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".