The Definitive Oasis Album
Wikipedia has gone from Oasis were, to Oasis are. The big reunion was finally confirmed on Tuesday after fifteen years apart. The ongoing war of words between the two feuding brothers was assigned to the past, at least for now. They put the band back together, and their new beginning will begin with a series of dates that will undoubtedly lead to more.
Despite being away for well over a decade, Oasis have never really gone away. Rarely a day passes without hearing an Oasis song. There is no news of any new music, something that will surely change if the fragile relationship of the two brothers holds up.
In their first run, the band managed seven studio albums. What started with Definitely Maybe in 1994, ended in 2008 with Dig Out Your Soul. All those seven albums had their moments. Both high and low. But what would be the perfect Oasis album? The definitive collection from their impressive and extensive back catalogue.
Going very much old-school, that mythical album would consist of ten songs. Five on each side. Remember those days?
A good album needs the right balance. The songs in the right order. A crucial little detail many forget. How an album starts and ends is of vital importance. It needs to grab you from the get-go. Obviously, the definitive Oasis album is slightly different, but the basic principles should still apply.
How it would start was a relatively straightforward choice. For me, Supersonic was the obvious choice. In many ways, the only choice. The perfect introduction to the perfect album.
Very quickly, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Rock 'n' Roll Star, and The Shock of the Lightning came into my head. The tempo lifted considerably. I would then slow it down somewhat with that timeless classic Don't Look Back in Anger to close out side one of the album.
The Masterplan would open the side two of the album, followed by Wonderwall, Cast No Shadow, and Live Forever. Four songs that probably represent the very best of Oasis.
The final song was probably the one I deliberated on the most. I wanted a big finish to the album. All Around The World and Champagne Supernova were considered. But I went with Whatever. I think it's by far the better song of the three and finishes the album on a high.
1: Supersonic
2: Cigarettes & Alcohol
3: Rock 'n' Roll Star
4: The Shock of the Lightning
5: Don't Look Back in Anger
6: The Masterplan
7: Wonderwall
8: Cast No Shadow
9: Live Forever
10: Whatever
The songs mentioned are, of course, very subjective. Different people would include different songs, and many will likely conclude I have made some glaring omissions. Songs that narrowly missed out on making my cut were Lyla, Falling Down, The Hindu Times, and Going Nowhere. But hopefully, my definitive Oasis album has reached somewhere near a happy medium.
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