britpop – Sat In Your Lap

The Ultimate Oasis List

The gargantuan task of ranking every song by my favourite band.
-Only including songs officially released by the band, so no bootlegs, leaks, etc.
-Only including songs written by the band, so no covers, although I’ve given them their own separate list (see below).

Album Rankings:

7. Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

6. Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

5. Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

4. Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

3. Be Here Now
Rating:

2. Definitely Maybe
Rating:

1. (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

Song Rankings:

128. A Quick Peep
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

127. Sunday Morning Call
Album/Single: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

126. (Probably) All In The Mind
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

125. Ain’t Got Nothing
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

124. The Quiet Ones
Album/Single: The Importance of Being Idle
Rating:

123. A Bell Will Ring
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

122. Eyeball Tickler
Album/Single: Lyla
Rating:

121. I Can See A Lair
Album/Single: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

120. Better Man
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

119. Born On A Different Cloud
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

118. Be Here Now
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

117. Hey Now!
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

116. Force of Nature
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

115. Guess God Thinks I’m Able
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

114. Part Of The Queue
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

113.Pass Me Down The Wine
Album/Single: The Importance of Being Idle
Rating:

112. The Nature of Reality
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

111. The Meaning of Soul
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

110. Lord Don’t Slow Me Down
Album/Single: Lord Don’t Slow Me Down
Rating:

109. Won’t Let You Down
Album/Single: Lyla
Rating:

108. Love Like A Bomb
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

107. Sittin’ Here In Silence (On My Own)
Album/Single: Let There Be Love
Rating:

106. Hung In a Bad Place
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

105. Can Y’See It Now? (I Can See It Now!!)
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth Japanese Edition
Rating:

102. Boy With The Blues
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul Box Set
Rating:

101. Carry Us On
Album/Single: Sunday Morning Call
Rating:

100. Angel Child (Demo)
Album/Single: D’You Know What I Mean?
Rating:

99. Strange Thing
Album/Single: Live Demonstration
Rating:

98. I Believe In All
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul Japanese Edition/Box Set
Rating:

97. Who Put The Weight Of The World On My Shoulders
Album/Single: Goal!: Music From The Motion Picture
Rating:

96. Those Swollen Hand Blues
Album/Single: Falling Down
Rating:

95. Full On
Album/Single: Sunday Morning Call
Rating:

94. Married With Children
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:

93. Waiting For The Rapture
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

92. Just Getting Older
Album/Single: The Hindu Times
Rating:

91. Cloudburst
Album/Single: Live Forever
Rating:

90. Digsy’s Dinner
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:

89. Magic Pie
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

88. Put Yer Money Were Yer Mouth Is
Album/Single: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

87. Turn Up The Sun
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

86. Little James
Album/Single: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

85. Where Did It All Go Wrong?
Album/Single: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

84. Rockin’ Chair
Album/Single: Roll With It
Rating:

83. Alive (Demo)
Album/Single: Shakermaker
Rating:

83. I Will Believe [Live]
Album/Single: Supersonic
Rating:

82. As Long As They’ve Got Cigarettes In Hell
Album/Single: Go Let It Out
Rating:

81. Headshrinker
Album/Single: Some Might Say
Rating:

80. (It’s Good) To Be Free
Album/Single: Whatever
Rating:

79. Let’s All Make Believe
Album/Single: Go Let It Out
Rating:

78. One Way Road
Album/Single: Who Feels Love?
Rating:

77. Idler’s Dream
Album/Single: The Hindu Times
Rating:

76. Soldier On
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

75. (Get Of Your) High Horse Lady
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

74. Fade-In Out
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

73. Fuckin’ In The Bushes
Album/Single: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

72. Acquiesce
Album/Single: Some Might Say
Rating:

71. Underneath The Sky
Album/Single: Don’t Look Back In Anger
Rating:

70. Keep The Dream Alive
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

69. Bring It On Down
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:

68. Fade Away
Album/Single: Cigarettes & Alcohol
Rating:

67. Up In the Sky
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:

66. I Hope, I Think, I Know
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

65. Shout It Out Loud
Album/Single: Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Rating:

64. Gas Panic!
Album/Single: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

63. Roll It Over
Album/Single: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

62. Flashbax
Album/Single: All Around The World
Rating:

61. Going Nowhere
Album/Single: Stand By Me
Rating:

60. To Be Where There’s Life
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

59. Mucky Fingers
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

58. She Is Love
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

57. All Around The World (Reprise)
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

56.The Hindu Times
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

55. Thank You For The Good Times
Album/Single: Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Rating:

55. The Importance of Being Idle
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

53. Listen Up
Album/Single: Cigarettes & Alcohol
Rating:

52. The Fame
Album/Single: All Around The World
Rating:

51. My Sister Lover
Album/Single: Stand By Me
Rating:

50. Go Let It Out
Album/Single: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

49. Little By Little
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

48. Sad Song
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe Japanese Edition/ Don’t Go Away
Rating:

47. It’s Better People
Album/Single: Roll With It
Rating:

46. Bag It Up
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

45. It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!)
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

44. Hello
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

43. Stay Young
Album/Single: D’You Know What I Mean?
Rating:

42. Songbird
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

41. The Turning
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

40. I’m Outta Time
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

39.The Girl In A Dirty Shirt
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

38. Don’t Go Away
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

37. Step Out
Album/Single: Don’t Look Back In Anger
Rating:

36. Bonehead’s Bank Holiday
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? [Vinyl Edition]
Rating:

35. The Swamp Song
Album/Single: Wonderwall
Rating:

34. Lyla
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

33. Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Album/Single: Heathen Chemistry
Rating:

32. The Shock Of The Lightening
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

31. Falling Down
Album/Single: Dig Out Your Soul
Rating:

30. Let There Be Love
Album/Single: Don’t Believe The Truth
Rating:

29. Take Me Away
Album/Single: Supersonic
Rating:

28. Half The World Away
Album/Single: Whatever
Rating:

27. Round Are Way
Album/Single: Wonderwall
Rating:

26. Columbia
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:

25. My Big Mouth
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

24. D’Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman?
Album/Single: Shakermaker
Rating:

23. Cast No Shadow
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

22. She’s Electric
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

21. Stand By Me
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

20. Who Feels Love?
Album/Single: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
Rating:

19. Talk Tonight
Album/Single: Some Might Say
Rating:

18. Supersonic
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:

17. You’ve Got The Heart Of A Star
Album/Single: Songbird
Rating:

16. I Got (The Fever)
Album/Single: Stand By Me
Rating:

15. Roll With It
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

14. Wonderwall
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

13. Cigarettes & Alcohol
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:

12. Some Might Say
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

11. Don’t Look Back In Anger
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

10. Slide Away
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:

9. The Masterplan
Album/Single: Wonderwall
Rating:

8. Shakermaker
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:

7. Champagne Supernova
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

6. Whatever
Album/Single: Whatever
Rating:

5. Morning Glory
Album/Single: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Rating:

4. All Around The World
Album/Single: Be Here Now
Rating:

3. D’You Know What I Mean?
Album/Single: Album/Single:> Be Here Now
Rating:

2. Rock ‘n’ Roll Star
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:

1. Live Forever
Album/Single: Definitely Maybe
Rating:
Covers Ranked:

9. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)
Album/Single: Familar To Millions
Rating:

8. Cum Feel The Noize
Album/Single: Don’t Look Back In Anger
Rating:

7. My Generation
Album/Single: Little By Little/She Is Love
Rating:

6. Merry Xmas Everybody
Album/Single: NME in Association with War Child Presents 1 Love
Rating:

5. You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away
Album/Single: Some Might Say
Rating:

4. Helter Skelter
Album/Single: Who Feels Love?
Rating:

3. Street Fighting Man
Album/Single: All Around the World
Rating:

2. Heroes
Album/Single: D’You Know What I Mean?
Rating:

1. I Am the Walrus [Live]
Album/Single: Cigarettes & Alcohol
Rating:

Be Here Now (1997)

Oasis: Beyond Wonderwall

Oh boy, Be Here Now, talk about a decisive album. I’ll cut to the chase and say that I am a lover of Be Here Now and considering it to be one of my favourite albums of all time. The album cover symbolises the bombastic nature of the record, and it even narcissistically has the date of its release is on the cover. The title, on the other hand, represents the arrogant nature of Oasis at the time whether or not that was intentional; it’s like Oasis are instructing that you are going to be here now! If the first two albums were about trying to achieve your dreams, then Be Here Now was about living those dreams. The sound of a band high on coke and on top of the world, a real powerhouse of an album with everything turned up to 11.

Be Here Now is not Morning Glory. I don’t want Be Here Now to sound like Morning Glory, we had Morning Glory and now this is something different. Unlike the first two albums, the songs on Be Here Now don’t have as many hooks and are not instantly catchy; Be Here Now is a dirtier, meaner record. When I first listened to the album I didn’t instantly latch onto it and took me a few listens to grow on me, unlike the first two albums which were love on first listen.

The opening track D’You What I Mean? Is 7 minutes and 42 seconds long. Before the vocals even begin we get a minute comprised of helicopter and Morse code sound effects with the final minute of the song just being guitar feedback; that’s the levels of bombastic indulgence we’re talking about here. This song is not radio friendly yet it was the album’s lead single and went to number 1 on the UK charts; only Oasis had the clout to get a song like this to be a single Yet they still even outdone D’You What I Mean? with All Around the World, an epic all-devouring song which lasts for a whopping 9 and a half minutes, and it too was a UK number 1; the longest song in length to ever do so. It’s such a monstrous, epic song; a real celebration of everything Oasis had achieved up until that point.

I disagree with the notion that the B-sides from the Be Here Now era should have been included on the album. They’re great songs but they’re more reminiscent of Morning Glory and don’t match the over the top nature of Be Here Now. But aside from the over the top arena rockers of celebration (God knows just how many guitar tracks are on My Big Mouth and It’s Gettin’ Better Man!!), we do get two more downbeat, emotional songs in the form of Stand By Me and Don’t Go Away; the latter of which being one of Oasis’ biggest tearjerkers.

No band could make Be Here Now today, no one would have the clout to do so. But not Oasis back then; I can imagine a record label executive asking the band does All Around the World have to be 9 and a half minutes long, and them replying “Yes if f**king does!”. When was the last time a band made an album that had the same “we’re on top of the world” spirit as that of Be Here Now? I’ve never been a fan of the post-millennium music scene, and for me personally, 1997 is the last year in which there was a number of high profile album releases which I loved. The final sound effect on the album of a door shutting on the All Around the World Reprise signals the end of the Brit-pop era and the end of Oasis’ golden age.

Critics praised Be Here Now on its initial release, only later to detract their praises. The complete opposite to what happened to Morning Glory, which received mixed reviews on initial release and later went on to receive acclaim. Are people just conformist drones who listened to Oasis because it was the “cool” thing to do and backlashed against the band when Be Here Now turned out not to be another Morning Glory; or perhaps I’m just in a minority opinion who think this album is amazing? Who knows? Regardless, for me Definitely Maybe, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? and Be Here Now will always be the holy trinity of Oasis albums. Be Here Now, I salute you!

Be Here Now Era B-Sides and Rarities

As I stated before, the b-sides for the Be Here Now were more reminiscent of the Morning Glory era. There are not as many b-sides during the Be Here Now era, but all of them were good. Throughout their entire 90’s output, there are only two Oasis songs I don’t like (Hey Now! and Be Here Now); the band almost literally had no filler. I wonder if the backlash Be Here Now received prevented the album’s fourth single Don’t Go Away (which ended up only getting released in Japan) from having any new songs. (I Got) The Fever is one of my absolute favourite Oasis songs; what a choon! While it’s not the most lyrically significant Oasis song, but it’s one seriously uplifting jam. The band’s cover of David Bowie’s Heros is also superb; you can’t top the original but this is a dam fine cover. Now when will the deluxe edition of Be Here Now be here now?

(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)

The Master Album

There doesn’t exist an album which I would rate 10.0/10.0, because there is no album in which I would give every song a 5-star rating. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is one of a handful of albums which comes close. All but one song is a five-star masterpiece of musical greatness. The song I’m talking about is Hey Now!, a song which fails to be catchy or memorable, and should have been replaced by one of Oasis’s many excellent B-sides but why am I beginning this review by focussing on the only negative aspect of what is otherwise one of my top 5 favourite albums of all time. The reaming nine songs are masterpieces of lyrical and musical composition craftsmanship, in other words, each track is one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard.

Roll With It; damn, talk about a catchy uplifting song. Possibly the happiest Oasis song and one I always turn to lift my spirit and to remind myself not to care what naysayers think. Why is Wonderwall considered Oasis signature song? It’s a great song but why it? It’s become the cliché song of choice for guys with acoustic guitars at parties. Even the choir at my sister’s school sings it; I don’t deny it’s an amazing song but with a band with an amazing back catalog as Oasis, choose another one to play on the radio. Some Might Say is the song which started my Oasis journey. I feel it’s the perfect introductory Oasis song, summing up what the band is all about. Cast No Shadow strikes such powerful imagery, however, the song Morning Glory is my choice for the centerpiece of the album. The lyric “another Sunny Afternoon walking to the sound of my favourite tune” describes many an afternoon to me; it’s kind of depressing actually. The song is about drug use and that is what this album is, a drug. You can’t stop listening to it, even when you think you’ve had enough of it you keep coming back for more. Even the two brief musical interludes are amazing, even the novelty song She’s Electric is amazing.

Closing the album is a song with lyrics which are total gibberish but it doesn’t matter. With Champagne Supernova it feels like Noel took every memorising phrase he could think of (“Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball” or “Caught beneath a landslide in a champagne supernova in the sky”) and put them all into one song and somehow made it all work. Even the title is memorising, Champagne Supernova: what does that even mean? Who cares! It’s an amazing title. Ok, I know I’ve said amazing about a million times in this review. Allow me to place (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? on top of a pedestal and worship, it’s greatness.

(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? Era B-Sides and Rarities

With all these incredible B-sides it makes me think Oasis could have possibly made a whole album out of them, or make Morning Glory a double album but nope, they made them B-sides.

Why is Acquiesce considered their best B-side? It’s a great song but like Wonderwall, I don’t get why it’s singled out so much. In my opinion, it’s the most overrated Oasis song. Talk Tonight, on the other hand, sends shivers down my spine on every listen; it has the most vulnerable lyrics Noel has ever written with the story behind the song seems too incredible to be true. I like to think of Bonehead’s Bank Holiday as Oasis’ attempt at a Blur song, a track previously only included in the vinyl editions of Morning Glory. Is it just me or did the songs that not make it the B-side compilation The Masterplan even better than those which didn’t; It’s Better People, Step Out (sounds like an early 2000’s pop-punk song) and Round Are Way, in my opinion, are better than most of the songs on The Masterplan. Speaking of the actual song The Masterplan, a tune which sums the journey of life within five minutes: that we are all part of a masterplan which we can’t understand, so we should just make the best of it. It contains some of best, no, most incredible lyrics Noel has ever written. I love Noel’s comments regarding the song being a B-side, “Well, I don’t write shit songs!”

Definitely Maybe (1994)

D’Yer Wanna Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star?

Oasis, a name which invokes power and grandeur. Some might say Oasis sucks, they’re a Beatles rip off, they haven’t done anything good since 1996, the brothers are pricks and just fight all the time, insert British band here is so much better. I’ll probably spend the rest of my life debunking such criticisms just like how I’ll be spending the rest of my life listening to Oasis. Unpretentious songs about liking, nay, loving yourself, being true to yourself, simply trusting what you believe and speaking your mind. Ultimately this brand of non-conformity comes at a price, and perhaps Oasis paid this price; could this be one of the reasons they get the stick they do? I’m an optimist at heart, thus one of the reasons Oasis appeals to me. Few other artists can strike up such an emotional connection with the listener and worth getting passionate about to such a high degree.

In the tradition of the movie High Fidelity’s top 5 lists; top 5 side 1, track 1’s, Oasis – Rock n’ Roll Star of Definitely Maybe. When I listen to this song I have to repeat the final 90 seconds over and over again and absorb every moment of its guitar riffing, drum bashing perfection. Oasis are an arrogant band and this song sums this up perfectly. The band’s combination of Noel’s catchy hooks and Liam’s enunciating on words (Gonnnnnaaaaa Liiiiiivvvvveeee Forevvvvvvvvverrrrrrrrr) is what makes Oasis the drug that it is; always coming back for more. Songs like Shakermaker and Columbia are hypnotic; I remember listening to Shakermaker well over a dozen times in a row shortly after hearing it for the first time. The opening lyrics to Supersonic, on the other hand, the song which they first released sums up my life’s philosophy. Like many Oasis songs, it has an obvious message, but I believe at the end of the day we need to reminded of obvious messages in our lives as we seem to forget them all the time.

Choosing a favourite song from Oasis ain’t easy but does there exist a song more emotionally shattering than Live Forever? In 4 minutes and 30 seconds, Liam’s powerful yet at times fragile voice waves a wide gauntlet of human emotion, the desire to be immortal, to never be forgotten. Noel Gallagher was motivated to write the song after hearing a song from Nirvana titled “I Hate Myself and I Want to Die”. Let’s face it, it’s easy to be pessimistic and look cool because of it, it takes courage to express optimism.

I have a poster of the Definitely Maybe on my bedroom wall, and will regularly take a look at it to admire its beauty and always noticing something within it which I never saw before. As with the band’s album and single covers throughout the 90’s, the genius comes from their simplicity.

Oasis hit their peak early on; I remember hearing comments from Noel Gallagher stating he could never write songs like that again or else you would get laughed out of town; you can only write like that when you’re uninhibited and nobody is listening to your music. Definitely Maybe is the punkier, dirtier companion to the cleaner, more commercial sounding Morning Glory; not that makes Morning Glory any less album. The way I see it, Definitely Maybe is like The Terminator, whereas Morning Glory is like Terminator 2. Sometimes I wish I could erase my mind of songs so I can listen to them again as if hearing for the first time, that couldn’t be truer here. Definitely, Maybe the best debut album of all time? Not maybe, definitely!

Definitely Maybe Era B-Sides and Rarities

What band has better B-sides than Oasis? Their B-sides are better than most bands biggest hits. It’s the greatest collection of unknown songs ever. Their singles where all like mini albums, each with a cover which was a work of art itself. For a time I was content with just listening to Oasis’ albums, but when I really started to delve into the band’s B-sides it was like falling in love with Oasis all over again.

The 1998 compilation album The Masterplan contained most the band’s B-sides up until that point but not all of them; a shame too as there are some absolute gems which didn’t. The deluxe edition of Definitely Maybe brings all the B-sides from the Definitely Maybe era together as well as various other rarities, all apart from a live version of Bring It On Down from the Shakermaker single. Not a major loss as there is nothing particular stands out about it, but it would be nice for it to be there for completist sake. Now if we can just get a deluxe edition of Be Here Now then all will be well with the world.

Take Me Away is such a simple yet powerful song, with Noel’s vocals being so fragile; you can hear the desperation in his voice. Another downbeat song with Noel on vocals D’Yer Wanna Be a Spaceman? is so beautiful it hurts; plus it also gets the vote for my favourite Oasis song title. The story goes that Liam didn’t want to sing these downbeat songs as he considered himself a “rock ‘n’ roller” and didn’t want to play that wimpy shit; says the guy who later wrote songbird. You haven’t heard Oasis’ cover of I Am the Walrus until you’ve heard the full-length version from the Cigarettes & Alcohol single; The Masterplan version was shortened by two minutes. The Beatles created it, Oasis stole it. Then there’s Half the World Away, a song which sums up a period of my life (and many other people’s lives), being stuck in a dead-end town where you can’t express yourself creatively.

Cloudburst is the only slightly weaker Definitely Maybe b-side; it has energy to it but lacks a coherent structure. Everything else are absolute gems, like a secret collection of songs just for Oasis diehards. It makes me wonder what Oasis have never seen the light of day, perhaps those are the greatest Oasis songs of all.