The Verdict On Oasis's New Album Dig Out Your Soul

















4 stars out of 5

As Oasis unveil their seventh studio album on MySpace, The Times' chief rock critic Pete Paphides goes through Dig Out Your Soul, track-by-track, and comes to the conclusion that this could be their best album since the siblings’ Britpop glory days

A sensational opening volley of new Noel Gallagher songs establishes a standard it can’t quite sustain. But for the main part, Oasis’s first album in over three years comes close.

BAG IT UP

Four-to-the-floor opening shot features a multi-tracked Liam Gallagher declaring, “I’m gonna take a walk with the monkey man.” Monster chorus can’t even be derailed by the questionable claim, “I’ve got my heebeegeebees in a little bag.” Should distinguish itself as an instant live favourite when the UK tour begins on Tuesday.

THE TURNING

One of Oasis’s most atmospheric recordings. Moody electric piano gives way to affirmative come-ons on a series of increasingly rock-tastic choruses. Cheeky Dear Prudence-style coda heralds the beginning of a series of Beatles borrowings, thankfully more artfully deployed than on previous occasions.

WAITING FOR THE RAPTURE

Intro reminiscent of The Doors Five To One gives way to a Noel third-person account of being ensnared by a predatory woman. Dave Sardy’s production cleverly allows the needle to stay firmly in the red – although any sonic bombast is once again trumped by an excellent chorus.

THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING

The first single from the album. Pacey, energized delivery from Liam, coupled with a performance that recalls 1995’s Morning Glory. As a result, probably the song most likely to find favour with fans of “vintage” Oasis.

I’M OUTTA TIME

Liam’s first and best contribution to the album. Featuring a sample of John Lennon’s final interview at the end, the song itself is a tender love song which deploys several key Lennonisms in its instrumentation. Hard to equate such open-hearted sensitivity with the man who, in a recent interview, declared, “SpongeBob SquarePants is a mental, full-of-beans sponge. He’s mad for it.”

(GET OFF YOUR) HIGH HORSE LADY

Instantly memorable, thanks to Liam’s stoned vocoder delivery and the hypnotic boom-thump of its rhythm. Having spent so much of their time talking up the Sixties, this may be the first Oasis song that could pass muster on a compilation of treasured obscurities from the end of that decade.

FALLING DOWN

Noel sings this one. Deploys an identical rhythm to the one invented by Ringo Starr on Rain – but there are mitigating factors at play. First of all, it’s being played by Ringo’s son Zak Starkey; more importantly, it sits at the centre of another Oasis song that corresponds to little else in their canon – a rain-lashed, nocturnal hymn to uncertainty that makes good use of the vulnerability that seems ingrained in the guitarist’s vocal style.

TO BE WHERE THERE’S LIFE

Written by Gem Archer. Charges along on a bassline that should Paul McCartney hear it, may push Paul McCartney’s eyebrows up into the realms of physical implausibility. Modestly diverting piece of raga-rock, but by no means one of the better songs on the album.

AIN’T GOT NOTHING

A combustible Who-style studio freakout. Probably fun to play; should be exciting live – but once removed from the circumstances in which it was created, it slightly palls.

THE NATURE OF REALITY

Andy Bell’s sole writing contribution to the album – apparently prompted by the demise of his marriage. The final part in a relative slough of three songs. “The nature of reality is only in your mind,” sings Liam, with a peculiar lack of conviction.

SOLDIER ON

Reflective paean to perseverance oscillates soberly between a single titular mantra and bursts of keening melodica from Noel, until both dissipate, as if to leave room for closing credits. Again, further evidence of Oasis’s new-found ability to create sympathetic settings for the their older more thoughtful selves. As such, a fitting conclusion.

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
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