for Oasis seeing as it's their seventh full album.

The album is more than just one or two singles, it does have a time and a place, but if you get them right then this album should satisfy. Quite a good effort from oasis and it's pleasing to see they haven't lost it yet. Whatever 'it' is.

Compared to other albums, I would probably say that it was worthy of 3 stars. However, if I look at the product on it's own as a solitary item, then I reckon it deserves an extra star. When you compare it to Oasis in their heyday, it is easy to do this album an injustice, but when I compare it to everything else in the shops and the charts then I think 4 stars is deserved.