Oasis
(What's The Story) Morning Glory
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Oasis
(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Sony/Columbia, 1996
RiYL: Blur, Beatles, asshole brothers |
After achieving international fame and notoriety (particularly by claiming they were this generations' Beatles), the fun-loving, plagiaristic, sneering Brits Oasis turned in their second album in 1995 to critical and commercial acclaim, with no less than half (5) of the record's songs ending up as hit singles.
1994's Definitely Maybe was the sound of a band dreaming of becoming rock stars, and lo and behold, they actually pulled it off. (What's The Story) Morning Glory finds the same band having made good on its dreams, walking down the streets of its hometown fully convinced it is on top of the world. Oh yeah, and it's snowing cocaine.
As much as he loves to nick his hooks from the favorites of the past, Noel Gallagher does have a predilection for making catchy songs. Yep, "Some Might Say" steals from T-Rex. But as Noel might say, who doesn't? It surely doesn't stop me from wanting to listen to the tune, actually one of the more enjoyable tracks here.
The bombast that permeates Morning Glory's upbeat tracks does indeed hit that intangible note that makes rock music at its simplest so enjoyable. No, it's not going to win any prizes for originality or intelligent musicality. But when you're driving down a highway, blasting the rock from your stereo, elated with the simple beauty of life, this kind of stuff can provide a great soundtrack.
The nicest thing about the record is there's little filler. On latter efforts like Be Here Now, the band tended to drone on and on, sneering and soloing and snorting through repetitive codas and six- or seven-minute songs. Morning Glory is concise, and some of its greatest treats are the non-hits, like "Cast No Shadow," a reflective paean to Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft that features some of Liam Gallagher's most restrained vocals to date.
But one of the biggest problems with repeated listens to this, or any of Oasis' albums for that matter, is the inanity of the lyrics. I know Liam sounds great singing them, but it's sometimes tough to accept the childishness of rhyming nonsense like "and my dog's been itchin', itchin' in the kitchen once again" or "you oughtta be who you'll be if you're coming with me." But there is reprieve: in the time-tested "Don't Look Back In Anger," Noel himself sings one of his most poignant lines, "Please don't put your life in the hands / of a rock and roll band / we'll throw it all away."
So at least they recognize their own shortcomings. There's a bit of self-awareness along with the silliness. The title track even shows a slight tinge of remorse. When Liam sneers "all your dreams are made / when you're chained to the mirror and the razor blade," it seems like he's reveling in the contradiction of it all: there's a bit of sarcasm, as if the band realizes how comical its own excesses are, but they are still eating up the rock star lifestyle.
Whatever the album's blemishes, Oasis saved the best for last. "Champagne Supernova" reveals the band at its most musically creative. The lyrics are, for them, amazingly un-cheesy. The waterfall and bird-chirping sounds capture the escapist rock feel as well as any of Noel's hooks. Paul Weller's swirling guitar solo toward the end kicks everything into a higher gear. And damn, ain't that a great song title?
It's hard to say where this record stands amongst its contemporaries. It was a huge success in its day, but few would say it has much potential for longevity. And personally, I think their first album is their most enjoyable. I guess if any of your kids ever ask why this band was the biggest English band of the mid-'90s, you can play them this record and point out the endlessly catchy hooks of "Wonderwall" and "Champagne Supernova". In a way, Morning Glory captures a point in time. For me, it was my sophomore year in college, and when I hear some of these songs, I can't help but be transported back to that era, remembering what was going on when this record was all over the airwaves. Where were you when they were getting high?
TROY CARPENTER | Troy Carpenter founded NATN from a Chicago apartment during the ambitious winter of 1998 with co-conspirators Ben French and Jonathan Cohen. After a five-year stint in New York, he and wife Lourdes have recently relocated to Indianapolis, where he spends days listening to music and nights in the kitchen at Elements restaurant. Musical heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Super Furry Animals. What else makes life worth living: Sushi, Phucty, runs in the park, and the Atlanta Braves.