Customer Reviews

Familiar to Millions

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Put this set on your stereo, walkman, whatever, and turn it up loud. Because this live concert by Oasis in front of 70 thousand enthusiastic "punters" as the British call them, in the last days of the original Wembley Stadium, is a pure wall of sound that amplifies the band's melodic oevre to mind-blowing levels. Some reviewers have called the sound muddy, poor, like a bootleg. No Way. What this is, is the feeling of standing in front of a 100-foot tall speaker at a monster stadium and letting the music shoot you into the stratosphere at Mach 5.

Oasis came virtually out of nowhere in 1993-94 and within less than 2 years were the biggest rock band on Earth, if not in the US. Former guitar tech Noel Gallagher's natural flare for melody stemmed from his wear-his-influences-on-his-sleeve adoration of the Beatles. Add inspiration from 60's jingle-jangle guitar bands like the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield, Glam-era 4-on-the-floor giants like TRex, Bowie, and Slade, and even 90s Grunge in a roundabout, competitive way, and what you got was an original sound gladly nicking from earlier acts- but in a clever, creative way. Re-inventing classic sounds. That is, until some of their later material started becoming too derivative and self-parodying.

There was a time when Noel and Liam proudly boasted of being the best thing since sliced bread, and though after a while it all got a bit tiresome, it was undoubtedly their pure chutzpah that helped propel them to becoming one of the biggest bands of the 90s. Not to mention the incredible tunes- just listen here for proof.

The controversies, especially from Liam's endless diva outbursts, ultimately made the band look foolish. But I guess that's what happens when you have competitive brothers in the same band- look at the history of the Bee Gees for example.
Liam's cocky, rougher edge comes across well in this set, with his cool one-of-the-lads comments and straining cigarettes-and-alcohol voice making him the perferct front man- a true rocknroll star!

Pick up this set, and roll with it.

It was July 2000, Oasis played Wembley Stadium in London for two nights in a row. The heat was on, the expectations were high, and the thousands of fans that crammed the famous soccor field were "mad for it!" Everything was going good; Oasis were and still are the biggest band in England with a timeless influence on most of the bands coming out of America and Europe today, and they were to take the stage by storm, but there was one too many problems: Liam had just broken up with his then wife actress Patsi Kensit, was seriously drunk, and Noel wasn't talking to him. The effects of all of the above are evident on this recording.

Liam greets the fans as soon as he steps onstage after the intro of F**kin' In The Bushes fades out with a hammering comment at Wembley Stadium, calling it a 'sh*thole', before sarcastically and hilariously saying "Hello, Manchester!" which is welcomed with a few boos from the crowd and a giggle from Noel. After that, the music plays on with a collection of their most recent singles from their 2000 album Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants: the handraiser Go Let It Out and the soothing Who Feels Love, before venturing into a string of greatest hits, in no order: Wonderwall, Don't Look Back In Anger, Live Forever, Stand By Me, Roll With It, Champagne Supernova, and Supersonic. In between songs, Liam and Noel are heard commenting with and at the crowd ("This is for all the people in the front row..." as Liam presents a song), the lighting operator ("...turn the f**kin' light off!" as Noel scorns the poor fellow), and each other ("Let's have a couple more of these songs, Noel...write a couple more of these babies!" as Liam presents Supersonic). The highlights on Familiar To Millions are the cover versions of The Beatles' Helter Skelter (taken from the US tour), and Neil Young's Hey Hey My My (which Noel sings with a passion), and the B-side Step Out (which is an underrated Noel sung number).

Familiar To Millions may not be the best live album ever released; in my opinion, it is not (Liam's tired voice is enough to convince me). But the Gallagher brothers manage to make it unintentionally entertaining and funny at times.

Recommended

B-

Most of Oasis' greatest songs are on here, and they sound just the way you'd expect live: amazing. Don't Look Back in Anger is, if possible, even better than the studio version; the band goes insane on Supersonic and Shakermaker; only Champagne Supernova seems to lose some of its eerie grace with the more rough-around-the-edges live sound. Of course, Liam acts out a bit: it's hard to catch what he's saying most of the time, but it's quite amusing when you do.

"This is for all the people in the front row...no not you...nor you guys...alright, maybe you. And you."

Even songs that were less than classic in the studio, like Roll With It, get a boost from the live energy - on that particular number, Liam now advises us not to let "any f*****" get in our way.

And while the band is great, the audience is impressive in their own right:

-There's a moment during the first verse of Wonderwall when they suddenly sounds like the world's biggest gospel choir.

-Such is Liam's faith in them that he even lets them take the whole chorus of Don't Look Back in Anger - and even though it comes through a bit muted, it's pretty incredible.

Finally, Liam's weary take on Stand By Me, supported by the always-enthusiastic audience, has to rank among the most affecting pieces of music ever recorded. It's just so - _romantic_.

The best band in the world ever - come on!

This double album set was amazing. The sound quality was great but it still felt as if you were rockin along right with them live at the concert! Awesome music at real good price.

Liam's voice is almost lost. This was the end of their summer tour and what a way to end it! But Liam's voice was so tiring and couldnt really hit the high notes, altho Noel, his brother, usually does that but Liam couldn't even tried.

Still it was two great shows and if you could own the DVD own it aswell since the stage is groundbreaking. My favorite track is definitely 'Who Feels Love?" and ofcourse the cover "Helter Skelter" (this is only on the album, not the dvd). I would say the latter is Noel's best vocal performance with also great guitaring and drumming by the band.

No disapointment, guaranteed!

I tried for years to hate Oasis, calling them "Beatle robbers", etc.
Gladly I came to my senses and learned to accept them for what they are. Not virtuoso players by any means, but you don't need to be when you have consistent, solid rock songs time after time.
If you listen to the Wembley crowd belt out the chorus to "Don't Look Back in Anger" and you don't get chills... well, maybe this music is not for you.
The covers are the weakest parts of the album, but it is still worth a listen as an entire performance.
Highly Recommended.

All live albums should be recorded in the UK, preferably Wembley Stadium. Okay, I know Wembley is being rebuilt right now, but anyone who has heard a lve recording from there knows what I mean, but it's less the building than the fans that make UK live records so moving. They just love to sing along, and not just casually sing along, but sing coherently. It's an awesome thing to hear. Oasis' music is tailor-made for stadium sing-alongs...good, straightforward rock music with rave-up choruses, and on Familiar To Millions, the band delivers one great sing-along song after the other.

But this is Oasis remember, and an Oasis live show is also incomplete without the snide, persnickety, taunting banter from the two Gallagher brothers. This album was recorded right in the middle of a controversial time for the band, with Noel Gallagher threatening to leave the band (he did for a while), frustrated at his brother Liam's idiotic antics. You can feel the uneasiness on Familiar To Millions, but instead of bringing the show down, it elevates it. There's a bit of an edge to every song, a feeling as if the band will implode at any moment.

It's not a perfect performance, and the recording quality is barely a step above a soundboard recording, but it's a memorable one. You can practically see Liam growling into the microphone in that disinterested way of his, while Noel plays the part of Rock God off to the side, ignoring little brother, while the other three members (they do have names, right?) do a workmanlike job in the background. Their Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants album is given a token mention with three songs in the setlist, and when that's over with, the fun, and yes, the singing along, begins.

The great songs all there: 'Supersonic', 'Acquiesce', 'Roll With It', 'Cigarettes & Alcohol', 'Live Forever', 'Champagne Supernova'...proof that Oasis have built themselves up an impressive catalog. 'Step Out', known by Oasis fans as the one that was yanked off the Morning Glory album because it blatantly ripped off Stevie Wonder, is a nice surprise addition (complete with co-songwriting credit given to Wonder, finally), as is Neil Young's 'Hey Hey, My My' (the audience indifference to the cover song is a bit amusing). An ordinary version of 'Helter Skelter' from their US tour is tacked on at the end, for no other reason than to fill up some cd space.

The absolute high points are during 'Wonderwall', and especially 'Don't Look Back In Anger', when the crowd takes over and sings as only the British can. It's something to behold, something that sends shivers down your spine. However, my personal favourite moment from the show is right before 'Live Forever', which perfectly sums up the sloppy, uneasy, but memorable feel of the performance. Liam announces that it's the last song they'll perform, and right before the song starts, you hear Noel say incredulously, "Did he say it's the last one?" Ah, brothers...

Oasis's first live album, while fantastic, is unfortunately about three or four years too late. Everybody knows that Oasis was on top of the world in '95-'96, and it would have been nice to have a live record from their glory days, such as Knebworth or my personal favorite, the second night at Maine Road. Unfortunately the new additions to the setlist (Go Let It Out, Who Feels Love, etc.) just don't measure up to some of the older live stuff (Whatever, Some Might Say, Round Are Way). And sure, with the new members Oasis is tighter than they used to be, but at times during the SOTSOG tour (when Noel walked out) the Oasis lineup was beginning to be unrecognizable compared to the original five. Personally, I still miss Bonehead and Guigsy.

I also wish Oasis had not scrapped their acoustic numbers that used to be a staple of their early shows. Even Wonderwall is performed electrically on this album.

Fortunately Oasis is so good that this album couldn't possibly fail, even if Liam's voice is becoming more and more gravelly with every tour. Highlights include an amazing cover of "Hey Hey, My My," a wonderful medley of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" at the end of C&A ("that's rock and roll, mister" says Noel), and an epic end to the Wembley gig, "Rock 'n' Roll Star." All in all, it's a must for any Oasis fan.

For those not as familiar with Oasis, I suggest you check out the live video and DVD "There and Then" to witness the band at the peak of their success. The opening number, "The Swamp Song," will give you goosebumps.

The only time we could hear Oasis live on CD was through rare B-sides or expensive bootlegs. Now Oasis has selected a gig worth recording (Wembley) onto a CD with Familiar to Millions. Having gone to their concerts every year, I can safely say the sound quality of this CD is top for a live album.

You'll hear the energy and spontaneity that goes into their live act. The big bonus is hearing their covers of Helter Skelter and Hey Hey, My My. Hear their greatest hits and also enjoy their rare live performance of Step Out.

This doesn't rank up there with the ultimate live album, The Who: Live at Leeds, but it does a sufficient job. If you're an Oasis fan and want to experience their live act, pick this CD up. If you've never been to their concert, get the DVD or video as well. Great companion piece to the CD.

Side-Warning: Just make sure your VCR can play the European version of the video. Some of them are not compatible.