The Friday Morning Listen: Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
Published October 17, 2008
It's very difficult to evaluate music completely free of our past experiences. This is especially true when either the genre or artist in question is a known quantity, bringing with it the baggage of the past.
This week, I was involved in a short online discussion with few fellow music nerds about the band Marillion. While writers Glen Boyd and Tom Johnson clearly love the band, they've never done anything for me. Truthfully, when I hear the music, I want it to go away. My ear parts start to shrivel in some sort of reflexive aural protection maneuver. I'm fairly certain that, had I heard the new Marillion tunes in a 'blind' test, I would have reacted the same way. There's just something about 'progressive' rock that rubs me the wrong way. You just wouldn't believe the number of "What?! Are you kidding?!!" reactions I've received when admitting that I can't stand groups like Genesis and Roxy Music. Sorry, I just don't.
But this isn't about progressive rock (whatever the hell that even means). No, this is about Oasis, a band that in my mind has a ton of baggage.
Sure, I remember when (What's The Story) Morning Glory? came out. I remember "Wonderwall" being all over the radio and MTV. I also remember the insane blubbing about how this was the greatest rock band in the world. And then there were the brothers Gallagher. Oh yeah, I loved the accents. I mean, come on, who doesn't like a good television interview with English-speaking participants...and English subtitles?! There was a lot of bad behavior, infighting, etc. etc. My favorite was the "Liam has a sore throat" incident, causing him to back out of a MTV Unplugged show. I watched as Noel took over the lead vocals (and as Liam was spotted up in seats, smoking cigarettes) and thought, does Oasis really need that assplow Liam (NOTE: kudos to BC's own Eric Olsen, who I believe coined the term 'assplow,' one of the best epithets ever!)?
Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. On his best day, he hopes to channel the ghosts of Lester Bangs and Jack Kerouac. He spends the hours of 9:32PM to 1:37AM carving out music reviews and essays for Jazz.com, Blogcritics.org and other publications.
- The Friday Morning Listen: Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
- Published: October 17, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Part of a feature: Friday Morning Listen
- Writer: Mark Saleski
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You just force me to post this, don't you:
Top ten reasons why Marillion are better than Oasis
I'll second Jordan's succint and appropriate "yep." It's awesome, and prior to this I was in exactly the same anti-Oasis boat as you, Mark.
If anyone hasn't heard it, Brad Mehldau's take on "Wonderwall" on his recent Live album is worth the price alone. He really takes the nugget of the melody and works it into something really grand.
::hands on hips:::: what do you MEAN you don't like Genesis?
Kidding, I like them all right but I'm not a fanatic. Had a college room-mate who was however, but it could have been worse.
I only know of the odd Oasis song I hear on the radio now and then. I can take 'em or leave 'em.
Never heard of Marillion.
Even taking into account their own ego and arrogance, I've never understood why Oasis causes such a "love 'em or hate 'em" attitude among fans of both modern and classic rock - I would have assumed they would love 'em, or at the very least, accept them, much like the dyed in the wool rockers did U2 when they were making all that slick, megaproduced and emotionally taxing hoo-ha back in their prime. I think Oasis has always had solid albums, even the much maligned Be Here Now, which I'll choose as a more rockin' album 19 times out of 20 over The Forgettable Fire [sic]. And even with U2 back on track, I'd be hard pressed to decide between Vertigo and Lyla.
I compare Oasis with U2 here because of all the major rock bands in the world they probably have the most mass appeal, which is something I think Oasis strives for but will never achieve. And so the question is this: is it because of some flaw in their music, or is it simply that nowadays people can't get past the image?
Oh yeah - new Oasis is great too. Not as great as the CCR reissues - then again, when I was a kid, I thought Creedence was an icky ol' country band. It IS possible to get past the image, I guess - no matte what you think it might be.
Marillion are a prog rock band? Are you posting this blog from 1983??
Good stuff Mark. Even when we don't always agree on something, I always enjoy reading your take on things. Even when you are ;;;cough;;; wrong.
-Glen
"Not as great as the CCR reissues"
Don't set the bar too high, JC
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(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/82789)
Yep.