Heathen Chemistry - Oasis

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Heathen Chemistry was a revelation to me, normally Oasis albums grow on me, I tend to find my favourite track, play that to death and gradually go and explore over a course of weeks/months/years. I can honestly say this album has been played from start to finish umpteen times without the skip button being hit. Why? Three words can answer that- It’s simply brilliant. What you get for your money is an album that shows that Oasis ...
...showed this but run throw Heathen Chemistry and it reveals some very poignant songs - the first to spring to mind is “Song bird” listen to the lyrics once or twice and you do find it rather unbelievable that the gobby little sod that is Liam Gallagher actually wrote this track. Before you hold up your hands and think this is Oasis getting in touch with their feminine side rest assured it’s not. It’s perhaps Oasis sounding polished, but still instantly ... more

Nearly a decade on from their debut album "Definitely Maybe", Oasis attempted to regain some credibility as musicians and not tabloid front page fodder. In the interim years after their second album "What’s the Story ? Morning Glory" was released Oasis was perhaps better known for their bad boy antics and not for their music. Noel Gallagher readily admits that their third album "Be Here Now" (1997 ) was the work of “two gob shites with a bag of Charlie” and that "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" (2000 ) was perhaps an album they shouldn’t have released. Back in 2002Heathen Chemistry was met with mixed reviews, largely positive but a few doubters slated it calling it mediocre at best! Some claimed it was Oasis in their post Beatles phase likening Liam to Lennon in his solo’s days and Noel doing a bit of a Paul McCartney. Certain tracks do make you think it’s heavily influenced by Lennon in his post Beatles era such as “Born on a different cloud“ “Song Bird“ and “Stop crying your heart out“. What is unique is the fact that this album isn’t dominated by the brothers Gallagher when it comes to song writing their co members Gem Archer and Andy Bell both contributed songs to the album abet one a piece.

Heathen Chemistry was a revelation to me, normally Oasis albums grow on me, I tend to find my favourite track, play that to death and gradually go and explore over a course of weeks/months/years. I can honestly say this album has been played from start to finish umpteen times without the skip button being hit. Why? Three words can answer that- It’s simply brilliant. What you get for your money is an album that shows that Oasis aren’t just that gobby little f***er Liam Gallagher filling tabloid inches but a band that does have talent and just perhaps a softer side. Many thought songs like "Champagne Supernova" from “What’s the Story?” showed this but run throw Heathen Chemistry and it reveals some very poignant songs - the first to spring to mind is “Song bird” listen to the lyrics once or twice and you do find it rather unbelievable that the gobby little sod that is Liam Gallagher actually wrote this track. Before you hold up your hands and think this is Oasis getting in touch with their feminine side rest assured it’s not. It’s perhaps Oasis sounding polished, but still instantly recognisable as Oasis. Or perhaps they finally realised that nearly a decade after "Definitely Maybe", and "What’s the Story?" They had to release a decent album and just perhaps they finally followed up with an album that is in the same league as the first two albums.

Opening with “Hindu Times” a track that could be best thought of Oasis hitting the ground running. It’s typical Oasis doing what they do best - a powerful song with plenty of guitar and drums and Liam sounding very much the Liam we all love. Some have said that this perhaps the best rock song Noel Gallagher had written since the Definitely Maybe days. What “Hindu Times” with it’s release some 3 months prior to the album coming out was rekindle the memories of the fans from the ‘93 days and get them thinking that just perhaps Oasis were back on form and not just a band living off their past glories. In my mind "Hindu Times" is indeed an excellent song that wouldn’t be too much out of place on either "Definitely Maybe" or "What’s the Story?" It’s a great opener to this album but shouldn’t be taken as an indication as to what’s in store for you. One thing Heathen Chemistry isn’t is an album trying to live the past glories of the early releases, it’s an album that shows Oasis is a band that is still good but has perhaps just matured a wee bit.

Much has happened in Noel Gallagher’s love life since he wrote “Wonderwall” about Meg Matthews, “Force of Nature” screams in best bitchfest way of a not so veiled pop at Ms Matthews. There’s no hiding who Noels talking about in this track with lyrics such as “"Smoking all my stash/Burning all my cash/Bet you knew right away/It's all over town that the sun's going down on the days of your easy life" Add to the fact you have Noel on vocals this track appears to be pointing the finger firmly in Ms Matthews direction. In an interview in Q magazine at the time of Heathen Chemistry’s release Noel vehemently denied that this track was a pop at anyone. “Force of Nature” opens with an almost Slade like sounding opening bars with typical Sladesque drum beats, for a few fleeting seconds on first listening I did wonder when Noddy Holder was going to pop up! It soon reverts back to true Oasis style abet minus Liam on vocals. If there is one track that could be deemed a “grower” than this would have to be it.

“Hung in a bad place“, is the first none Gallagher Brothers written piece apart from cover versions to appear on an Oasis album. Written by guitarist Gem Archer, it’s one of those tracks that does take you a bit to actually get into, that’s not to say it isn’t a good track it is and couldn’t be classed as an album filler. Unfortunately the lyrics are drowned out in places. The high light of the track must some rather spectacular guitar playing. It’s a decent enough track but not one of my favourites.

Add the London Session Orchestra, some stunning drumming, electric and acoustic guitar, both the Gallagher brothers on vocals with some very poignant lyrics and you have one hellva good song. “Stop crying your heart” out is pure class, some have said this was the song of Noel Gallagher’s life but I beg to differ. It is indeed a superb song and one of the highlights on Heathen Chemistry but it is by no means his best. It grabs you for all the right reasons and it’s a track I can listen to over and over. Die hard Oasis fan’s will probably disagree and see it as middle of the road pop but I rather like it! It’s one of those tracks that will have you singing along by the second listen.

I’m no big fan of Liam Gallagher, I think the bloke is a prize idiot to put it politely but you know something the gobby one who can fill tabloid inches at a drop of a hat finally redeems himself just a little bit with the Lennonesque sounding Song Bird! I like thousands of others did a double tack the first time I heard this acoustic track! I mean come on with lyrics like "Going to write a song so she can see,
Give her all the love she gives to me, Talk of better days that have yet to come,
I've never felt this love from anyone…………She‘s not anyone".this is not the Liam Gallagher we all know from his antic’s in the press is it? It’s by know means one of those tracks you’d add to your Top 10 favourite songs list a few years down the line but it is outstanding for it’s pure simplicity both musically and lyrically.

The one thing that Noel Gallagher can do extremely well is write a ballad, with “Little By Little” he comes up with the goods again. Perhaps not one of his greatest but “Little By Little” is one of those tracks you just can’t help but sing along to. Noel takes over the vocals and does a very good job in a track that starts of very slowly and melodically, livening up with an electric guitar solo in the middle. If I was to pick out one track on Heathen Chemistry it would have to be “Little By Little” for it’s poignant lyrics given the Oasis touch, it works honestly!

I’m not a great fan of instrumentals, this is not to say that Andy Bell’s offering on the album isn’t any good, just I keep wondering when someone, anyone is going to start singing. Thankfully it’s only 1minute 7 seconds of wondering!

The album gets back on track with “(Probably) All in the mind”, what you have here is another of those tracks you just know is Oasis doing what Oasis do best. It’s back to basics with this track, throw in some great guitar and bass playing, add a snarling, growling Mr Gallagher junior with some soul searching lyrics and you’ve got the ideal recipe for a great oasis track. Unfortunately it lacks something and for me it’s not one of the high points of the album.

Noel Gallagher said that “She is love” was written about those Sunday mornings when you wake up and your missus asks if you want a cup of tea and the day is perfect. “ She is love “ is a simple track and perhaps a very fitting tribute to the “missus” With it’s acoustic backing and Noel given a fairly decent vocal performance. It’s one of those tracks that grows on you especially when you start to look at the lyrics which are simple but very effective in getting their message across.

“Born on a different cloud” is the second track written by Liam Gallagher for “Heathen Chemistry” I did a double take when I first heard it as to be honest it sounds like something you’d have found on a Lennon solo album. That’s not to say it’s not a good track it is but the similarities with a Lennon solo track are very obvious, especially at the start. It’s one of those tracks that grows on you little by little(pun intended!) till you just can’t help singing along.

With Liam Gallagher’s third and final offering, “ Better Man” you come to the conclusion that the younger Gallagher Brother might well on subsequent Oasis releases give his older brother a run for his money in the song writing side of things. Liam’s offerings on Heathen Chemistry have shown that he can write a decent track or two. He might have a bit of a way to catch up with his older brother in the ability to write a classic song but none of the tracks he’s written on here could be described as duff! “Better Man” is one of those typical oasis songs that works. Maybe a touch formulaish but you can’t help but singing along. It’s not a bad closing song, but if you can be bothered to wait another 30 minutes or so after the final bars have faded away you’re in for another treat apparently with a brief instrumental track hidden away so I’ve been told.

Heathen Chemistry is perhaps the album that put Oasis back on track, giving the fans an album that is reminiscent of past greatness, proving that they still had something to give the record buying public other than photo’s in the Sun of Liam decking photographers. If they set out to emmulate past successes like "Definitely Maybe" and "What’s the Story? Morning Glory" then in my opinion they succeeded with "Heathen Chemistry". Buy it for “ Stop crying your heart out” “Little by little” and “Born on a different cloud” if not for the other tracks

Noel Gallagher claims that "Heathen Chemistry" is the second best Oasis album ever, I’m not going to argue with that. Here's hoping the Album in May is just as good!

“Cos little by little
We gave you everything
You ever dreamed of
Little by little
The wheels of your life
Have slowly fallen off
Little by little
You have to give it all in all your life
And all the time I just ask myself why
You're really here”

 

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