[rating=3.00]
It feels like ever since the relative disappointment with 1997’s Be Here Now, every subsequent Oasis album is hailed as a “return to form.” In retrospect, Be Here Now is actually an excellent album, just executed haphazardly. Even during the “lost era” of Oasis, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants and Heathen Chemistry offered their share of great songs, but as wholes they fell short. 2005’s Don’t Believe the Truth saved the group from fading away, spawning huge hits like “Lyla” and “The Importance of Being Idle,” the latter one of the best songs Noel Gallagher has ever written. Yet, somehow, we now have another “back to basics” Oasis album. Unfortunately, it’s not even as good as Don’t Believe the Truth!
Dig Out Your Soul offers some good songs like “Falling Down” and “The Turning” but those are just mediocre Oasis works. It sounds like Oasis covering Oasis – merely going through the motions. Maybe that’s a bit harsh, but while the songs sound like classic Oasis, they’re devoid of any real hooks or innovativeness that made them who they are today. The only true great track comes, surprisingly, from Liam: “I’m Outta Time.” It’s the first time Liam has managed to outshine Noel on an album.
With Don’t Believe the Truth I was hoping for more songs akin to “The Importance of Being Idle," songs that broke the mold were playful yet felt inspired. With Liam writing it was great to hear Noel sing more of his own work and his songs on that album were incredible. They felt loose – like they just came together naturally. Instead on Dig Out Your Soul we get uninspired songs with a bland “Wall of Sound” production style from Dave Sardy that seems to blend everything together into a garbled mess.
For those hoping to hear a classic Oasis album, go listen to Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, they’ll live on forever. As anyone can tell you, a band attempting to return to its roots will almost always end up in disaster. Unless you’re The Beatles, of course. Oasis needs to do what they did on Don’t Believe the Truth and just play totally uninhibited. It could end in disaster (it has before) but at least they’ll stay true to who they are now as musicians and as a band. And isn’t that all that we want in a band anyway?
