Oasis
Familiar To Millions

THE REVIEW

What would you do if your band released an album that isn't a masterpiece?
Perhaps the next one you would create while reflecting on the fact that you aren't a god, so you can make mistakes and should be less arrogant... not the Oasis! After “Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants” (which didn't do so well), they released this live album recorded in London, and if you turn the package around, you’ll find a note where the band proclaims themselves as the “greatest rock and roll band at the peak of their form”; we all know that in a period like that, they couldn’t afford to make such statements.

However, this album mainly features songs from their repertoire and only four tracks from the last album. The strong (a bit rusty) live impact that the Gallagher Bros can still deliver reigns over everything, but certainly not like in the early days. It starts with the instrumental (taken directly from the studio CD) “Fuckin In The Bushes”, the band enters, Liam greets everyone with a bold “Hello Manchester!” and gets a barrage of boos; it continues with “Go Let It Out” which live is less pop and more rock, enriched by a psychedelic final solo. “Who Feels Love?” is faithful to the studio version; after a little act, where Liam encourages the audience to shout his name, there's “Supersonic” which sounds pointless: it doesn't convey emotions like in the past, just like “Shakermaker”. Luckily “Acquiesce” still manages to electrify and here Noel’s voice (much more in shape than his brother) gives its best. Liam gives way to his big brother for the rock of “Step Out” but returns for the beautiful and endless (8 minutes) “Gas Panic!” enchanting especially in that very fast ending. “Roll With It” and “Stand By Me” lead to the fabulous “Wonderwall” enchanting all the 75,000 souls present. Here comes the inevitable “Cigarettes & Alcohol” where the band plays the Beatles to introduce it and Led Zeppelin to close it: unique! “This is for everyone who has a small dick” says Noel before starting “Don’t Look Back In Anger” which, as usual, cannot be criticized for how beautiful it is even after hundreds of listens; the same goes for “Live Forever” and “Champagne Supernova”. After Neil Young’s “Hey Hey, My My”, it's time for “Rock And Roll Star” to close the evening, and it does so exceptionally.

Some great songs are missing like “Sunday Morning Call” or “Hello” but ultimately the setlist isn’t bad.
The album doesn't add anything new to the Mancunians' discography, it's just a step that every band now feels obliged to make: recommended only for true fans.