Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory

This is the smash hit second album from britpop band Oasis. It was released in 1995, one year after Definitely Maybe.

Proceedings certainly kick off in a rollocking manner with Hello. The pre-chorus and chorus are very pop-friendly, but it all works well.

At the time of this album, the British press subjected us all to endless gushing comparisons between Oasis and The Beatles. However, Roll With It shows that they were true. Although the only engaging musical hook of the song for me is the line "you've gotta roll with it", everything else just sits around it nicely without leaving a lasting impression. Later in the album, Hey Now is similar but somehow doesn't quite hit the same heights. I still dig the style though, and the unusual sparse chorus is a nice twist.

For many years, I never wanted to hear Wonderwall again. But the fatigue has now worn off and I can again appreciate this rock ballad for the timeless classic that it is. Highlights include the opening guitar melody, the beautiful poetry of the lyrics and the (nicely retrained) use of strings to add an extra dimension to the sound.

Writing a pop hit is easy, all it takes is a catchy chorus and an chord progression thrown in somewhere. I know this is true, because I'm smitten for Don't Look Back in Anger. The five minutes always melts away in gentle bliss, and that chorus never fails to hit the spot. Cast No Shadow is very similar and therefore also brilliant. It scores a minor demerit for some twee backing vocals, but overall it's a nicely lingering lullaby which somehow also manages to have a real sense of progression through the song.

Some Might Say has wonderfully flowing verses which I find very catchy. But the chorus is a complete dog's breakfast, very nearly killing the buzz of a wonderful song.

Morning Glory is ridiculously overblown waffle involving helicopters, a thousand guitar overdubs and incomprehensible lyrics. I love it. It's like senseless excess in a musical form. And although fade-outs are usually my least favourite way to end a song, but here I can't imagine any other way to halt the epic-ness.

Champagne Supernova reminds me very much of Urban Hymns from The Verve. It isn't one of my favourite songs here, nonetheless it has me toe-tapping along and is a fine way to finish off this experience.

Audio quality?

Not good, and surprisingly varied between songs (which makes it hard to dial down the worst flaws using an EQ). But the consistent traits are vocals too loud which renders the instruments a jumbled mess in the background, loads of distortion and clipping, and drums which sound like they're halfway down the hallway. On the bright side, the tambourine and egg-shaker add a nice sense of lightness at times.

Favourite songs

Hello, Roll With It, Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger, Some Might Say, Cast No Shadow, Morning Glory

I diggit?

When Oasis are at their best like this, time just melts away; next thing I know it's almost four minutes later and I've been thoroughly enjoying the song. So that would be an unexpected "yes".

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

Californication is the seventh album from funk-rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was released in 1999, four years after One Hot Minute.

Around the World sure is a bombastic way to kick things off. Personally I find the gentle, singalong chorus to be an awkward fit for the heavy rock-funk groove of the rest of the song. But I really enjoy said rock-funk groove, so it's mostly good times here. And the outtro is headbanging trance-like goodness.

There's an incessant and driving groove that keeps pushing Parallel Universe along, thanks to some brilliant work from the guitar and bass. It reminds me a bit like Showbiz-era Muse and builds up to the chorus brilliantly. This album cops a lot of flack for its recording quality, but somehow the mono-ness works well here, somehow like a garage band thrashing away as a distant ball of focussed energy. Later on, This Velvet Glove follows a similar style, but fails to capture the magic.

Scar Tissue? No, sorry. I've just heard it too many times.

However, I don't think I could ever tire of the timeless guitar and vocal melodies in Otherside. Somehow it is both a highly polished pop song and a wonderfully understated ballad. Then the bridge is pretty weird... excellent! Capped off by a final triumphant chorus, this is pop perfection.

Californication follows a similar recipe, resulting in another wonderful pop-rock ballad. Highlights for me are the sense of musical progression through the song and wonderful lyrics such as "Space may be the final frontier, but it's made in a Hollywood basement".

Get on Top doesn't speak to me at all, feeling too staccato. Or perhaps I just can't handle the heavy funk... But on the other hand, add excessive cheese and I'm all over it. Exhibit A is I Like Dirt, complete with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, I love it. (perhaps the chorus is a precursor to Anchorman's "I love lamp"...) And Purple Stain is funk perfection with a brilliant chorus. I have no idea what's going on with the lyrics, but I still really dig them.

Is there any overall narrative to the lyrics of Easily? Even if not, each of the individual images is vivid and enjoyable in its own right. And it's backed by a solid and catchy groove throughout, with the half-time breakdown being an unusual treat. One minor gripe is that while the ending does serve its purpose, it seems a bit drawn-out.

Emit Remmus shows that psychedelic-rock isn't my cup of tea. I find it enjoyable at the time, but not something I'd look forward to. But then Savior shoots that theory to pieces with brilliant cigarette lighter-waving antics! Its contrasting section is totally weird and should stand out like a sore thumb, but somehow it fits in perfectly.

Road Trippin' offers us a beautiful ballad as a gentle landing back to reality. Its genius is the simple yet engaging instrumentals, which perfectly complement poetry like "Your smiling eyes are just a mirror for the sun". Road Trippin' is quite out of character for the band, but I think this is one of their best songs.

Favourite songs

Around the World, Parallel Universe, Otherside, Californication, I Like Dirt, Savior, Purple Stain, Road Trippin'

 

I diggit?

I don't actually remember why I bought this album, and had quite low expectations as I loaded it into the CD player. So it was a wonderful surprise to discover that Californication thoroughly deserves its reputation as a classic album.