Album review - '(What's The Story) Morning Glory' by Oasis
A lot has been said over the last week about the 25th anniversary about the iconic second album of Manchester indie heroes Oasis. I was reluctant to jump on the bandwagon in my humble blogging capacity but the truth is, when searching for some writing inspiration combining it with the milestone's timing, it's only natural that I feel to comment.
Morning Glory was one of the first two albums I had - the other being the music of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, both of which I was gifted for my 11th birthday, along with a CD player. Around about this time, Britpop was in its prime: the country had reasons to feel proud and optimistic; something that had arguably been missing for a long time. Against the backdrop of England setting their sights on Euro '96, New Labour aiming for Number 10 and The Spice Girls taking baby steps (see what I did there?) towards world domination, the brothers Gallagher were leading the charge in the alternative music scene.
Emerging on to the mainstream around early '94, Oasis were like the anti-grunge genre championed by the recently departed Kurt Cobain. What separated the two more than anything was a sense of positivity, even ambition: whilst Nirvana were releasing lyrics saying "I hate myself and I want to die", Liam, Noel and co were hailing "You and I are gonna live forever". It was a turning point nationally and eventually internationally as well. The sibling rivalry between the band's two figure heads made as much headlines as their public spat with fellow Britpop stars Blur, starting with them releasing singles in the same week (Blur's Country House v Oasis' Roll With It) and culminated in Morning Glory racing to the top of the album charts, surpassing Blur's The Great Escape.
The most famous tracks on Morning Glory were the singles they produced: Some Might Say - debuted on Top Of The Pops with an introduction by host Chris Evans; Roll With It, an up-tempo floorfiller reminiscent of Slade; Wonderwall, an acoustic ballad that became an obligatory party singalong; and Don't Look Back On Anger, a Lennon-inspired hymn which had its legacy solidified in the aftermath of the 2017 Manchester terror attacks. That said, to ignore the rest of the tracklisting doesn't do the LP justice. The opener Hello sets the tone with a loud, contemporary ring to it, even if it regrettably borrows from the works of the disgraced Gary Glitter. Hey Now wouldn't sound out of place on the soundtrack of an American documentary; initially sounding like mere album filler whilst unfortunately sandwiched between the classics.
Cast No Shadow - dedicated to The Verve's Richard Ashcroft - and Champagne Supernova - an extended piece of audible beauty - are the album's two genuine diamonds, and possibly two of Noel Gallagher's very best compositions. The title track is a nod to early REM and apparent drug use, whilst She's Electric is a comic let-me-up portraying the girl next door. Sprinkled between the tunes are snippets of an eventual B-side entitled The Swamp Song, starring the harmonica talents of Modfather Paul Weller, lending legit credibility to the album's musical pedigree.
In 2000, the rock magazine Q named Morning Glory 'album of the decade' when re-reviewing the top long-players of the 90s. It was the correct choice. Personally speaking, Noel Gallagher inspired this writer to lift the guitar for the first time. For what that's worth, they must've done something right a quarter of a century ago!
Morning Glory was one of the first two albums I had - the other being the music of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, both of which I was gifted for my 11th birthday, along with a CD player. Around about this time, Britpop was in its prime: the country had reasons to feel proud and optimistic; something that had arguably been missing for a long time. Against the backdrop of England setting their sights on Euro '96, New Labour aiming for Number 10 and The Spice Girls taking baby steps (see what I did there?) towards world domination, the brothers Gallagher were leading the charge in the alternative music scene.
Emerging on to the mainstream around early '94, Oasis were like the anti-grunge genre championed by the recently departed Kurt Cobain. What separated the two more than anything was a sense of positivity, even ambition: whilst Nirvana were releasing lyrics saying "I hate myself and I want to die", Liam, Noel and co were hailing "You and I are gonna live forever". It was a turning point nationally and eventually internationally as well. The sibling rivalry between the band's two figure heads made as much headlines as their public spat with fellow Britpop stars Blur, starting with them releasing singles in the same week (Blur's Country House v Oasis' Roll With It) and culminated in Morning Glory racing to the top of the album charts, surpassing Blur's The Great Escape.
The most famous tracks on Morning Glory were the singles they produced: Some Might Say - debuted on Top Of The Pops with an introduction by host Chris Evans; Roll With It, an up-tempo floorfiller reminiscent of Slade; Wonderwall, an acoustic ballad that became an obligatory party singalong; and Don't Look Back On Anger, a Lennon-inspired hymn which had its legacy solidified in the aftermath of the 2017 Manchester terror attacks. That said, to ignore the rest of the tracklisting doesn't do the LP justice. The opener Hello sets the tone with a loud, contemporary ring to it, even if it regrettably borrows from the works of the disgraced Gary Glitter. Hey Now wouldn't sound out of place on the soundtrack of an American documentary; initially sounding like mere album filler whilst unfortunately sandwiched between the classics.
Cast No Shadow - dedicated to The Verve's Richard Ashcroft - and Champagne Supernova - an extended piece of audible beauty - are the album's two genuine diamonds, and possibly two of Noel Gallagher's very best compositions. The title track is a nod to early REM and apparent drug use, whilst She's Electric is a comic let-me-up portraying the girl next door. Sprinkled between the tunes are snippets of an eventual B-side entitled The Swamp Song, starring the harmonica talents of Modfather Paul Weller, lending legit credibility to the album's musical pedigree.
In 2000, the rock magazine Q named Morning Glory 'album of the decade' when re-reviewing the top long-players of the 90s. It was the correct choice. Personally speaking, Noel Gallagher inspired this writer to lift the guitar for the first time. For what that's worth, they must've done something right a quarter of a century ago!
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