Be Here Now: Oasis Third Album Revisited

Be Here Now: Oasis Third Album Revisited

I recall the anticipation during the WAIT for Be Here Now was almost agonizing. Oasis were the only band that matter in the world for the prior 3 years. Everyone knew Wonderwall and dad's whistled Don't Look Back in Anger as they went about doing what dads do. I had the DYKWIM single. It was mega epic. It had 3 awesome Oasis B-sides, where could it all go wrong?




The Great Rock n Roll Swindle was released and it became one of the biggest selling albums ever in Britain and sold faster than free P on K road. And then the reviews came in. It sucks! Its overblown! There's no Wonderwall! They took too many drugs! Its self indulgent! etc etc.

And it was kind of true. It was not Morning Glory Part II. It was not Definitely Maybe Pt II. It was just a good album and for that reason it was declared gobshite.

But was it really?

Let me, Swamp Song Fan go thru each song, judging on the following criteria: a) it is, does it stand alone as a well written song and b) could it be successfully covered by a decent singer? c) is it really an Oasis song and d)is it better than Stay Young (DYKWIM b-side)?

Do You Know What I Mean?
Mega Epic early single, this was a wall of sound. Odd, yet catchy lyrics which were reminiscent of early Oasis, a subtle low key solo and just had the Oasis sound. Hard to imagine any one doing a cover of the song well as its too guitar oriented.

Verdict - Pass wit Merit, a classic Oasis song.

My Big Mouth

Big Fast rocker number, a not too subtle dig at the press. Not very rememberable other than for the lyric "in my big mouth, you could fly a plane". Doesn't have any really notable musical moments and is most definitely not classic Oasis.

Verdict - Fail.

Magic Pie

Nonsense Lyrics from Noel, a strange slow tempo. Probably loved by hard core fans. Doesn't float my boat. No one will cover this, it's not an easy song. Would have been a great B side.

Verdict: Fail, but only just.

Stand By Me

Jumped into the British charts at number 2 on the hype of the Be Here Now's release. An attempt to be heroic? As a stand alone song, it sounds great when played acoustically and could easily be covered. Could be accused of being a lil smalzty.

Verdict: Pass, but as a C+

I Hope I Think I know

As I write this, I cannot even think of the melody. It must be gobshite.

Verdict: Epic Fail

The Girl in the Dirty Shirt

It's kind of like a Wonderwall without the awesome singalong chorus. It's Noel in love with some bird he probably divorced. I like Stay Young better. It's classic Noel but not classic Oasis.

Verdict: Pass but another C+

Fade In-Out

Trying to be some kind of Bon Jovi western song as I recall. Has Johnny Depp on it playing slide I think. Life Magic Pie, it has an odd tempo/slow burner feel. Stay Young is a better song. No one will ever cover this.

Verdict - Fail

Don't Go Away

A true epic. Classic Oasis, classic love song, anyone could cover it. A minor hit all around the world, this is actually the best track on Be Here Now and is arguably one of Oasis' better songs. I saw Noel do it acoustically at the Queens Wharf Events Centre in about 1997 and it was pretty special.

Verdict: Pass. Top of the Class.

Be Here Now

Wrap up cold, when it's warm inside. Oddest, dumbest lyric since that one Oasis did about having a girl around for lasagna and perhaps thus it perhaps deliberatley references Digsy from the same song (Digsy's Dinner). And odd tune, saw it live, it didn't really work for me.

Verdict: Fail

All Around the World

Written before Definitely Maybe was recorded this is Noel channelling the Beatles while at the same time blatantly ripping off the Beatles with all the horns. An attempted at Epicness, this song was another minor hit. Great melody, fun chords, works as a stand alone acoustic guitar busking song.

Verdict: Pass, B+

It's gettin' better(Man!!)

Its a fast, Strong rocker. Could have been a classic Oasis song if only it was better produced. The structure is good, it just doesn't sound right, but it worked live so there you go.

Verdict - Fail (but want it to pass)

All Around the World (Reprise)
Great Melody, a nice close.

Verdict Pass

Summary I've given 5 songs passes and one of those was a reprise so its fair to say Be Here Now is not chocker full of big career defining hits, but those hits are damn good ones.

Maybe if a few songs were excised liked I Hope ITIK, Fade In-Out and and Be Here Now and replaced with Stay Young, and other better produced B sides like Going Nowhere, Flash Bax or the Fame the album would have been a lot stronger and better received.

It is telling that none of the songs on this album where included on the best of, Stop the Clocks. DYKWIM? should have definitely be there but it could seem that the band has disowned the album as few of the songs turn up in their set lists these days (of course when you tour, you play the latest album). It should be noted that Oasis did recently play My Big Mouth in the Liverpool Set.

As I noted earlier, this album is a good album, not a great one. It's very listenable but is no Morning Glory which on reflection should have been no real surprise.

I guess the kindest thing that a critic could say now is that at least its better than the album that followed...