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Once Noel Gallagher said: "With our b-sides any other band could make a career...". These were words spoken with conviction by someone who was aware of the love and hate surrounding his band (at the time at the peak of success).
This compilation kicks off with "Acquiesce," a pure rock anthem (some prefer it to the a-side "Some Might Say") where the brothers' voices alternate: "Because we need each other" sings Noel, perhaps referring to his little brother, as at that time their quarrels were routine. After the delightful pop ballad "Underneath The Sky" comes the first acoustic attempt: "Talk Tonight," defined as "shit" by Liam... he was wrong. This gem was written by Noel, inspired by a girl he met right after he (momentarily) left the group. The brass instruments dominate in "Going Nowhere," composed when the Oasis weren't even born yet; in fact, it analyzes the desire to become someone. "Fade Away" is a powerful melodic rock, it has a dirty sound, reminiscent of the 70's; unlike the previous one, this talks about dreams that fade away. After the jam session of "Swamp Song," we find the cover of "I Am The Walrus," an excellent rock interpretation of the famous fab four track. "Listen Up" harks back to "Supersonic," especially in the intro; Liam delivers a good vocal performance in the chorus. Sadness and malaise reign in "Rockin Chair," a simple acoustic ballad that talks about the desire to change, to escape from a "city that feels too small for me." The same subject is discussed in "Half The World Away," another semi-acoustic gem sung by Noel. "It's Good To Be Free" is a slow, dragging, and tired rock track, garnished with vaguely nonsensical lyrics. The closing trio is exceptional: "Stay Young" is another carefree and cheerful pop rock anthem; while "Headshrinker" is the hardest thing ever published by Oasis: distorted guitars, powerful drums, lyrics screamed by Liam, one could almost say it's punk. Meanwhile, the finale "The Masterplan" is the most polished and complex song on the album: it starts with an acoustic guitar and an electric one arpeggiating, then the strings start and Noel's warm voice comes in; in the chorus, there's a perfect mix of sounds, voices, strings and brass; beautiful is the ending where strings, brass, and guitar chase and blend with each other. Undoubtedly, this song would not have looked out of place as a single.
At the end of the listening experience, for some, Noel's statement will just be a phrase said by the "usual arrogant bastard..."; while others will realize that he was certainly arrogant, but there was a grain of truth in that statement.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Acquiesce (04:30)
I don't know what it is
That makes me feel alive
I don't know how to wake
The things that sleep inside
I only wanna see the light
That shines behind your eyes
I hope that I can say
The things I wish I'd said
To sing my soul to sleep
And take me back to bed
You want to be alone
When we could be alive instead
Because we need each other
We believe in one another
And I know we're going to uncover
What's sleepin' in our soul
Because we need each other
We believe in one another
I know we're going to uncover
What's sleepin' in our soul
What's sleepin' in our soul
There are many things
That I would like to know
And there are many places
That I wish to go
But everything's depending
On the way the wind may blow
I don't know what it is
That makes me feel alive
I don't know how to wake
The things that sleep inside
I only wanna see the light
That shines behind your eyes
Because we need each other
We believe in one another
And I know we're going to uncover
What's sleepin' in our soul
Because we need each other
We believe in one another
And I know we're going to uncover
What's sleepin' in our soul
What's sleepin' in our soul
What's sleepin' in our soul
What's sleepin' in our soul
'Cause we believe
'Cause we believe
Yeah, we believe
'Cause we believe
'Cause we believe
'Cause we believe
Because we need
Because we need
03 Talk Tonight (04:26)
Sittin' on my own
Chewin' on a bone
A thousand million
Miles from home
When Something hit me
Somewhere right between the eyes
Sleepin' on a plane
You know you can't complain
You took your last chance
Once again
I landed, stranded
Hardly even knew your name
I wanna talk tonight
Until the mornin' light
'Bout how you saved my life
You and me see how we are
You and me see how we are
All your dreams are made
Of Strawberry lemonade
And you make sure
I eat today
You take me walking
To where you played
When you were young
I'll never say that I
Won't ever make you cry
And this I'll say
I don't know why
I know I'm leavin'
But I'll be back another day
I wanna talk tonight
Until the mornin' light
'Bout how you saved my life
(You saved my life)
I wanna talk tonight
(I wanna talk tonight)
'Bout how you saved my life
(I wanna talk tonight)
'Bout how you saved my life
(I wanna talk tonight)
'Bout how you saved my life
(I wanna talk tonight)
'Bout how you saved my life
I wanna talk tonight
08 Listen Up (06:28)
Listen up whats the time said today, i'm gonna speak my mind,
Take me up to the top of the world i wanna see my crime,
Day by day there's a man in a suit who's gonna make you pay,
For the thoughts that you think and the words, they wont let you say.
One fine day,
Gonna leave you all behind,
It wouldn't be so bad, if i had more time.
Sailin' down the river alone,
i'll be tryna find my way back home,
But i don't beleive in magic,
Life is automatic,but i dont mind being on my own,
No i don't mind being on my own
Listen up whats the time said today, i'm gonna speak my mind,
Take me up to the top of the world i wanna see my crime,
Day by day there's a man in a suit who's gonna make you pay,
For the thoughts that you think and the words, they wont let you say.
One fine day,
Gonna leave you all behind,
It wouldn't be so bad, if i had more time.
Sailin' down the river alone,
i'll be tryna find my way back home,
But i don't beleive in magic,
Life is automatic,but i dont mind being on my own,
No i don't mind being on my own,
No i don't mind being on my own,
I said that i don't mind being on my own.
Sailin' down the river alone,
i'll be tryna find my way back home,
But i don't beleive in magic,
Life is automatic,but i dont mind being on my own,
No i don't mind being on my own,
I said that i don't mind being on my own.
No i don't mind being on my own,
I said that i don't mind being on my own.
No i don't mind being on my own,
I said that i don't mind being on my own.
09 Rockin' Chair (04:41)
I'm older than I'd wish to be
This town hold no more for me
All my life I've been try to find another way
I don't care for your attitude
You bring me down I think you're rude
All my life I've been trying to make a better day
It's hard enough being alone
Sitting here by the phone
Waiting for my memories
To come and play
It's hard enough sitting there
Rockin' in your rockin' chair
It's all too much for me to take
When you're not there
It's hard enough being alone
Sitting here by the phone
Waiting for my memories
To come and play
11 (It's Good) To Be Free (04:24)
Head like a rock spinning round and round
I found it in a hole sitting upside down
You point the finger at me but I don't believe
Paint me a wish on a velvet sky
You demand the answers but I don't know why in my mind
There is no time
The little things they make me so happy
All I wanna do is live by the sea
Yeah little things they make me so happy
But it's good it's good it's good to be free
So what would you say if I said to you
It's not in what you say it's in what you do
You point the finger at me but I don't believe
Bring it on home to where we found
My head like a rock sitting upside down
In my mind there is no time
The little things they make me so happy
All I wanna do is live by the sea
Yeah little things they make me so happy
But it's good it's good it's good to be free
12 Stay Young (05:09)
One way out is all you're ever gonna get
From those who hand them out don't never let it upset you
Cos they'll put words into your mouths they're making us feel so ashamed
Making ya take all the blame
Making ya cold in the night
Making ya question your heart and your soul
And I think that it's not quite right
Hey! stay young and invincible
Cos we know just what we are
And come what may we're unstoppable
Cos we know just what we are
Feed your head with all the things you need
When you're hungry
Stay in bed and sleep all day as long as it's Sunday
Cos they'll put words into my mouth they're making me feel so ashamed
Making me take all the blame
Making me cold in the night
Making me question my heart and my soul
And I think that it's not quite right
Hey! stay young and invincible
Cos we know just what we are
And come what may we're unstoppable
Cos we know just what we are
Ya we know just what we are
Ya we know just what we are
C'mon
Hey! stay young and invincible
Cos we know just what we are
And come what may we're unstoppable
Cos we know just what we are
Hey! stay young and invincible
Cos we know just what we are
And come what may my faith's unshakable
Cos we know just what we are
Cos we know just what we are(repeats til' end)
13 Headshrinker (04:43)
I know a girl who's lost and lonely
Sits by the phone on her own
But the phone don't ring
And the birds don't sing in her tree
She lost herself in a haze of pity
And doesn't know where to run
She needs a headshrinker now
And I think it's time we had some fun
Lost in a fog
I've been treated like a dog
And I'm out of here
I got no name
And I feel no shame
And I got no fear
And I bow down
To the tears of a clown
Whatever's going down
Is coming around
I hope you don't regret today
For the rest of your lives
For the rest of your lives
For the rest of your lives
For the rest of your lives
Lost in a fog
I've been treated like a dog
And I'm out of here
I got no name
And I feel no shame
And I got no fear
And I bow down
To the tears of a clown
Whatever's going down
Is coming around
I hope you don't regret today
For the rest of your lives
I know a girl who's lost and lonely
Sits by the phone on her own
But the phone don't ring
And the birds don't sing in her tree
She lost herself in a haze of pity
And doesn't know where to run
She needs a headshrinker now
And I think it's time we had some fun
Lost in a fog
I've been treated like a dog
And I'm out of here
I got no name
And I feel no shame
And I got no fear
And I bow down
To the tears of a clown
Whatever's going down
Is coming around
I hope you don't regret today
For the rest of your lives
For the rest of your lives
For the rest of your lives
For the rest of your lives
14 The Masterplan (05:22)
Take the time to make some sense
of what you want to say
and cast your words away upon the waves
and sail them home with acquiesce
on a ship of hope today
and as they land upon the shore
tell them not to fear no more
say it loud, and sing it proud today
and then dance if you wanna dance
please brother take a chance
you know they're gonna go
which way they wanna go
all we know is that we don't
know how it's gonna be
please brother let it be
life on the other hand
won't make us understand
we're all part of the masterplan
say it loud and sing it proud today
i'm not saying right is wrong
it's up to us to make
the best of all the things
that come our way
'cos everything that's been has passed
the answer's in the looking glass
there's four and twenty million doors
On life's endless corridor
say it loud and sing it proud today
we'll dance if they wanna dance
please brother take a chance
you know they're gonna go
which way they wanna go
all we know is that we don't
know how it's gonna be
please brother let it be
life on the other hand
won't make you understand
we're all part of the masterplan
ooooooohhhhh
ooooooohhhhh
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Other reviews
By ciaglia
'Acquiesce' is the only track sung by both brothers, bursting into pure energy.
Noel's voice and the music in 'The Masterplan' evoke chills and lasting emotion.
By Kecco
"The Masterplan contains songs that an average band wouldn’t even dream of putting in b-sides."
"The iconic song of this album is definitely ‘The Masterplan,’ where Noel’s vocal abilities are at their peak."
By supersonic17
"The Masterplan," one of the best pieces ever performed by the Manchester band, written and sung by Noel Gallagher, a gem that makes this record one of the best by Oasis.
The result is definitely a surprising, beautiful, and catchy album.
