Search - Oasis :: Heathen Chemistry

The MacDonalds of Rock Music

G. A. McHale | Koganei-shi, Tokyo Japan | 03/09/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Oasis sound more and more like a Beatles tribute band who never heard anything past 1967. For people who like their music unchallanging, easy to digest, and predictable. "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" is a Big Mac."

3.5; succeeds only half the time

Cloud | Canada | 07/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Some bands can reach a status where their next record has almost an aura that surrounds it as if it's an "event"; one of the biggest bands ever has new material that is about to hit stores. Even if the albums don't light the world on fire or they are just simply underrated gems that didn't sell well, their next one still is on many's anticipated list. Oasis for al their faults and criticisms are a similar band and after the misfire/underrated "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" which had some listenable songs next to just simply decent, "Heathen Chemistry", their 5th not counting their b-sides collection "The Masterplan", the band shows some topform songwriting which hurts when its against some poor numbers as well.



The Hindu Times: Bar none one of the best anthems they've done in years and probably ever. With a great beat, Liam's trademark attitude-laden vocals and that catchy Middle Eastern-sounding riff, this gets the album off on a really high note and well worth your time. 9.5/10



Force of Nature: Whatever momentum was generated by the last song deflates a bit as it's basically an ugly and kind of bland stomping dirge sung by Noel. It's one of those songs that feels very repetitive the more it goes on and there's no real great chorus to save it either. 5.5/10



Hung in a Bad Place: A heavy rocking tune that might make one recall "Definitely Maybe" stuff. Besides its rather annoying dissonant guitar notes and a less-than-remarkable chorus, it's got a nice energy to it though it's not really a great tune in the end, it's just good. 7/10

Stop Crying Your Heart Out: Probably one of their best ballads in a while though "Roll it Over" is up there. With piano, string sections, an emotive vocal delivery, it's got all the makings of a great tune. Only thing that's a bit of a drag is its outro with harmonics but it's mercifully brief so it's nothing major. 9/10



Songbird: The first single penned by Liam (he wrote "Little James" from the Giants album) and it's a nice acoustic ditty with piano, handclaps and what sounds like a musette/organ sound in the background. It's Liam deciding to sing instead of bring the attitude and it's quite the good tune. 9/10



Little by Little: This is either an effective power ballad or an attempt at replicating the feeling of "Don't Look Back in Anger". Personally I think this makes the 3rd great song in a row and it's quite catchy, Noel's vocals soar and it's got a psychedelic production. 9/10



A Quick Peep: More filler than anything really which sucks because the jangly acoustic riff playing throughout is actually quite catchy and it's got some jazzy keyboard parts but in the end it's just simply a way to connect the first half with the second half. It's cool for what it is but probably won't be liked by most. 7.5/10



(Probably) All in the Mind: I've seen many a people outright this track saying it's just boring and not really interesting. Strange that I was singing it the other day so go figure. Sure it's a little repetitive and Liam sounds like he'd rather sing it and get it over with but strangely I actually like listening to it. 8/10



She is Love: Another one of those strangely love-it-or-hate-it tracks as the track sounds like something Lennon and McCartney wrote in their spare time. Acoustic guitars and organs, Noel sings a love tune (with some admittedly bad lines) but it's pretty decent as a tune. My one complaint is that Noel's vocals don't sound as strong as on something like "Sunday Morning Call". It's either pure cheese or pure good pop song so try it out anyway. 7.5/10



Born on a Different Cloud: Despite the fact that "Be Here Now" was released 5 years previously, they haven't gotten their long, unneeded lengths out of their system and the song has kind of an eerie atmosphere and strange tremolo chords and slide guitar but it goes on far too long and halfway through, you'll feel like you've kind of gotten the point. 6/10



Better Man: A big stomping rock song with distorted blues riff and solos and the swagger and attitude that the brothers always had in abundance. It closes the record on a big way, at least sonically anyway and makes a cool rock song. 7/10 However, the song has literally 30 minutes of dead air at the end until a secret song is at the end. Very unnecessary by far.



It's quite an uneven record and for every bit of greatness like "Hindu Times" or "Songbird" there's dreck and just decent and a bit of laziness in its songwriting. Unlike Giants which actually had some good non-single tunes, this is a case where the singles were chosen quite wisely.

"

Certainly Beatles influenced - but no rip-off

Philip Bradshaw | toronto canada | 12/08/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having read a few dozen other reviews before penning mine I have to say `wow" - is there a band that polarizes more than Oasis? The majority who felt inclined to submit a review are pretty darned positive. There are a few Oasis lovers who will never be happy because, once again, the band has failed to replicate Morning Glory (as if that is possible!). These disappointed fans over-react by giving a measly one or two stars. Then there are the Oasis haters. One might legitimately ask these reviewers why they bother. I don't care for Michael Bolton. Therefore I don't critique his music. Why should anyone care what I have to say about an artist who isn't to my taste?



Heathen Chemistry was released over six years ago. I purchased the cd in '02. I must have played it but once or twice before moving on to other new music. It languished in a cd rack until I pulled it out a few days ago, along with the Oasis' other cds, as part of my plan to reassess the band. I like it - a lot. There are numerous strong songs on offer and nary a weak one. It is a return to the strong form of 1994-1995 without simply being an attempt to reprise the sound of the first two cds.



As I was browsing the reviews on Amazon I came across an amusing piece by a contributor wherein he critiqued the disc as if it were a 1973 Beatles release. He had it right. On no other Oasis recording is the influence of the Great Ones so abundant. I am a huge Beatles fan. I would resent a copycat effort. That would be a rip-off. However, the music here, though heavily Beatles-influenced, is original - it is Oasis.



When I retrieved the six Oasis cds from the wall rack I expected my reassessment of the band's music would simply confirm what I had thought about them for a few years - two great cds followed by four nondescript releases. I am delighted to admit that I was wrong. To those who fondly remember Maybe and Morning Glory I heartily recommend each subsequent Oasis cd, except for Be Here Now.

"