Rating:   22 Ratings     12345  

Oasis Don’t Believe The Truth Epic Records

      Since we last heard from the boys, Alan had left and Ringo Starr’s son, Zak Starkey, was featured in the band as the stand-in drummer. No more brawls, no more angry headliners; things were starting to calm down. The album was rumoured to have been completed last year, but being the perfectionist that he is, Noel scrapped everything and started anew.

      And there’s a lot of changes since Definitely Maybe. Older, wiser, more committed, the band has brought their experience and knowledge into their latest release. Enthusiastic reviews from music critics everywhere have brought the album to an increased heightened anticipation. Rolling Stone had succumbed to three and a half stars, Spin presented it with an A-, and both Q and Mojo gave it four stars, declaring it ‘their best in nearly a decade’.

      Having followed Oasis for a decade myself, this was worth the wait. And it was such a surprise, too. First off, ‘Turn Up The Sun’ is a rhythmic chain of beauty, and then the guitars pick up to mark Oasis’ signature sound. When Liam’s voice rolls in, it’s a relief to know it still sounds haggard from a binge drink and a long smoke, still roughly intact.

      The Mancunian fighters have turned into understanding, compassionate men. In the opener, Liam sings, ‘Love one another...’, but this is only the beginning.

      Noel’s ‘Mucky Fingers’ was clearly written during his Dylan period, with its continuous acoustic strums and shrill harmonica chiming in the background. Although the title could raise a few eyebrows, overall the song is fantastic because of the distinguished influence played into it.

      Hit single ‘Lyla’ taps into Oasis’ former cover of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Street Fightin’ Man’, and joins the list of tracks that preceded it in this manner of odes: ‘She’s Electric’, ‘Angelchild’, ‘The Girl In The Dirty Shirt’ and ‘Songbird’ -- as well as a few others.

      There’s psychedelic ‘Love Like A Bomb’, where Liam’s better-known strained bray puts forth its best yet. Having written three tracks on the album, Liam’s topper is ‘Guess God Thinks I’m Abel’, which is incredibly impressive, say, as compared to the hell he was given for Giants’ ‘Little James’, written about his newborn son. He’s beautiful here.

      ‘Part Of The Queue’ channels into The Stranglers’ ‘Golden Brown’, soundtracked from director Guy Ritchie’s 2001 film, "Snatch."

      Andy-penned ‘Keep The Dream Alive’ has one of the most amazing choruses I have ever heard Liam sing. The album is split into sections, and each member has written at least one track, making the record a collection of ideas, layouts and genius presentation.

      The biggest change of them all comes from ‘Let There Be Love’, originally a Giants’ demo, that finally appears on Truth to have become reworded almost entirely. Liam sings main vocals, and Noel shies in halfway through, almost like a reminder that he did keep some of it the same with the inclusion of his generous vocals. The secret to this track’s success is the string work accompanied by a soft piano and gentle acoustic, making the song appear to be a treasured, well-guarded rarity off of John Lennon’s albums.

      ‘A Bell Will Ring’ and ‘The Meaning Of Soul’ were tested out at the Poole Lighthouse gig last year, and managed to make their way onto the tracklisting as well, though touched up and perfected, of course.

      No longer will Noel and Liam be known as the dueling brothers. The years of torrential arguments, bar brawls, missing teeth and media knock-outs seem to be long gone. But I could have spoken too soon...

      Truth is the wine from Definitely Maybe’s scouser-set grapevine. It contains the best licks, the most impressionable vocals and carefully distilled, intricately developed rock that proves to be the most matured, forthcoming rock Oasis has ever produced. Rock ‘n roll stars? Absolutely.

-Arie Musil 05/30/05