Oasis

A few months ago Liam Gallagher's wife gave birth to their first child, Lennon Gallagher. Ridiculous, maybe, but could this foreshadow Oasis's return to the Beatles-esque formula that made them so successful in the mid-'90s, especially with an album title such as Standing on the Shoulders of Giants? The Gallagher brothers' answer, unfortunately, is no.

When I first saw the title of Oasis' upcoming album, I couldn't help but hope that the "giants" were the Beatles and their '60s rock contemporaries. Apparently, however, the Gallagher brothers have been listening to DJ Shadow and the Chemical Brothers these days, not Revolver. The first track, obnoxiously titled "Fuckin' In the Bushes," sounds like a song straight out of a mediocre Fatboy Slim album. A substanceless instrumental, it is no excuse for an opening song on an album that only has 10 tracks. You know you're in trouble when the album leads off with filler.

It seems to be rescued by the second track, "Go Let It Out." Here Oasis returns to the acoustic guitar-dominated anthem style of their first two albums, driven by Liam Gallagher's whining vocals. Unfortunately, a trip-hop beat distractingly underlies the song. In "Who Feels Love?" (Indian music-tinged '60s Brit-rock á la George Harrison) and in "Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is" (which opens like the Doors' "Roadhouse Blues"), Oasis pays homage to some of their giants, but both lack the originals' soul and sincerity.

The problems worsen when Noel Gallagher relinquishes songwriting credits to (gasp!) brother Liam, in "Little James." Though one of the more genuine ballads on the album, it is crippled by lines like: "You live for your toys/Even though they make noise." Sure, the song is about your stepson, but please Liam, don't insult him with your dreadfully uninspiring lyrics.

Undoubtedly, this is Oasis's worst album yet. True, 1997's Be Here Now had an anthem in the style of "Hey Jude" meets "All You Need Is Love" in "All Around the World," satisfying the easily pleased Britons with Beatles-styled rock. But isn't that still a step closer to the brilliance of What's the Story Morning Glory?? If you want Beatles-meets-trip-hop, check out the Chemical Brothers' "Setting Sun" and "Let Forever Be," both featuring Noel Gallagher on vocals. But if you are looking for good, sound, British rock, even Robbie Williams is looking better at this point. I'm sure Liam will challenge him to a fight any day now. (Big Brother Recordings)

—Matthew S. Robbins

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