Oasis A to Z

It's pretty decent, it's got a groove, a plodding groove, but that's a groove that still works. I'm having DOYS - they bowed out with a bit of style and it shat all over the previous two.

ps - accidentally typed DOYS as DOGS, thus Dig Out Gods Soul should clearly have been the album title. Either Gods or Guigs of course and your apostrophe up your arse. 8.

im not having it's better than dbtt....lyla, mucky fingers, tuts, idle and mos are all better than the best of dbtt. even the hc singles are too (not little by little obvs).

they seemed to put the leg work in on doys in terms of sound and groove...but song wise it tails off badly by the end.

Some Might Say

Oho. The band's first number one single. The first taste of the follow up to the enormously successful début album. It certainly sounds richer than anything from DM production-wise.

More importantly it doesn't sound like anything by anyone else. Put away the Beatles-clone critiques; this simply sounds like Oasis - all that's missing is a more sophisticated drum track (thanks Tony).

Lyrically, it's a lot of stream of consciousness stuff, but as ever there has to be more to it than that. Even if Noel couldn't maintain the commitment, this song was about something to start with.

I've always felt that the point of the song was one of two things (forget the choruses about fishes, dishes and dogs) - the verses follow a simple "Some might say [theory]; [insert challenge to theory here]", but when we get to the final line, the theory "Some might say we will find a brighter day" isn't directly challenged - the theory is repeated.

Either this is saying the theory has no challenge (i.e. - we WILL find a brighter day! Optimistic!), or the challenge is so obvious in light of all the previous theories' challenges that it doesn't warrant mentioning (i.e. of course we WON'T find a brighter day!).

I tend to think that as this is pre-SOTSOG Oasis, that the more positive sentiment wins out, making this an uplifting anthem. No one has contemplated these lyrics more than I have - 8/10

not got a clue what you're on about tbh

good song tho, 8

Soldier On is a 5, from what I remember.

Some Might Say is a 10.

Songbird

HC highlight, this Liam penned effort is simple and beautiful. He refers to a song. Short sentences. And a single line that's smarter than it has any right to be ("Never felt this love from anyone - she's not anyone"). This track deserves more love. The drastically different demo (heavily borrowing from the Beatles' "Shoulda known better", with a bass-line deployed in HC's own "(Probably) All in the mind) is just about as good. 8/10

Agree

Why the need for a Beatles mention for every sodding track, farking hell.

Songbird is fine. The stripped down sound is probably just through lazy production of the album though. Shame, cos I actually prefer the demo. And Little James is still better

I like the demo....and I never understood why they never played it like that live. the full band live version that they did do never sounded too good imo. they got so boring and lazy live, I remember gem doing backing vocals - along with Noel - at one stage. that didn't last. and what about the harmonica bits on mos or mucky fingers?

that said I prefer the album version, the tinkley piano at the end is gorgeous. and one of the few oasis songs that's not too long. both of those things make it a song i always listen to the end. 9

I like the demo....and I never understood why they never played it like that live. the full band live version that they did do never sounded too good imo. they got so boring and lazy live, I remember gem doing backing vocals - along with Noel - at one stage. that didn't last. and what about the harmonica bits on mos or mucky fingers?

that said I prefer the album version, the tinkley piano at the end is gorgeous. and one of the few oasis songs that's not too long. both of those things make it a song i always listen to the end. 9

Because they keep nicking bits and pieces from the Beatles.

They did from a lot of other folk as well. Just seems strange this is an Oasis track-by-track review but I just keeping reading Beatles. It's an annoyance that does spill out to real life though cos I don't consider them one of my favourite bands, true story. Joanna Newsom > Revolver.

She’s a great artist; seen her live five times*. The Beatles are a bit of an obsession for me though, and obviously for los bros. Gallagher. I did mention when they borrowed from the Roses and T.Rex too, and will for the “borrowing” in the next song.

*I would still not say she's someone I listen to all that much - I think I have two of her songs on my iPod; there are more than than by Jet and Puff Daddy.

Stand by Me

Second single from BHN, it's a big sounding ballad with a lot going on. Opening with guitar feedback, the finished product is a mix between DLBIA and Whatever with BHN-goodness chucked in. Unfortunately the opening line refers to vomit so the track isn't perfect, but we get bittersweet resignations - "said I would and I'll be leaving one day before my heart starts to burn", "there is one thing I can never give you - my heart will never be your home" - both pointing to a fear of intimacy, of letting anyone get too close.

Weather references? Check. Anything borrowed from the Beatles? Not this time, but that descending instrumental break after the chorus lines is from "All the young dudes".

The acoustic "by the pool" version is beautiful, and even the acoustic versions sung by Noel throughout the years were good. Decent video with Liam looking pretty cool. Is it too long? No. 9/10

always remember loving the "by the pool" version and couldn't wait to hear it on the album....was the first song I put on and had to check I'd played the right song when it started. it missed out the slightly lumpen second verse didn't it aswell?

9 for the pool but 7 for the album version

Man, I really thought my Some might say theory would get more tongues wagging.

Track 100, 35 more to go:
Stay Young

B-side to BHN lead single D'You Know What I Mean? and highlight of The Masterplan b-sides collection, it's a soaring, optimistic treat imploring us all to remain young at heart and open minded. It's one of the more poppy Oasis tracks, with a hyperactive main guitar line that sings during the solo, before noodling away and receding back into the musical background.

Liam's vocals are at their near-best, and there's something quite cute about the detached "come on" late on the song - you can practically see him waving you over. There's at least one weak lyric "making you question your heart and I think that it's not quite right", and the "feed your head" is repeated from Rock 'n' roll star, but it's still an amazing track. And "And come what may my faith's unshakeable" makes up for the bad lyrics anyway - even the acoustic version by Noel remains on my iPod. 10/10

8 for me

This is the final contribution I'll make to this shambles of a thread, but as the years go on the more I'm convinced Stand By Me is one of the best things Oasis ever did, a real candidate for their strongest single. Gives me shivers listening to it. 10.