Oasis DBTT - Early opinions?

Only had a quick listen, but im finding Liam's voice very grating! Track 5 sung by Noel is a bit of a relief! and is the best one so far...
IMO its not a patch on the likes of 'whats the story' but like i say its only been a quick listen on the way to work in the car. Any one else heard it yet????


Hawk

More "pub rock". Quite like the single though. A very obscure version of a derek & the domino's song, I believe.

Basically it is crap! I have heard it in HMV and, to be honest, the reviews so far have been very misleading. I remember when Q gave 'Be here now' a 5* review - what a joke! I think magazines give them a decent notice just to ensure an interview; Oasis still sell for the music press. The problem with Oasis is that they have not progressed and they sound very much of 'their time'; their time being 1994.

I actually like 'Be here Now', In fact I think it's better than 'What's the Story..' though clearly it's not a 5 star album (I might give it 4 though).

Their last two have been Ok without any particular spark, very much take it or leave it affairs. Not heard the latest yet. But it has been the subject to the typical 'There best album since....' review, Which have been liberally applied to Every artist struggleing to find their former glories (Prince, Bowie etc etc)

Soccer Hooligans In Tomorrow Never Knows Theft

I quite like it; in fact I've been looking forward to its release for some time. In some weird way (and probably only to me) the album sounds (and by that I mean the recording, not the tunes) like the recent Finn Bros. album. Very dry, emerging from "inky blackness" to appropriate a phrase from Hi-Fi Corner. Lyric clunkers abound in some of Liam's songs (Turn Me On, Blow My Mind etc.); what is this, 1968? Interestingly, acoustic guitars dominate the proceedings; they're not trying on Definitely Maybe Vol. II. Most Obvious Nick: "Mucky Fingers" (the Velvets' "Waiting For My Man"). Songs about sunshine, love, and self-belief dominate the proceedings. Noel is slowly allowing the others more songs on each album, a move which augurs well for future Oasis albums. I think Liam is well on his way to being the second-best writer in the band! (He'll have to get round Gem and Andy though.) They've avoided the temptation to try and re-create past glories, and sound like a band growing up, but not getting "mellow".

I bought the Dual-Disc and CD versions, just to stuff the album chart ballot box. Likely to no avail; Americans (not me!) disdain Oasis, having never "got" their interview style, which put Americans off, or at least those who don't read the NME. It'll be interesting to see how Don't Believe The Truth does up against the new Coldplay album.

There it is: I like it. Partly because I identify with the Gallaghers who, like me, are music fans who became musicians to some degree to be a part of the scene their heroes were part of, rather than being original genius-type musicians. I suspect their disc collections are like mine: the Beatles (doh!), John Lennon, the Kinks, XTC, Crowded House, Badfinger, etc. Oddly, I tend to agree with the reviews which see DBTT as Oasis' best since Morning Glory; cynics will have to catch up later.

Only heard the single, which is okay, but then again it does sound to me very much like the Stones' "Street Fighting Man", which is very much better than okay.

Everything Oasis have released that I've heard since WtS:MG has struck me as okay, but nothing I particularly feel I should own. And so it remains...

Pete.

It does seem that every new Oasis album follows the same pattern...

a) Every review prior to release says they're back at their best

b) Everyone is disappointed when it finally comes out and they quite obviously aren't

c) There's a lull period where no-one can be bothered listening to it.

d) the album starts getting listened to again a year or so later and everyone realises it's actually OK and as good as anything anyone else has put out on the Indie market... but its still not DM or WTSMG and never will be, we just have to accept that.

Jonathan

I've listened to it some more, and it's really growing on me. "Guess God Thinks I'm Abel" (written by Liam) has the most startling and exciting ending of any recent song. The last three tracks ("Keep The Dream Alive","A Bell Will Ring" and "Let There Be Love") are a 1-2-3 punch right outta Revolver and Abbey Road territory. Great stuff, and indication that the "everyone writes" strategy is paying off. Here's hoping Zak joins full-time, he's the ideal sticksman for them; having Ringo for a dad gives you a certain long-term perspective as a drummer.

In my mind, Oasis have finally earned their reputation. This is the best band in rock, right now.

I forgot to mention. The tracks "Eyeball Tickler" and "Won't Let You Down", the B-sides from "Lyla", are also rather good. Once again, Gem and Liam writing, not Noel.

Bhazen - glad you like it. I have read some disastrous reviews on it. One out of five in one paper.

As far as I am concerned I will not be wasting my money.

Adrian

Ah, well. One man's meat, etc.; but I must observe that Oasis are in the press-tear-'em-down phase of their career, so take reviews with a grain. Interesting that most of the doubtful/negative posters here are British, whereas I'm an American (the opposite of what usually happens re: Oasis; the U.S. decided years ago it didn't care for the brothers attitude).

Adrian, I must say that this album, whether love it or hate it, is on a whole 'nother sound from their past work. Maybe not as 'epic' as the early singles, but as a Revolver/Village Green/The Who Sell Out worshipper from WAAAAY back (and, truth, generally Sixties-loving geezer), I'm near nirvana (NOT the group).

One Love,
Bruce

Ive gotta say guys this album is really growing on me. On first listen i genuinely could take it or leave it but coming back to it today after giving it a break im hearing it in a different light. I think im with bhazen now!
Cheers


Hawk

I bought it, so like it, and it's only about 43 minutes long ...

quote:

Originally posted by charliestumpy:
I bought it, so like it, and it's only about 43 minutes long ...

Like an old Beatles album!

I'm actually glad they kept it lean, time-wise, for quality's sake; this is the first Oasis album, IMHO, that keeps the mojo high throughout. The CD capacity of 80 mins. tempts many to overreach.

When I constructed a CD-R of the album in iTunes for my car, I added the two B-sides from the "Lyla" single, making it about 48 mins. Incidentally, "Eyeball Tickler" from that disc is one of the most manic, caffeinated rockers you'll ever hear.

OK, OK, I'll admit it; after listening to the album 1/2 dozen times or so, Liam's vocal approach on many of these songs is a bit self-parodying. Laying it on a bit thick, as some might say.

Having said that, I still think this is a great album. "Keep the Dream Alive" and "A Bell Will Ring" are esp. gratifying in their Revolver-ness. Will have to hear new Coldplay and White Stripes to see who ends up where in this month's trifecta of Important Album Releases. Coldplay is all over U.S. media, Oasis absent, so I suspect I know who will sell the most...

... I agree wholeheartedly with making e.g. CDR with b & c 'single' tracks added.

I like The Rutles, as well as the Beatles etc, and do feel at times Oasis are enjoyable as current Rutles output.

quote:

Originally posted by charliestumpy:
I like The Rutles, as well as the Beatles etc, and do feel at times Oasis are enjoyable as current Rutles output.

Charlie,

Great idea for a thread...Artists Who Fill That Beatlesque Music Need!

ELO/Jeff Lynne/Move
XTC (post-Black Sea)
the Rutles
Badfinger
Crowded House/Neil Finn/Finn Bros.
Nick Heyward (90's output)
Aimee Mann
Michael Penn
Jon Brion Meaningless (if you can find!)
Cotton Mather (ditto)
etc.

Looking at this list, it occurs to me that the 90's was an unbelieveable decade for Fab-style music.

Oasis is my favorite band and the album is beginning to grow on me. I don't love the lack of guitar solos and Liam's vocals are really weak in some areas but strong in others.

I am intrigued by the fact that Liam wrote "Guess God Thinks I'm Abel"...as if he is the victim in that brotherhood, give me a break.

I'll be at their NYC show next week and am really hoping for a great performance.

One Man's Meat, etc.

The fact that Noel is laying off the solos is one reason I think this album is top; Gem is the better player (IMHO; I'm a guitarist, thus opinionated about guitaring), so maybe next time...

Too bad they're losing the sales war to Coldplay and White Stripes.

Crap. Don't Believe The Truth, after opening at #12 in Billboard, has slipped to #37.

<Sob>