Don't Believe The Truth (Limited Edition/+DVD/Parental Advisory) [Digipak] [PA] - Oasis

Oasis. A band of the past? Old music? All the same? Their new album certainly disproves all those theories and I'm almost certain it is going to turn some heads amongst disbelievers and critics alike.

This is quite possibly THE best Oasis album since Definitely Maybe in 1995, and with new conspirators Gem Archer and Andy Bell, they are certainly out to prove that they have still got it.

For those of you that have been ...
...the greatest Rock 'n' Roll band ever to grace the British music scene. They first appeared back in 1995, with the arrival of the 'Brit Pop' culture, and since then they have had five studio albums and have toured the world, establishing their names as rock gods. Their most recent achievements include selling out top venues, including Madison Square Gardens, within an hour and commencing their latest UK tour. Their influences include: The Rolling ... more

Oasis. A band of the past? Old music? All the same? Their new album certainly disproves all those theories and I'm almost certain it is going to turn some heads amongst disbelievers and critics alike.

This is quite possibly THE best Oasis album since Definitely Maybe in 1995, and with new conspirators Gem Archer and Andy Bell, they are certainly out to prove that they have still got it.

For those of you that have been sleeping for the last ten years, Oasis are quite possibly the greatest Rock 'n' Roll band ever to grace the British music scene. They first appeared back in 1995, with the arrival of the 'Brit Pop' culture, and since then they have had five studio albums and have toured the world, establishing their names as rock gods. Their most recent achievements include selling out top venues, including Madison Square Gardens, within an hour and commencing their latest UK tour. Their influences include: The Rolling Stones, The Who and of course Beatles, giving them a unique sound that will be resonating for many years to come.

The album opens with a classic rock 'n' roll track “Turn Up The Sun". Written by new boy Andy Bell, this track is based around the final words of the late George Harrison, “Love One Another" and with none other than Zak Starky, as with many of the following tracks, on the drums, this is a top track, to kick-start Oasis' return to fashion and fame.

Mucky Fingers is quite different to any other Oasis song in that it is mainly made up of power chords and a continuous “four-to-the floor” style cymbal/drum beat. This pounds the song along, with Liam’s vocals bobbling along on top. Another track showing that they can do more than just pure rock ‘n’ roll.

The third track of previous albums has brought us such classics as: Wonderwall, Live Forever, Magic Pie and Hung In A Bad Place, and Lyla certainly follows suite. Their first single release off the album, Lyla is an up-beat, soft rock song that Liam describes as one of the few tracks “for the ladies”. Starting with a guitar chord base, the drums steadily build up, through fills, into a banging rhythm force, driving the tune along. Lyla is very much a musical masterpiece if nothing more than a pure, cheerful pop/rock song. A current urban myth going round is that the subject of this song (Lyla) is the cousin of Sally from Don’t Look Back In Anger, (possibly the same person from The Stone Roses’ Sally Cinnamon).

Thus follows Love Like A Bomb. One of the few tracks ever to be written by Liam Gallagher, this is a pleasant acoustic number, strangely enough about love. Featuring an instrumental part from the second verse to the end, with a piano part provided by Primal Scream’s Martin Duffy and a harmonica/mouth organ playing in the background. A simple, kind-on-the-ear, trebly track, perhaps showing a different, more androgynous side of Liam.

Reminiscent of The Kinks crossed with The Beatles, The Importance Of Being Idle, is a poppy number, with a jumpy backing track. Sung by Noel, the song is very much along the lines of Lazing On A Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks), generally about not doing anything and the style of the music.

The Meaning Of Soul, another short and speedy outburst care of Liam is maybe a bit of a fill-in track, but none the less is a competent, guitar chord driven song. Best described as blink-and-you’ll-miss-it genius.

Subsequently, Guess God Thinks I’m Abel is another acoustic-based guitar song, with a burst of heavy distortion towards the end. Also written by Liam and also written about love, this is further proof that the addition of Gem and Andy Bell has hugely influenced Liam’s song-writing capabilities, helping him churn out great songs like this. With light percussion running through the song, it is definitely up there with Songbird (Heathen Chemistry) and Love Like A Bomb.

Part Of The Queue is a folky, percussive song, starting with a high tempo guitar chord sequence, layering in the drums, percussion and voice parts. Recorded at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, the influence of The Dandy Warhols, Dave Sardy can strongly be heard in the acoustic guitar backing track, when compared to Get Off by the Warhols.

The second song on the album written by Andy Bell, sees the return of rock ‘n’ roll to the album, with this five minute masterpiece, entitled Keep The Dream Alive. With a guitar solo over two minutes long, its no wonder it got on the album, bringing back memories for Noel of Be Here Now (1997), reminiscing the “Wayne’s World” style solos.

Gem’s single written contribution to the album is a true Oasis anthem, A Bell Will Ring. This track is very self-explanatory and could of easily been written by Noel and put out on Definitely Maybe or Morning Glory. Top tune.

The final song gives us a mellow track entitled Let There Be Love. Another piece of acoustic brilliance by Noel, featuring piano and mellotron part throughout, adding to the sombreness of the song. Not only has Noel written this, but he also sings the third verse, before it bursts into an instrumental, then returning back to Liam and an acoustic guitar. Eventually the track finishes with a very up-beat instrumental, with Paul Stacey banging out the almost improvised piano.

Compared to most of the music this album is most certainly a breath of fresh air for most people. Whether you are a true fan of Oasis, or you never really liked what they did the first few times, you should, in my opinion, get out there and buy this album because Oasis are back. Not back in anger, but back in vengeance to prove they can still do it…
 

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