 
Oasis is back. The band, which has often been over-rated and the source
of much frustration during its career, shows how good it can be on “Don’t
Believe The Truth.” The new CD ends the streak of several so-so
albums, including 2002’s “Heathen Chemistry.” Oasis
sounds bigger, bolder and fresher than it has in recent years. In other
words, the band sounds the way it should. Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher,
bassist Andy Bell and guitarist Gem Archer have made a straight-ahead
rock album buoyed by the British pop sensibilities that Oasis first
became know for some 10 years ago. Noel’s stirring “Let
There Be Love” is a tune that recalls the later-day Beatles. The
Gallagher brothers sound as good singing together as they ever have.
The band gets help here and on most of the other songs from drummer
Zak Starkey. He’s Ringo Starr’s kid, making for an interesting
move by a band that’s been hung up on the Beatles. The single,
“Lyla,” recalls another British band. This time, Oasis rocks
like The Who on a tune that would have sounded right at home in the
1970s. Oasis, which in the past has written and sung about being rock
stars, shows that wasn’t just talk as it gets loud and brash on
the pounding “Mucky Fingers.” Noel wrote most, but not all,
of the songs on the new album, which turns out to be good thing. Vocalist
Liam contributes three songs, including the fine “Love Like A
Bomb,” that beautifully blends guitars, piano and drums. Bell
wrote two of the other songs, and Gem contributed another as well as
helping on “Love Like A Bomb.” - D. Kimura |
Oasis