It is the end...

In addition to the 3rd September post, here on October 13th (which seems quite appropriate) it is now obvious that Oasis are no more as Liam has confirmed that the band are over and done.

What a shame it ended like this but to be fair looking back it was always gonna be this way, one rook too many.

So we hold up our glasses and salute Oasis, the band that changed English music forever and were a damn good night out.

Cheers to Liam and Noel.

Colin@shaddersonline.com

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So here we sit, the 3^rd September 2009 as the dust starts to settle from the latest Noel walkout and quit fallout. As everyone has said 'we've seen it all before etc blah etc blah' but this time it does seem a bit more final and like the Oasis axe is about to fall. At times like these you really don't know what to believe, Noel has said this and Liam is supposed to have done that but as it stands all oasis.net is confirming is that Noel has quit the band but no news on Liam and the rest of the band.

The remaining and final dates on the mammoth world tour have been pulled including the infamous V festival, the Paris date in the aftermath of the Noel and Liam blow out and following Milan gig got canned too.

As I sit in front of the laptop there is still, at least on paper anyway, an Oasis featuring Liam and rent a mob (sorry Andy & Gem, but they know the score) but there's nothing on that 'forthcoming' page.

Trouble is everyone knows that Oasis isn't just Liam and co but it's Noel and Liam (plus random backing band) therefore without Noel therefore it ceases to be the 'real' Oasis. It'll be more like Liam flogging a dead pantomime Oasis horse for a fist full of dollars. Whether he does this remains to be seen, but there seems to be a strong opinion that Liam views Oasis as HIS band and he can do whatever he wishes with it. Anyhow, in the short term they'll be more words than actions. After Milan a break was planned , let's face it they've been on the road for at least 18 full months out promoting 'Dig out your soul' so the calendar would probably be pretty clear until we'd guess next summer. Between now and then there's a shed load of time for things to settle down and air to be cleared.

It looks Noel's future, short term anyway, is more obvious than his temperamental brother. Everyone is well aware of his desire to put out an album under his own name rather than under the Oasis brand, so now could well be the time to get in the studio and go down that avenue. He don't need the Oasis roadshow for the money, it's already provided that and the fact his name is all over their biggest hits means the royalty cheques ain't gonna finish anytime soon neither. Long term is far less easy to read. Oasis are still the band that he made and indeed made him and Liam is still his brother, whether he likes that or not!  If he sees Liam prancing around singing his songs will he get the buzz back? Will then he be able to resist? Could he really ignore it all? McCartney still does Beatles songs live but is it really the same without Lennon and at least Noel wouldn't have did Liam up to get him back on stage!

For now 'I'm outta time' is playing on the old stereo and it seems too damn apt. But saying all this isn't time is supposed to heal the wounds and blood is thicker so let's for now hold onto those thoughts and say 'never say never' cause the British music scene without Oasis just don't seem right.

Colin @ Shaddersonline.com

(Sepetember 2009)

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The final album review? We hope not...

Oasis - Dig out your soul

Big Brother / Sony

11 Tracks - 45 minutes 56 seconds

Intro - So here it is a brand new spanking Oasis album, No 1 in the UK and top 5 in the states, looking good sales wise then. Critics have given it a mixed response but fans views seem pretty positive. So rather than our normal format we're doing a track by track guide. Let's go..

Track 1 - Bag it up (writer Noel Gallagher)

Big, big start this and sets up the whole album, always good to get off the ground running and they do it in some good Oasis style.

Verdict - Winner

Track 2 - The Turning (writer Noel Gallagher)

Slightly less hectic intro to this one and Liam's vocals actually sound more gentle for the first minute before going off. Some great keys in the background and bring out some ace guitars too, bit of an epic then!

Verdict - Winner

Track 3 - Waiting for the Rapture (writer Noel Gallagher)

What a big bass sound this has, thumping to put it mildly. First on the album to use Noel's vocal talent and another huge tune. Not Noel's usual delicate tunes this has loads going off in it and actually could have used Liam to no ill effect on it.

Verdict - Winner

Track 4 - The Shock of the lightening (writer Noel Gallagher)

Another huge intro, everyone should know this tune as it's been everywhere and so it should be. This is pure Oasis at their best; it has Noel's trademark off beat lyrics and some monster guitars & drums. It has the tempo and Liam's vox are at their very best. It has the lot, 100% percent Oasis, Stunning.

Verdict - Winner

Track 5 - I'm out of time (Writer Liam Gallagher)

This is a beautiful tune, laid back with some lovely Liam vocals. Has more than an echo of Lennon and it's the one that has John's sample from his final interview. Show's that it's not only Noel of the brothers that is able to write and perform something special.

Verdict - Winner

Track 6 - (Get off your) High Horse Lady (writer Noel Gallagher)

Fairly simple tune with distorted vocals that gets beefed up about two minutes in. Promises more than it delivers, pretty foot tapping but lacks any real direction.

Verdict - So so.

Track 7 - Falling Down (writer Noel Gallager)

The most successful of the Noel sung tracks, the vocals has the feel of 'Setting sun' by The Chemical Brothers but fortunately even though musically it has a bit of an edge to it never goes down the dance route. Gotta be a single and judging by the sticker on the front of the album, probably will be.

Verdict - Winner

Track 8 - To be where there's life (writer Gem)

Probably the darkest song on the album musically does sound a little different with some serious bass action. Quite a heavy sound but Liam's vocals always sound well in touch with it don't think you'd want to have the full album like it but doesn't sound out of place.

Verdict - Contender

Track 9 - Ain't got nothing (writer Liam Gallagher)

Doesn't really go anywhere this one, no clear sound with the drums muddling things up, not one of Liam's better moments but still it is pretty short!

Verdict - disappointing

Track 10 - The nature of reality (writer Andy Bell)

Can kinda guess this one is Andy's, the guitars have his name all over them! Liam does sit nicely on top of the mix but it's not really as exciting as the first half of the album.

Verdict - So so.

Track 11 - Soldier on (writer Liam Gallagher)

Cracking intro, some more big bass sounds but to start with the weird vocals don't really cut the mustard. Bit of slow burner and not the 'big ending' that was possibly expected. That said it ain't half bad and shows that Liam to write more than Lennon inspired numbers.

Verdict - Contender.

Verdict - Don't think we were the only ones to be underwhelmed by their last outing but this is a lot, lot better. It has a better flow to it and sounds more coherent. Good things starting to come from the pen of Liam which bodes well for the future and Noel writes another batch of quality stuff. It isn't Definitely Maybe or what's the story but those days are long gone, this to all intents and purposes is virtually a different band. When you employ people who can play and write for themselves their input is bound to come through not only in the tracks they write but also their influence on others. The first half of the album is the star but there's enough quality to make this a damn fine listen, Oasis are back then.

File Under return to form.

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So to celebrate the release of their new album we caught up with the boys on their world tour.

Oasis Live - Friday 10th October 2008

Venue: Sheffield Arena. You're hardly gonna see Oasis down the Leadmill these days are you! This is one of the original mega stadia to copy those on the other side of the pond. It's a complete sell out as you'd expect, the atmosphere ain't too bad, apart from a few altercations mainly over split drinks (Oasis fans do seem to like a drink or two) but generally the place looks well up for it. Fair play the place as it has to be said that the sound seems pretty nailed on too so here we go….  The Band: Buoyed by the return of the injured Noel back into action and yet another number one album in the bag the boys seem to be in really good spirits. Let's face it Oasis are one of, if not the big live draw in the UK so everytime they take to a stage the expectations are always high and as if not to disappoint they blow straight through 'Rock n roll star', that's the way to do it! The stakes are keep nice and high as not long after they drop the excellent new single 'The Shock of the lightening', those lucky enough to have standing tickets are already in overdrive and this is a stunning tour de force of Oasis at their best. True to form the gig follows the Oasis standard formula; some new stuff, a couple of Noel 'solo spots' (where the limelight transfers between brothers) and obviously a boat load of hits. Bizarrely it's one of the Liam less interludes that gets the best reception, with an armoury full of treats like 'The importance of being idle', 'The Masterplan' plus newie 'Falling down' but it's that old fav 'Don't look back in anger' that gets the whole arena on it's feet. We all know that 'The Masterplan' is sublime but the 'Importance of being idle' is some tune whilst 'Falling down' has a bit of a feel of 'Setting son' about it (without being dance!). 'Don't look back in Anger' is really, really stripped down and sounds absolutely stunning, it's the hairs standing up on the back of the neck stuff, hands aloft all around the arena and the applause is deafening. Anyway not to be outdone back to the main frontman in town, Liam. When he is on stage they move up that extra level; his arrogance, attitude and downright coolness just prove it was destiny to be the quintisensual frontman of his generation. They pull out the rabbits out of the hat too; 'Songbird' is simple yet effective, 'Slide away' a pleasant surprise and 'Wonderwall' is on the money as you'd expect. So for an encore it's the usual duo of 'Champagne Supernova' and 'I am the Walrus' well you'd be gutted by anything else. Verdict: So do Oasis still live up to the biggest live draw then? Hell yeah. Anyone who has this arsenal of songs would have to do something really wrong to muck it up and they barely put a foot wrong. Liam and Noel manage to give some attitude too, in a comedy manner like. Liam listens to the normal 'Yorkshire' chants, wanders up to the mic and utters 'So you've got yourselves a music scene then!' and then backs away to ready himself for his next sonic assault. Whereas Noel dedicates one of his solo spots to some blues in the house, that gets a first round of jeers, Noel laughs this off by saying it's nothing to do with the Wednesday's (one of the local Sheffield football teams) which is greeted by more jeers to which his response is to 'Don't worry we'll own you all in a couple of years anyway' which refers to Manchester City new found Arab financial clout). As ever since last time Oasis were on the touring circuit the rotating band member door policy has been in effect this time we welcome a new drummer. Other than that though Gem and Andy Bell have made their spaces on the tour bus really their own, just getting on with the job in hand and now helping out on the writing front too. Liam and Noel use this to truly run the show and what a show, from start to finish they don't just live up to the billing their tear it down and rewrite it. Best live band in Britain, you don't shift tickets like Oasis still do by accident, best live band in Britain you'd better believe it.

Shadders scorelines

Atmosphere -8

Ability - 10

Effort - 8

Oasis value for money - 9 (it ain't cheap but there's no complaints!).

Check out the mobile pic gallery for three photo's taken at Sheffield Arena, they are off the mobile phone so aren't brilliant but still worth a look.

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And lastly to celebrate Dig out your soul we decided to ask Noel some questions, obviously he's too busy so James from the Oasis tribute band stepped in to help! 

Questions for.... James aka Noel from Noasis

Q1, Who are you and where are you from? 

My name is James Cropley and I'm from Grantham, Lincolnshire. 

Q2, How on earth do you decide to become a member of a tribute band & why Oasis? Also did you play in your own bands before it? 

I was in a covers band with the current Bass player (Mark) and drummer (Adi) and used to do a few Oasis numbers. We got the idea after rehearsing one day. There wasn't a "divine" moment where we all decided, it was kinda a on the spot decision. Our Liam (Shane) and Gem (Alex) were then recruited.

 Q3, Who decided who was going to be who in the band? Do you look like your chosen star and was there any fighting over who wanted to be Noel and Liam?

Haha, no, I play lead guitar and sing so I just took on the guise of Noel Gallagher. I make every effort to look like him but at the end of the day, plastic surgery costs too much. I'm lucky I have a cool haircut. We advertised for a "Liam" and Shane gave me a call. He came down and sang and we took him on. He looks like him so it was a bonus.

Q4, How do you decide the set list for gigs?

5 guys cant sit down and decide on a setlist, so I decide on what we will play and then send it around and give the others the opportunity to have their say. As Oasis have so many great songs, it's hard to get all the classics in one set, so I swap things round from time to time.

Q5, Where do you play gigs & how do you get bookings?

We play all over the country, our gigs come from our agent, promoters that wish to work with us and any private bookings we take ourselves. I take care of all the bookings, you cant have more than one person managing that otherwise it becomes a nightmare. 

Q6, What was the weirdest place you've ever played?

We did a show near Skegness, for the life of me i can't remember where now but we had to share our show with a Horse racing contest, one of those fucking shite things where people bet on a horse and a throw of a dice determines a move, or whatever. We got told when we were there, that this was happening. It was like, do two songs, stop and let the fucking horses go. Never again. Then there are the fucking raffle draws.....

Q7, Has anyone past or present from Oasis ever seen you / have you ever met the band?

We met Noel recently in London. We just went and knocked on his front door one day and asked to see him. We told him we were an Oasis tribute and he was cool. We got a photo with him and left him to watch the Football. To be honest, if 5 gimps came and knocked on my door on a sunday evening, I wouldn't have been so nice haha.

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Stop The Clocks - Special (From when the compilation was released) 

So when Liam and Noel come to blows over their favourite Oasis songs the shadders team have put together our own Stop The Clocks, and the good thing about this seeing as we own all the albums and a great number of singles (all from the first two albums in fact) we can decide which songs are in our favourite 18 and download onto our brand spanking mp3 walkman phone. To make it just like the Oasis compilation we've even split it into two discs although obviously on the mp3 player they're all just saved on their and the playlist can be anything, we just liked the sound of how these two discs would flow.

Stop the Clocks - Shaddersonline Special  Disc One

Track 1 - Fuckin' in the bushes (Storming intro track on 'Standing on the shoulders of giants')

Track 2 - Supersonic (The first single and what a debut)

Track 3 - The Hindu Times (Another classic guitar stomper, from 'Heathen Chemistry')

Track 4 - Wonderwall (The classic and rarely beaten mega single from 'What's the story)

Track 5 - Talk Tonight (The stand out Noel track of early performances, a mere b side!)

Track 6 - Let there be love (Moment of sparkle from poor last outing)

Track 7 - Sunday Morning Call (Gem from 'Standing on the shoulders of giants')

Track 8 - Acquiesce (How this was allowed to be a b side god only knows, now a 'proper' a side!)

Track 9 - D' yer wanna be a spaceman (A mere early single b side stunning Noel semi acoustic number)

Stop the clocks shaddersonline special Disc 2

Track 10 - The importance of being idle (Stand out moment from last album and cracking video!)

Track 11 - Rock n Roll star (Classic early Definately Maybe moment that just sums Liam up)

Track 12 - Where did it all go wrong (Quality downer from under-rated 'Standing on the shoulders of giants)

Track 13 - Whatever (Class strings from the 'forgotton' single, great singalong stuff)

Track 14 - Stop Crying your heart out (Heart felt stuff enough to earn it's place)

Track 15 - Columbia (The white label started the ball rolling, quality stuff from debut album)

Track 16 - Little By Little (Impressive vocals from 'Heathen Chemistry' highlight)

Track 17 - Don't look back in anger (Perfectly paired with Champagne Supernova for a stunning 'What's the story' finale)

Track 18 - Champagne Supernova (The only way to finish, there is no better ending,from 'What's the story')

The ones which didn't quite make it, the nearly men so to speak, but could easily be on a Stop the Clocks 2 include the likes of: Shakermaker, Live forever, Slide away, She's electric, Go let it out, All round the world, half the world away, The masterplan and Force of nature. Oasis have such a fine back catologue it is really hard to decide even on eighteen 'best songs'. While deciding on the tracks to pick we've been obviously listening again to all six Oasis albums and which is tops and which ain't!

Definitely Maybe - Creation 1994

The original and the best some will argue and it is an absolutely cracking album but we're not so sure it's Oasis' best album to date. Even saying that this should be in your collection, in fact if it isn't why the hell not? There are the obvious classic singles 'Supersonic' and 'Shakermaker' plus gems like 'Slide away' and 'Columbia'. It has all the attitude, the guitars and that Liam snarl. Simply put brilliant.

What's the story (morning glory) - Creation 1995

Now we think this is packs a bigger punch than Definitely Maybe it certainly has the better songs in 'Wonderwall' and 'Don't look back in anger'. Then there isn't a better finish in pop history than 'Champagne supernova' simply stunning. It also catapulted Oasis into the big leagues. Marks off for the dreadful 'Roll with it' but other than that it's a monster of an album.

Be Here now - Creation 1997

This was supposed to be Oasis' opus but it kinda fell a bit flat despite shifting mega units. To be fair to this album it isn't as bad as history has painted it and does half some mega tunes, we love 'All around the world' and 'Fade in / fade out' then 'D'yer you know what I mean' is just pure and simple Oasis. Only the major trouble is that it's only two thirds of a great album and that is the let down, still The Farm would have loved to write any of these songs!

Standing on the shoulders of giants - Big Brother 2000

This in our humble view is one of Oasis best work, a classic downer of an album after the hype, knebworth and success of the previous six or so years. It includes some of Noel's finest songwriting moments and is quality and just works as a complete album. The intro track 'Fuckin in the bushes' is one hell of a opener but it's best moments are the down tracks, 'Sunday morning call' is just sublime and 'Where did it all go wrong' is spot on. There is also the debut of Liam as a songwriter, 'little James' has it's heart in the right place but should really have been a b side. All in all one of the best Oasis albums yet still somewhat overlooked and in the shadows of 'Definitely Maybe' and 'What's the story' which is a real shame.

Heathen Chemistry - Big Brother 2002

Another quality offering this, Oasis by this point had ceased to be the big fashion band that allowed them to spring to super stardom in the Britpop era, they were now Britain's best band and purely concentrating on recording great records. Along with SOTSOG this is a great record. It has all the elements, the big Oasis numbers like 'The Hindu Times' or say 'Force of nature' whilst still retaining those great sentimental songs that just make you think, the best on Heathen Chemistry being the superb 'Little by little'. Another monster Oasis album and even 'Songbird' is pretty damn good!

Don't believe the Truth - Big Brother 2005

Now where do we start with this? Well it's a bit of a mess really, unlike most Oasis albums it's disjointed by the fact the songwriting is spilt amongst all the band so it really doesn't feel like a true Oasis album like SOTSOG does. Also some of the tracks just try a bit too hard, 'Lyla' is well guilty of that. Yet saying all this 'The importance of being idle' is one of Oasis best ever singles, a real romp of a song and with a magical, inspired video too. Noel, write all the songs again in future and we're sure Oasis will be right back on track.

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We've also gone through our back issues of the fanzine that started all this website business 'Shadders? on me Lungs?' and have come across some excellent live reviews (including the original Sheffield Arena gig from 1995 featured below) but to start things off this piss take of arena gigs that was first published along with the arena review but still rings true today as bands like Razorlight and Kasabian also step up to tour the arena's.

 

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 Do it yerself in true 'Shadders' style - "The Arena Concert"

We show you how in eight easy to follow steps how you can recreate your favourite bands meteoric rise to fame in the comfort of your own to keep 12,000 capacity arena! Part One - Clear out your / your parents / a unlocked nearby garage! Part Two - Clear a very large piece of land nearby. This is to be converted into your very own money spinning car park! Find some half-wit and force him into wearing an embarrassing bright orange jacket, then get them to charge any car that goes within a five-mile radius £3.00. However, make sure your 'attendant' has buggered off well before the end of your 'concert' thus allowing utter mayhem to occur leading to it taking at least four hours for anyone to get out of the 'car park'. Part Three - Back to the garage. Find an old cardboard box, or even better a milk or beer crate and place it upside down at the far end of the garage. Place above it a small piece of cloth upon which you stick your favourite bands logo (cut one out of NME). This obviously is your stage. Part Four - Locate a ten-year-old Walkman and a pair of really crap walkman speakers (the ones that cost when new about two quid and now are abound at any car boot sale for about ten pence). Place the walkman behind the beer crate (err I mean stage) and the speakers either side. This is the state of the art arena sound system. Part Five - Get some old plastic soldiers, the ones every kid used to have and as featured in Toy Story (Star Wars figures are no good, they are too big!). Glue them to your beer crate stage, this is your band so you'll need about five, not that it matters that much cause where you are sat you won't actually be able to see them anyway! Part Six - Make sure the garage / arena is dark, if there are any windows in the garage paint them black, if it is a relatives garage then ensure they have gone out for the day. Then get a torch; stand at the back of the 'arena' and point at the beer crate stage. For a truly professional light show have a number of torches and colour the end's using a berol pen, then flash them at the 'stage'. Part Seven - You should now be able to feel the 'atmosphere' beginning to grow. Therefore it's time for the main event. You should now place a badly copied tape of your favourite band into the walkman (one done on a really awful Amstrad stereo is best, they are available at the same car boot as the walkman!) and press play. Once the music commences grab a highly uncomfortable plastic patio chair and place in the corner furthest away from the 'stage'. For the best effect ensure a seven foot tall bloke is sat in front of you! Part Eight - Set fire to twenty quid, in fact add in another fiver for a barely warm burger or warm beer for that complete waste of money sensation. So there you have it, why travel miles to Wembley, Birmingham or even erm Sheffield when you can have the 'time of your life' in your very own back garden, why indeed!

And now for the arena gig review way back from 1995 that sparked the DIY arena piss take, arr the memories!

MAINE MEN - Sheffield Arena 22nd April 1995

On 14th May 1994 Oasis played Sheffield Leadmill one of Britpop's finest hopes. Less than 11 months later Oasis are back, gone are the toilet venues replaced by huge sold out arenas. It has been an incredible rise from manc glue sniffers (to any lawyers that's allegedly) to massive arena stardom. It all began with the killer 'Supersonic' then the perfect debut album 'Definitely maybe' with a huge number of glittering sold out live performances on the way. From the outset the twelve or 'whatever' thousand fans are on their feet, the seats rendered useless (except for a rest during Noel's solo spot). As Liam enthuses that 'tonight I'm a rock n'roll star' as they begin, he is spot on. It's so apt now as coaches from far afield as Plymouth have travelled to witness they're every move. They are obviously thrilled and embrace the attention, stadium rockers they may well be but Simple Minds they ain't. All the familiar tunes are here mixed in with a few new songs. 'Shakermaker' is announced as an 'old one' which is due to their tremendous work rate (Stone Roses take note). The new single 'Some might say' zooms by, it's trademark Oasis, not that it suffers from that, a clear hit. Pick of the new bunch is 'Acquiescence' which finds them in rockier territory. Noel joins Liam for the chorus 'We need each other and we believe each other'. Spot on Noel, the brothers Gallagher make a great partnership and it's not just the brothers who believe, I dare say there's nobody arguing tonight. Yet again Oasis unplugged is a major highlight, it is more at home in the arena surroundings. Liam's rough voice may suit the fast pop tracks but there's no way he could sound as suprisingly elegant as Noel. The flawless 'Take me away' is an absolute jewel. Once Liam and Co rejoin Noel back on centre stage they don't seem to spark back into top gear, 'Whatever' is more Oasis without the strings but it suits the Beatles sound on record. 'Supersonic' is merely good not brilliant! It's not till the mesmerising finale of 'I am the Walrus' that they get back on the right track. It's a bellowing monster; it has the whole arena on its feet applauding its brilliance (I am sure John Lennon would join them if he could). Oasis have proved that stepping onto bigger stages each time they play is nothing, progress I believe they call it. It however beckons just one final question, if one year they can go from playing the Leadmill to the Arena, where will they be playing next March? A tenner on Wembley arena anyone?