If it were any other band, a compilation album comprising of a bunch of lesser-known tracks originally bolted onto the back of early single releases would be nothing to get particularly excited about. But, of course, Oasis aren't just any band. They're the best band in the world.
Noel Gallagher has always maintained that a B-side is no excuse for an inferior song, it's not a place to shove the fillers when you can't be bothered to write a decent track. Whenever Oasis release a single the discussion among the fans and the industry is as much about the B-sides as it is the A-side, and with good reason. Oasis don't believe in remixes, 'radio edits' or 'dance' versions of existing songs. I've bought all of the CD singles over the years, at the time this album was released that numbered 12 altogether and, barring the occasional cover version or the odd live recording, every one of those 12 discs had four different, original songs on it. And I'll tell you something, the vast majority of them are very high quality tunes that are equally as good (some are better!) than anything you'll find on the 5 official albums.
Of those 30+ B-sides , 14 of the best have been compiled together here for the benefit of those who like the band and want to hear more of them but who can't be arsed (or can't afford) to root out all of the CD singles, some of which are relatively hard to find nowadays.

Track 2 is Underneath The Sky, taken from Don't Look Back in Anger. Now this has never been one of my favourites, I don't tend to listen to it very often but after giving it an airing for the purpose of this review I found it very difficult to find fault. It's a nice, simple little pop song with thoughtful lyrics and a gentle but upbeat rhythm. Not a classic, far from it, but I still found myself singing cheerfully along (and could remember the words) even though I hadn't heard it in a long while.
6 out of 10, maybe 7 on a good day.

Noel takes the mic' again for Going Nowhere, another ballad but with full production and the rest of the band backing him up, along with a quartet of violins and some pleasant sounding French horns too. I'm very fond of this track, it's a very nicely composed song with a particularly catchy chorus.

If there's a weak link on this album it's this one, The Swamp Song. It's a sludgy instrumental that was first heard briefly on (What's The Story) Morning Glory in those two short, untitled tracks and was later given the full 3-minute treatment for the single release of Wonderwall. The band often use this track as a kind of warm-up session when they do a concert and it sounds fab when played live but this version is just too long, is over-produced and ultimately ends up being a bit of a noisy racket. Why it's been included here is something of a mystery, Oasis have a wealth of superior songs to choose from that would have been a much more logical addition to this album. There was even a far better song on the very same CD single (Round Are Way - one of my favourites) which would have made much more sense to include.
4/10 for The Swamp Song.

Ahh now then, Headshrinker. What a tune! If, like I said earlier, Acquiesce is mean, fast paced and aggressive then Headshrinker is positively ballistic! Honestly, this track is nuts, listening to it is exhilarating and exhausting, the closest thing Oasis have ever come to full-on heavy metal. Structurally and performance wise this is very similar to Bring It On Down but, if it's possible, Headshrinker is even harder, faster and more exciting. The guitar playing is explosive, the drumming is ferocious and Liam gives his filthiest, most snarling vocals to date. Like Fade Away this song is seldom performed live because it nearly always sends the crowd dangerously loopy but this can be classed as one of Oasis' true long lost gems.
It's worth noting too that this was the fourth track on the Some Might Say CD, which by my reckoning means that all three of the B-sides on this single are better than the already strong A-side. Their first number 1, in fact. How many bands can you say that about? Hmm? Fantastic. 10/10.

So there you have it. One album, 70 minutes, 14 tracks (only one of which could conceivably be described as 'weak'), and one of the biggest kept secrets in British music. Not only does it come with at least 8 or 9 really great tracks and 3 or 4 more solid ones, it's bookended by two of the very finest songs of the 1990's, two songs that are likely to appeal to almost everyone, no matter what kind of music you're into.
If you've only heard the studio albums… you know, the songs that get played on the radio all the time, then you've only heard half the story. The Masterplan provides a great way of getting you up to speed on the other half, the more interesting half. And I don't just mean for the casual Oasis fan (the real fanatics will, of course, have bought all the singles anyway) but for anyone who appreciates good pop/rock/indie music and especially for those of us who are sitting out the (seemingly endless) wait for Oasis 6th album (due out in May, further delays notwithstanding).