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Review: Oasis’ “Dig Out Your Soul”

October 10, 2008 10:41 AM

Fourteen years or so after they took Beatle-fandom to surprisingly new levels with their debut, “Definitely Maybe,” the Gallagher brothers and their crew are back with yet another set of tunes.  Yes, they still are not afraid to borrow liberally from their idols, but they still continue to churn out batches and batches of high-quality songs. 

“Dig Out Your Soul” is the band’s seventh proper studio album.  Considering Noel and Liam Gallagher’s volatile reputation, this is somewhat remarkable.  Even more amazing, the album continues the band’s revitalization, which began to truly take shape on their last album, “Don’t Believe the Truth.”  Their current lineup (including Gem Archer and ex-Ride guitarist Andy Bell) is as sharp as ever.  The addition of Ringo’s son, Zak Starkey behind the drum-kit on many of these songs gives the band some solid, Beatle-aping cred. 

“Bag It Up” sets the album off right with a hard-charging, earnest stomp.  This band is reliable.  They always sound like themselves.  Very little has changed in their formula but they still are able to surprise.  This track’s chord progression is unique and the key continues switching back and forth throughout the song’s duration.  Noel Gallagher is always known for some interesting lyrics, even if he doesn’t know what they mean.  This song’s refrain of “I got my hee-bee-jee-bies hidden in a bag,” is no different.  This strongly establishes the album right off the bat. 

“The Turning” features a forceful, rhythm section.  Bell’s former status in Ride is evident when the distortion-heavy guitars pump the song up to maximum capacity. Armageddon is a theme throughout this album.  According to the DVD packaged with the deluxe edition, this wasn’t really a thread they noticed until late in the process. This song mentions “the rapture” in its chorus while an eerie choir sings along beneath.  Keyboardist, Jay Darlington is put to good psychedelic use on this track.  Their first two albums may contain their most famous songs, but I doubt all those years ago that they could’ve come up with something this wonderfully jolting and ominous.  The band works like a more advanced machine now, even if they do resort to old tricks by tacking on an ending that sounds remarkably like “Dear Prudence.”  The traffic noise which accompanies this passage is a nice touch.

The thread obviously continues with the next track, “Waiting For the Rapture,” a slow, slinky crawler which simultaneously recalls both T-Rex and the White Stripes.  (In regards to the latter, the track’s pounding is very similar to that in “The Hardest Button to Button.”)

Single, “The Shock of the Lightening” plays like a slightly minor-key answer to their seminal hit, “Supersonic.”  You can imagine this song’s churning reverberation bouncing off the walls of a giant concert hall.  Liam Gallagher sings “Love is a time machine up on the silver screen,” as if he actually could possibly know what it means.  A few seconds later we get another (seemingly mandatory) Beatle reference when he sings, “Love is a litany, / A magical mystery.”

“I’m Outta Time” borrows its tone from the Fab Four’s “A Day in the Life.” The song also features a sampled portion from one of John Lennon’s last interviews.  The song is all theirs, though.  The members of Oasis wisely always walk on the right side of the line between imitation and theft.  Their songs are strong and still their own, no matter how many Beatle-esque touches they heap onto the pile.  This song belongs with classics like “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and their last album’s standout track, “Part of the Queue.” Even more surprising, this track is written by Liam and not Noel. 

The backwoods blues vibe of “(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady,” borrows a sizable portion of its tune from Genesis’ “That’s All.”  Noel Gallagher sings this as if through a fuzzy walkie-talkie over a slowly clapping rhythm.

“Falling Down” is another moody piece. It would fit well in the back of a movie scene where characters are lost and running through the woods.  Heavy things must’ve led up to this record.  Rarely have Oasis sounded so dramatic and dark.  It’s a sound that suits them well. 

“To Be Where There’s Life” was written by Gem Archer and it features an insistent beat, a sitar and bass.  It’s wonderfully groovy and almost chant-like.  It would make an interesting left-field single. 

“Ain’t Got Nothin’” is just over two minutes and it shifts odd tempos several times throughout its course.  Once again, there’s a threatening energy present which gives the song real grit. 

Bell wrote “The Nature of Reality.” The feedback that starts the song should’ve been a clue, but instead of recalling anything by his old band, the track morphs into another nice walking blues.

The album closes with “Soldier On.”  The song marches with determination.  As with much of the album, there’s an almost overwhelming sense of importance.  The doomsday motif and the constant hints of religiosity all come together in one well-constructed package. 

The deluxe edition of this album is preferable.  The bonus DVD features an informative “making of” documentary as well as the amazingly eye-popping video for “The Shock of the Lightning.”

“Dig Out Your Soul” is not the work of the cocky, brash louts who made “Definitely Maybe” and “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory.”  Oasis have always been a great band, but with maturity, they are finding new ways to expand their horizons and become even better. They may not be the most original band out there, but they do what they do quite well.  This and “Don’t Believe the Truth” should both be required listening for all once and future Oasis fans. 

October 10, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (2)

User Comments

Posted by: Roboticstar | Oct 10, 2008 1:18:06 PM

Posted by: Jazz | Oct 14, 2008 3:02:45 PM

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