Review Summary: Cocaine: The Musical
Be Here Now is the sound of a band falling apart at the seams. Recorded at the height of their popularity, Oasis go full out insane on this record. Noel Gallagher has always had a thing for overproducing records and here is probably the most... infamous example. With the whole world eagerly awaiting release, journalists having to sign gag wavers just to get access to review copies and constant paparazzi harassment, Oasis lost the plot briefly. Be Here Now was recorded amidst complete debauchery. Mountains of cocaine were being consumed and the band was intoxicated 24/7. With no threat of failure to fall back on, the band decided to not only shoot for the moon but past it. Be Here Now is loud. Very VERY loud. There are dozens of overdubbed identical guitar parts over and over again. The Drums are constant and brutal. The bass is hardly even audible due to sheer noise. Track length is cranked up to often uncomfortable levels. Lead single 'D'You Know What I Mean ?' Clocks in at nearly 8 minutes (there was no radio edit either, a testament to the sheer obsession the country had with them), a minute and half of that being feedback. The third and final single 'All Around The World' hits 9 and a half minutes, has three changes, a full orchestra and even a friggin reprise. Noel said it best himself, describing the record recently as
"The sound of five men in the studio, on coke, not giving a ***.”
Still, at the time, expectations were monumentally high. Lines formed down the street for a copy of the record on release date. Buyers were given tickets commemorating the release of the record. Music magazines were overwhelmingly glowing. Q Magazine, normally quite stingy on its ratings gave the record 5 stars. The LP sold a whopping 424,000 copies on release date, breaking numerous records. Everyone loved it.
Then it all fell apart. Princess Diana's death changed public mood instantly. The once jovial and optimistic feel of the country was downbeat and moody. People soon came to realise the album wasn't all it was cracked up to be. It wasn't a masterpiece. It was flawed. Heavily. Soon, copies began flooding bargain bins across the country. Soon after, founding members Guigsy and Bonehead left the band.
Even today, Be Here Now is recognised as a black sheep. The one you either love with a passion or hate with all your hate. But is it REALLY that bad? Well let's have a look.
Maybe I'm biased. Probably, it probably explains the rating I'm giving this album. Is 4.5 too generous? Definitely. Would I change the record if I could? Of course. Do I still love it? You bet.
Sometimes, you have to go all out. Be Here Now takes everything to the extreme and somehow the coked filled madness compliments the record perfectly. The blazing guitar tracks, the full scale orchestral backing, Liam's signature snarl. It's all there and it's all beautiful. The tracks are long, sometimes far too long. That I will admit. But even still their ridiculous length just adds to the fun. Oasis have never been intellectual music. It's lad jams. Music you light flares and get drunk to. It's uplifting, harmonious and all around a damn fine time.
The apocalyptic sounding opener 'D'You Know What I Mean?' Features some of Liam's most aggressive singing and a full string arrangement (even if it is a little drowned out by the guitars). The second track 'My Big Mouth' blends some of Noel's most self aware lyrics and ear shattering guitar blasts. The gorgeous 'Stand By Me' again mixes a lush sting arrangement and a scream-your-lungs out super chorus while the charming pop of 'The Girl In The Dirty Shirt' delivers some catchy keyboards and thundering drums. There are the usual Oasis ballads naturally. The track 'Don't Go Away' is genuinely heart breaking, so much so Liam broke down in tears while recording It. It's also a lot more restrained than the other songs on the record. It only clocks in at 4 minutes and the mountains of guitars and kept to a minimum, the strings and drums taking centre stage. Even the coke fuelled, Beatles love letter that is 'All Around The World' is uplifting and so grandiose it's hard to not love.
Be Here Now isn't for everyone. It's bombastic, loud and very very long. But it's fun. That's the best way I can describe this album. Fun. You put this album on and you feel like the king of the world. It's empowering music, and the lyrics strike a chord even when they're smothered by the chaotic guitars. Are their faults? Of course. Are some of the songs a bit iffy? Yeah, Magic Pie is too long features lyrics from a Tony Blair speech. Fade In-Out (which features Johnny Depp on slide guitar) is one of the slighter tracks here and the last full song 'It's Gettin' Better (Man!!)' has a two minute outro which just consists of "We're getting better man" repeated over and over again around 40 times. But it's flaws are charming. Crack open a can of Dark fruits, get on your parka, light some flares and Be Here Now
Standout tracks:
D'You Know What I Mean?
My Big Mouth
Stand By Me
The Girl In The Dirty Shirt
Don't Go Away
Be Here Now
All Around The World
Standout lyrics:
"Step off the train all alone at dawn, back into the hole where I was born" - D'You Know What I Mean?
"I need more time just to make things right" - Don't Go Away
"If I stumble, catch me when I fall, cause baby after all: You'll never forget my name!" - I Hope, I Think, I Know
