#378
Oasis (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Release Date: 1995
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: This falls into Cheap Trick category for me: I should like this, in theory. These guys throw The Smiths, Stone Roses, Beatles, The Jam, Stones, etc in a blender and make a Brit-pop smoothie. Those are all bands I like a ton, but I never quite got into Oasis for whatever reason. Maybe they are too derivative or the Gallagher’s hijinks never captured my imagination. We’ll see how it goes. PLAY ALBUM. Ehhh… not bad, something about Liam’s lead singing that bugs me: strained, nasal, slightly-insincere and it doesn’t move me. I don’t get it. The music is okay, nice catchy hooks and solid playing. “Wonderwall” seems kind of beautiful; if a little overblown. I dunno. Maybe they are just boring to me? Lots of arena ready hooks and songs swell and build competently (“Don’t Look Back In Anger”)… but THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING FOR ME! AGHH. Too many songs seem to exist in a “good” mid-tempo grey area and sometimes the guitars seem, for lack of a better word, cheap and unsatisfying (“Hey Now”)…like a diet soda. Their whole schtick seems cobbled together from other bands I like better and their whine-singing gets on my nerves. Although, I enjoy the bouncy, jaunty “She’s Electric” and “Morning Glory” is a decent rocker. “Champagne Supernova” is like “Stairway To Heaven” for the mid-90s. What the hell is it about? Everything is seemingly so “tasteful.” For guys who seem like rebels with loads of rock-n-roll attitude in interviews, they don’t seem like they real risks musically or do anything “wrong.”
Starred Songs: Osteniably: “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova”
Sneaky Track: “She’s Electric”
Should this album be on the list? I don’t know. They mostly bore me. I can’t figure it out. How about “no.”
Replace with: Maybe The Jam’s “Snap!” compilation (I know, I know) or The Jam’s “Sound Affects” or Blur’s “Modern Life Is Rubbish” or “Parklife” (just to piss off the Gallaghers.)
Will You Listen To This Again: Nope
Verdict: Mid-nineties middling brit-pop from brothers who are more interesting than their music.
Rating: ★1/2