Review Summary: The Summary: The follow-up to the letdown "Be Here Now", Oasis takes on new heights and explore their sound and makes something completely different. Good choice.
The Band: Oasis
The Title: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
The Release Date: 28th February 2000 (UK)
The Line-up: Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Alan White
The Producers: Noel Gallagher, Mark Stent
The Label: Big Brother (UK)
The Length: 46:41 Minutes
The Story: This is Oasis fourth studio album and it became their fourth number one album in the UK but it remains their worst selling album with approximately three million copies sold worldwide. The title of the album comes from an Isaac Newton quote: "If I can see further than anyone else, it is only because I am standing on the shoulders of giants". Noel Gallagher saw this quote on a side of a 2£ coin while having some drinks in a pub and he liked it so much he decided to use it as a name for a record. He wrote it down on a cigarette pack while being drunk, which may explain why the quote was "Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants" an error he noticed the following morning.
During the recording of this album both Bonehead and Guigsy left the band, so both their parts had to be re-recorded due to legal reasons. Therefore, the line-up for this album just consists of the two Gallagher brothers and Alan White. A bootleg of demo sessions recorded for this album was leaked onto the Internet in January 2000. Most of these songs were recorded by Noel Gallagher with the help of a couple of friends in his home studio at Supernova Heights and at Oasis' own Wheeler End Studios complex. All of the songs apart from "Little James" were sung by Noel on the bootleg.
The Tracks:
The Title: Fuckin' In The Bushes
The Length: 3:18 min
The Author: Noel Gallagher
The Info: An almost fully instrumental track featuring only some unknown voices in the beginning and some barely hear-able ones in the middle and ending. The song features all instruments and the most standout one are Noel guitar producing some very neat solos.
The Quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Murray Lerner, Message to Love - Isle of Wight 1970
Fun, nice, life, youth, beautiful
I?m all for it
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The Rating: 4/5
The Title: Go Let It Out
The Length: 4:38 min
The Author: Noel Gallagher
The Info: Opens up with Alan White's drumming followed by Noel counting down until the guitar comes in, followed by Liams voice. This was the first single released and it's very similar to "Roll With It" with it's very easy and accessible chorus. It also features somewhat weird background sounds which gives it a psychedelic touch that follows mostly through the whole record. A great real first song, it ends with a guitar solo that fades out.
The Qoute:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Noel Gallagher
Life is Precocious in a most peculiar way
Sister Psychosis don't got a lot to say
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The Rating: 4/5
The Title: Who Feels Love?
The Length: 5:44 min
The Author: Noel Gallagher
The Info: While being one of my personal Oasis favourites, this one is no real easy listener even though it's the second single of the album. It's one of Oasis lesser rock moments which leans mostly towards the pop genre. The song is simply driven forward by Liam's vocals and the drums. The song clearly shows the new approach by the band by entering the psychedelic domain. Some very good producing and some very cool lyrics written by Noel makes the song work very well even though to the actually song relies on simplicity. The interludes on the other hand, are instrumentally very good.
The Quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Noel Gallagher
I'm leaving all that I see
now all my emotions fill the air I breathe.
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The Rating: 5/5
The Title: Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is
The Length: 4:27 min
The Author: Noel Gallagher
The Info: Also riding on the psychedelic wave of this album, but still a disappointing tune. A weird effect opens up followed by Liams voice, sounding almost like he's singing from another room. This is certainly done on purpose and it annoys me quite a bit in addition to the annoying synth-sound in the background. The middle section is pure musical chaos and sadly the nasty synth-"riff" still survives this. The song is full of distorted guitars which usually is Noels winning move but this time it doesn't save the song from drowning. It also ends with weird effects.
The Quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Noel Gallagher
Ready or not, come what may
The bets are going down for judgement day
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The Rating:1/5
The Title: Little James
The Length: 4:15 min
The Author: Liam Gallagher
The Info: Liams only song on this album and Oasis first song not written by Noel. This is a really underrated song and the fact that Liam has written it makes his vocals sound much stronger and alive which forges this great song. Opens with a weird effect, as many other songs on this album, followed by a piano. Then Liam comes in and takes this song away, his singing driving the song steady forward. Even though the lyrics are far from great and has some at times very bad rhymes it still is rather enjoyable. The song is written about his stepson.
The Quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Liam Gallagher
Thank you for your smile
You make it all worth while to us
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The Rating: 3.5/5
The Title: Gas Panic!
The Length: 6:08 min
The Author: Noel Gallagher
The Info: While being one of the most standout tracks on this album it's still a great musical piece. A good mixture between mellow sounds and Liam's voice and some neat riffing by Noel. The arrangement can be compared to the excellent "Champagne Supernova" though this lacks much of its intensity. The lyrics are about Noels depression and panic attacks he suffered from. The song feels unnecessary long and the ending seems rather pointless.
The Quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Noel Gallagher
My pulse pumps out a beat to the ghost dancer
My eyes are dead and my throat's like a black hole
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The Rating: 3.5/5
The Title: Where Did It All Go Wrong?
The Length: 4:26 min
The Author: Noel Gallagher
The Info: Noels first vocal appearance and it's a good one. The first verse starts with drums followed by the other instruments and Noels vocals coming in rather quick. The first verse is a great show by Noel with exceptional singing. The chorus is not as catchy but surely has potential and is far from dull. Comparison to "Don't Look Back In Anger" is not far off, 'cause it reminds somewhat of the old classic from 1995. The drumming is also worth mentioning here, creds to Alan. It also has a cool solo.
The Quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Noel Gallagher
You know that feeling you get
You feel you're older than time
You ain't exactly sure
If you've been away a while
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The Rating: 5/5
The Title: Sunday Morning Call
The Length: 5:12 min
The Author: Noel Gallagher
The Info: Noels continues with his vocals here and if the previous track wasn't good enough for you, this surely is. Noels shows of some really emotional singing on this track and it got a special place in my heart. This is possibly one of the best tracks lyrically and although it isn't the most advanced musically it still works very well together with the lyrics. The mixture between acoustic- and electric guitar is also great and it has a great solo. This is the absolute highlight of the album and the ending can only be described as stunning.
The Quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Noel Gallagher
And in your head do you feel
What you're not supposed to feel
When you take what you want
You don't get hope for free
You need more time
Cos your thoughts and words won't last forever more
And I'm not sure if it'll ever, ever, ever work out right
If it'll ever, ever, ever work out right
Will it ever, ever, ever work out right??
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The Rating: 5/5
The Title: I Can See A Liar
The Length: 3:12 min
The Author: Noel Gallagher
The Info: A very generic old Oasis song. To me it's a clear filler track, a short one. I don't like the way Liam?s voice sounds on this and the rhyming in the chorus is just awful. The guitars though are great at times and reminds of the songs from the pure guitar-fest "What's The Story (Morning Glory)" with an amazing solo. Not very much to say about this one, a rather boring one.
The Quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Noel Gallagher
Trouble in his heart, laughing at the thought
Coming as he goes into overdose
I wonder what he thinks of me?
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The Rating: 2/5
The Title: Roll It Over
The Length: 6:41
The Author: Noel Gallagher
The Info: The ending tune begins with some sound-effect and some faint drumming. A strumming guitar comes in and soon after that, Liam's voice. The song progresses slowly with some more strumming and some occasional fingerpicking until the pre-chorus which features some great singing by Liam followed by even more awesome singing at the chorus. This is without a doubt Liam's strongest point on this album, the singing is exceptional and makes the bland lyrics sound really powerful at times.
The Quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Noel Gallagher
Does it make it all right?
It doesn't make it all right?
To roll it over my soul and leave me here
Roll it over my soul and leave me here
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The Rating: 4.5/5
The Conclusion: Being a whole new approach by Oasis, following up three very generic sounding guitar albums (very good generic guitar albums). This is a brave album to release after the three critically acclaimed masterpieces. As Noel stated it before, "I don't care what the fans think, I make music for myself" this album really shows it. It's nothing like their previous recordings and even though the critics punted this new approach by Manchesters finest off Wembley stadium and right out in the Atlantic it's nonetheless a great album and a must for any Oasis fan. Noels lyrical ability continues to grow and it also features Liam's first song. It walks on a thin line between rock and pop and has some interesting moments and some less interesting. (Like some intros that sound like the studio at times suffered from the millennia bug.)
The Do's: This album is recommended to you...
...that has a Pink Floyd album besides Be Here Now.
...that like Don?t Look Back In Anger.
...that wanna hear a real musical evolvement.
The Don'ts: This album is NOT recommended to you...
...that is allergic to childish rhymes.
...that is expecting ?Some Might Say pt2?.
...that never owned a NES. (Frankly, not being used to hear annoying electronic sounds)
The Overall Rating: 4/5
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