Random Music Talk CXXXI: Interference Finally Gets Its Revenge on Cobbler

[cobl04]

Laz in 3, 2...

 

[dan_smee]

Your right to disagree, but I think definitely maybe and what’s the story released 14 months apart with Supersonic, Live Forever, Whatever, Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back in Anger, Champagne Supernova, some might say, cigarettes and alcohol, rock n roll star, roll with it and a swathe of b sides like acquiesce, the masterplan, half the world away and talk tonight that charted and were more popular than the a sides of most of their contemporaries was enormous.

Also, don’t misunderstand - I say cultural impact, not a comment on quality. And the US not “getting it” isn’t really proof that what I’m saying is wrong. I think we can discuss the impact of two English bands on English culture.

One little add on here - Oasis went from playing tiny clubs to the Knebworth gigs in 18 months where they set records playing to 250,000 people across two nights. You can’t deny the pace and mass of the cultural phenomenon.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

 

[Salome]

One little add on here - Oasis went from playing tiny clubs to the Knebworth gigs in 18 months where they set records playing to 250,000 people across two nights. You can’t deny the pace and mass of the cultural phenomenon.

It was definitely a moment in time where British media managed to create a Britpop frenzie around Oasis and Blur that set the UK alight.
Living within the EU instead of in the UK, I can't remember hearing any Oasis song besides Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova (incredibly rarely) (and Song II by Blur) anywhere the last 15 years.

But, indeed, in a specific place at a specific time they had a hot streak.
It's not that I think Oasis is bad, but I definitely don't think they were ever great

 

[djerdap]

I live in the EU as well and Oasis still gets tons of play where I am from, far more than just Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova.

Don't Look Back in Anger and Live Forever for example are massive.

 

[Salome]

Might just be a Dutch thing then or how I am listening to music.
Even now, with the reunion getting a fair bit of coverage, I have only heard Wonderwall.

 

[lazarus]

Taylor Swift released Folklore and Evermore in the span of 6 months, to name one recent example.

lol @ Gallagher’s two years being some high watermark for music

 

[dan_smee]

Again, and I think I stressed this three times - my comments were about cultural impact, not quality or taste.

Taylor was one of the biggest artists on the planet and maintained that by releasing two albums. Not sure what that is meant to be proving based on what I said. I’m not sure how anyone can deny the point when you consider the growth and speed of the oasis phenomenon. In less that two years they wrote and recorded 10-20 (depending on where you live) songs that still 30 years later sit prominently in public consciousness and went from playing to a few hundred people to the largest shows in history at the time.

 

[mikal]

Special shoutout to the album "Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants" and the live album that came with. I know Oasis was old news by that time already but I remember really enjoying that period.

 

[Discotheque Slug 82]

Special shoutout to the album "Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants" and the live album that came with. I know Oasis was old news by that time already but I remember really enjoying that period.

"Giants" had it's flaws but I enjoyed that album and period too, nice to see it get a shout-out!
"Gas Panic!" (album track) and "Let's All Make Believe" (a b-side from that period) are both keepers and deserve more recognition- dark and menacing epics, not your usual Oasis anthems.

 

[DaveC]

edit: i tried to make a decent pun about the title of this song but they're all bad - i went to happy hour after work and my brain isn't doing it.

anyways here's the best song from SOTSOG- fucking in the bushes:

Spoiler

 

[phanan]

Replace Little James and I Can See A Liar with Let’s All Make Believe and Full On and you’ve got one hell of an album.

 

[dan_smee]

And Carry Us All

 

[cobl04]

Another new album from The Smile, new Caribou and Godspeed albums, and TV on the Radio are back too.

 

[lazarus]

Thank the maker that Madforit or whatever that clown's name was isn't here anymore.

 

[djerdap]

"Giants" had it's flaws but I enjoyed that album and period too, nice to see it get a shout-out!
"Gas Panic!" (album track) and "Let's All Make Believe" (a b-side from that period) are both keepers and deserve more recognition- dark and menacing epics, not your usual Oasis anthems.

Gas Panic is one of those more mature and idiosyncratic Oasis songs, that make me wonder 'what could have been' if they decided to expand their sound a bit more. It's too bad that the 2nd half of their career was so uninspired and pedestrian, some isolated tunes notwithstanding.

Let's All Make Believe definitely should have been on that album.

One can say a lot of things about Oasis, and they are far from my favourite band, but they are arguably the best B-side band that has ever existed (not talking about the individual quality of songs and how they compare with B-sides of other bands, but how their B-sides stand against their own album material). Having songs like Acquiesce, Fade Away and The Masterplan as B-sides is complete madness.

There are other bands with utterly amazing b-sides, like Pearl Jam, Radiohead, The Cure, The Stone Roses, etc., but this is another level in terms of how famous and popular these songs are in their fanbases.

 

[Discotheque Slug 82]

Gas Panic is one of those more mature and idiosyncratic Oasis songs, that make me wonder 'what could have been' if they decided to expand their sound a bit more. It's too bad that the 2nd half of their career was so uninspired and pedestrian, some isolated tunes notwithstanding.

Let's All Make Believe definitely should have been on that album.

One can say a lot of things about Oasis, and they are far from my favourite band, but they are arguably the best B-side band that has ever existed (not talking about the individual quality of songs and how they compare with B-sides of other bands, but how their B-sides stand against their own album material). Having songs like Acquiesce, Fade Away and The Masterplan as B-sides is complete madness.

There are other bands with utterly amazing b-sides, like Pearl Jam, Radiohead, The Cure, The Stone Roses, etc., but this is another level in terms of how famous and popular these songs are in their fanbases.

Heathen Chemistry was their career low point for me- the definition of uninspired and pedestrian (apart from Hindu Times & Songbird). Especially when Giants showed some promise of a more interesting direction. Their last two albums were an improvement though, especially the first half of Dig Out Your Soul.

Their 'rivals' Blur also had some superb b-sides, songs like Young & Lovely and All Your Life should have been hit singles. Radiohead had amazing b-sides for the singles from OK Computer and Amnesiac in particular. Discovering a b-side that should have made the album was one of the great joys growing up, now they would just be released as extra tracks on a deluxe/expanded edition!

 

[dan_smee]

Wild God is sublime. AOTY contender, and probably odds on favourite for me right now.

 

[cobl04]

I went to a listening party for it last night and thought it was great, although it drops off on Side B. That opening track is sublime, my favourite for sure.

 

[DaveC]

The Verve was better than Blur and Oasis combined.

 

[dan_smee]

I went to a listening party for it last night and thought it was great, although it drops off on Side B. That opening track is sublime, my favourite for sure.

I reckon it’s stronger after a couple listens. Conversion and Long Dark Night or probably the top two tracks for me so far. Though Song of the Lake, Joy, Wild God, O Wow and Final Rescue Attempt are all wonderful.

 

[lazarus]

One can say a lot of things about Oasis, and they are far from my favourite band, but they are arguably the best B-side band that has ever existed (not talking about the individual quality of songs and how they compare with B-sides of other bands, but how their B-sides stand against their own album material). Having songs like Acquiesce, Fade Away and The Masterplan as B-sides is complete madness.

There are other bands with utterly amazing b-sides, like Pearl Jam, Radiohead, The Cure, The Stone Roses, etc., but this is another level in terms of how famous and popular these songs are in their fanbases.

There's always a risk with trying to mount someone at the top of the heap, rather than settling for "one of". But since you used the "arguably"qualifier, let's look at the most obvious contender, which is Oasis's idols The Beatles:

She's a Woman
Things We Said Today
Yes It Is
I'm Down
Rain
Baby You're a Rich Man
I Am The Walrus
Revolution
Don't Let Me Down

And then we have to get into a discussion of what actually constitutes a B-side. Are we being traditional with the term, or are we including any non-album tracks, even those released on the A-side of singles? Because if you open that door, we can add some of the Beatles most-famous songs.

For a more modern comparison, I'll return to Ms. Taylor Alison Swift again, who has a plethora of outtake/bonus tracks/b-sides that are beloved by fans as much as some of the radio hits, and discussions are always had as to why she left certain songs off the albums proper. This year alone she literally released a full companion album to The Tortured Poets Department, 15 tracks worth, some of which is among her best work. With the previous album Midnights, there were 9 outtakes.

Now maybe you'd laugh that comparison off but as a songwriter I think she's easily up there with Noel Gallagher in terms of productivity and consistency, and is a considerably better lyricist.

 

[lazarus]

The Verve was better than Blur and Oasis combined.

I'd still put Blur above them in terms of total output, they just have more great works under their belt due to longevity (even with the long breaks).

If we were talking just the first few albums, sure, The Verve wins. Also, I was lucky enough to see both bands in the mid-late 90s at smaller clubs and I'll give you this: as a live act The Verve have few contemporaries, easily the best performers out of their peer group.

Keep in mind there are many who think Pulp is better than Blur and Oasis.

Personally, I'd go:

1. Blur
2. The Verve
3. Supergrass
4. Pulp
5. Sleeper

 

[djerdap]

Heathen Chemistry was their career low point for me- the definition of uninspired and pedestrian (apart from Hindu Times & Songbird). Especially when Giants showed some promise of a more interesting direction. Their last two albums were an improvement though, especially the first half of Dig Out Your Soul.

I was thinking actually about the first half of Dig Out Your Soul, which is sonically richer and more atmospheric than one would usually expect of Oasis. The album completely falls apart after Falling Down for me though.

The Verve was better than Blur and Oasis combined.

Nick McCabe is certainly the best guitarist out of all those bands. Voyager 1 rules.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I'm a big fan of Oasis' first two albums, and must have went through at least three different CDs of Morning Glory because I played it so often.

That said - I found out this week that they released albums after Giants. I kinda thought that's when they broke up. That's how much they fell off for me.

Champagne Supernova and Don't Look Back In Anger, tho

 

[dan_smee]

There's always a risk with trying to mount someone at the top of the heap, rather than settling for "one of". But since you used the "arguably"qualifier, let's look at the most obvious contender, which is Oasis's idols The Beatles:

She's a Woman
Things We Said Today
Yes It Is
I'm Down
Rain
Baby You're a Rich Man
I Am The Walrus
Revolution
Don't Let Me Down

And then we have to get into a discussion of what actually constitutes a B-side. Are we being traditional with the term, or are we including any non-album tracks, even those released on the A-side of singles? Because if you open that door, we can add some of the Beatles most-famous songs.

For a more modern comparison, I'll return to Ms. Taylor Alison Swift again, who has a plethora of outtake/bonus tracks/b-sides that are beloved by fans as much as some of the radio hits, and discussions are always had as to why she left certain songs off the albums proper. This year alone she literally released a full companion album to The Tortured Poets Department, 15 tracks worth, some of which is among her best work. With the previous album Midnights, there were 9 outtakes.

Now maybe you'd laugh that comparison off but as a songwriter I think she's easily up there with Noel Gallagher in terms of productivity and consistency, and is a considerably better lyricist.

I really don’t think you can call most of those b-sides:

The last 5 were either album tracks (baby you’re a rich man, I am the walrus on TMMT) or a side/aa sides (rain, DLMD, Revolution).

Songs added to deluxe versions considered part of the main track list are a bit iffy too. I don’t think b sides really exist any more. People don’t record a bunch too many songs for a record and just throw out a bunch as scraps to beef up cd/vinyl single sales. With streaming and the decline of physical media you don’t need to incentivise people like that. The deluxe versions thing exists to re-energise album sales to keep in the charts. They have to be songs as good, or almost as good as the main album tracks because artists are asking people to re-buy or re-engage with the album they already have.

Oasis exist in a very weird spot where the US didn’t really get it the way the rest of the world did. For 95-96% of the world’s population, the statement about Oasis being unmatched in terms of b side quality is pretty hard to challenge. The Masterplan is absolutely swarming with songs that most bands would consider to be their best candidates for big singles. If they released a second edition for b sides from 1999-2009 it would be thought of in a similar regard.

 

[dan_smee]

I'm a big fan of Oasis' first two albums, and must have went through at least three different CDs of Morning Glory because I played it so often.

That said - I found out this week that they released albums after Giants. I kinda thought that's when they broke up. That's how much they fell off for me.

Champagne Supernova and Don't Look Back In Anger, tho

Unquestionably the quality dropped, but for someone who actually enjoyed their first few albums there are some gems there, broken up below into album tracks and b sides to stay on theme:

Album tracks:
- The Hindu Times
- Stop Crying Your Heart
- Songbird
- Little By Little
- Born on a Different Cloud
- Turn Up the Sun
- Part of the Queue
- Let There Be Love
- The Shock of the Lightning
- Falling Down
- Lord Don’t Slow Me Down

B-Sides
- Just Getting Older
- Idler’s Dream
- Eyeball Tickler
- You’ve Got the Heart of a Star
- Thank you For the Good Times
- Shout it out loud (this song is the real gem of the era)

 

[lazarus]

Ironic that you want to have a very narrow definition of what a b-side is, and using the non-USA model as the norm, while at the same time disqualifying Baby You’re a Rich Man, which was only an album track…*checks notes*…in the USA, since Magical Mystery Tour is technically an EP + singles and b-sides, and only put together as an album for the American market.

Your main argument seemed to be that Noel/Oasis are so great, that they have a lot of songs that didn’t even make their albums which are just as good as the “prime time” stuff. I gave you two examples of artists who both preceded and followed them who can make the same claim.

If you want to move the goalposts, whatever.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Unquestionably the quality dropped, but for someone who actually enjoyed their first few albums there are some gems there, broken up below into album tracks and b sides to stay on theme:

Album tracks:
- The Hindu Times
- Stop Crying Your Heart
- Songbird
- Little By Little
- Born on a Different Cloud
- Turn Up the Sun
- Part of the Queue
- Let There Be Love
- The Shock of the Lightning
- Falling Down
- Lord Don’t Slow Me Down

B-Sides
- Just Getting Older
- Idler’s Dream
- Eyeball Tickler
- You’ve Got the Heart of a Star
- Thank you For the Good Times
- Shout it out loud (this song is the real gem of the era)

I'll check em out

 

[mikal]

Add Love Like A Bomb to that list. I actually perform that one sometimes.