Heathen Chemistry

Oasis

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 2, 2002)
• Original Release Date: July 2, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000068QY7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (236 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,198 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
At their career zenith, Oasis were lauded as the best band in the world. They were actually never the greatest rock & roll band at any time, but for a few years they were the biggest. While they offered the '90s two of its most defining albums, and a resurgence of '60s-influenced Manchester rock, Oasis tumbled off the top of the mountain in the last half of the decade. Heathen Chemistry is their first step back up the ascent, albeit a small step. The album opens with "The Hindu Times," which will certainly be listed among Oasis's best anthems, and it closes with "Better Man," a distorted-guitar-driven thrill that revs up to 60 mph in second gear. But between the strongest songs on the disc, Noel "Walrus" and Liam "Eggman" Gallagher exploit the Beatles references almost to the breaking point. It's no secret that the Gallaghers worship the Beatles (who doesn't?), but here they've gone beyond obvious influences and stepped right into infringement territory. On "Born on a Different Cloud," Noel's guitar weeps a little too gently, and Liam's signature rasp now sounds like a deliberate imitation of Lennon with a cold. Further, Liam shares the mic with Noel, who sings lead on several tracks, the best being "Force of Nature." Unlike on Beatles albums, however, the switch back and forth is jarring (Liam might be the biggest troublemaker, but he is also the better singer). Nonetheless, if a band is going to unapologetically rip off what was unquestionably the best band in the world, no one does it better than Oasis. --Beth Massa

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A return to form for the brothers Gallagher, July 3, 2002

By	Ryan L. Carlson (Champaign, IL USA) - See all my reviews

After the bombast of Be Here Now and the mediocrity of Standing On the Shoulder of Giants (which had so much potential... the demos are telling of this), one of the biggest bands of the 90's finally gets it right (again) with their latest LP, Heathen Chemistry.

The biggest problem with the past two albums is the lack of consistency with song quality. "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" is sheer embarassment next to "Sunday Morning Call," and "All Around the World" was simply too long and repetitive, even by anthemic standards. But the new Oasis line-up has clearly learned from their mistakes.

The album opens up with the rollicking "Hindu Times" (reminiscent of the "Rock n' Roll Star" open of "Definitely Maybe") and sets the tone for "Heathen Chemistry." The band finally feels at home. It's playing straight up rock and roll, no gimmicks, and hitting on all cylinders. The next two tracks, "Force of Nature" and "Hung In a Bad Place" get to the point with foot-stomping, bluesy rock and roll, and the latest single "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" is a fine rock ballad that should do well, if given the chance on U.S. radio.

Some critics may try and point out what they consider lyrical inadequacies with the songs (i.e. simple rhyme schemes), but what many have forgotten is that Oasis isn't looking to change the world (ala U2) or blow us away with techy-production (ala Radiohead). They play rock and roll, and they play it loud. The lyrics (with contributions from all bands members) are deserving of the music played with them (like the touching "Song Bird") and are just as fitting as sing-alongs as they are dedications (i.e. "She Is Love").

"Heathen Chemistry" is a great rock and roll album, and proves the Gallagher brothers (along with band mates Andy Bell and Gem Archer) are hitting their stride once again.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Catchy...but no Morning Glory...nice "hidden" track, though, July 16, 2002

By	Just Bill (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

To me, Oasis' zenith was (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, an album that contains quite a few of my all-time favorite Oasis songs. (The title track being one.)

Standing On the Shoulder of Giants wasn't all that bad, but it certainly was no Morning Glory.

Heathen Chemistry is a cross between Morning Glory and Giants. It contains an abundance of signature Oasis riffs and lots of melodic passages. It's immediately accesible from the opening track ("The Hindu Times"). And it even features a beautiful ballad in the form of "She is Love" -- one of the prettiest, most non-cynical songs I've heard from the Gallaghers in a long time.

Sure, Oasis sounds reminiscent of the Beatles -- but not lyrically, nor in the chord progressions of their songs. (I think the Beatles actually used more chords.) If anything, they sounds like the Beatles in their Britishness and attitude. Frankly, there's not a song on Heathen Chemistry I could put my finger on and say, "Yeah, that's the Beatles." So, let's lay off the Beatles comparisons, for Pete's sake!

Speaking of the chord progressions, they're big, big big on Heathen Chemistry. That trademark wall of sound that I liked so much on Morning Glory is all over Heathen Chemistry. (Check out "Hung in a Bad Place," track three.)

Liam is in fine vocal form. Noel is as deft as ever with his guitar work.

"Songbird" is another pretty track. Acoustic guitars, tamborine, piano, and other non-typical Oasis instruments make this another stand-out track for me. Great song.

"A Quick Peep" is a driving tune with lots of heavy bass, organ, acoustic guitar and a groove I'm going to enjoy watching in concert (if they play this track!).

"Better Man," the last track, is a guitar-heavy rocker of the old school that's a great way to close the album. It, too, has a cool groove that keeps pushing the song forward to the final feedback-laden fade-out at about 4:18...and then falls silent for about another 30 minutes...returning with something entirely different at 33:13 after someone says, "...two, three, four." I wonder how many people have sat through the Gallagher's 30 minutes of silence to discover this "hidden" musical interlude buried way, way deep on the disc? (It's kind of a haunting "song," though, about four minutes in length. Worth hearing, even given the interminable wait.)

Let's put this in perspective. Track 11 is nearly 40 minutes in length, with only about seven minutes of actual music, separated by about 33 minutes of silence. In other words, Heathen Chemistry clocks in at 76 minutes, but there's only about 40 minutes worth of music on it. Clever? Or exasperating? You be the judge.

Heathen Chemistry is trademark Oasis. If you like a British attitude, clever chord progressions, a lead singer with a terminally nasal, raspy voice, and songs with lyrics that usually twist the knife in a cynical, albeit clever way, you can't go wrong with the latest CD from Oasis.

But if you *really* want to be blown away, pick up a copy of (What's the Story) Morning Glory? That's a classic.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than ever, July 22, 2002

By	Gsorme "gsorme" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Took a brief time for the album to grow on me, so I'm glad I didn't immediately write a review because it would've been a less glowing one.

Plenty of rock 'n' roll songs on this album, but it's clear that Oasis is broadening its reach while at the same time maintaining that 'oasis' sound. Songbird (yes, Liam can write decent songs) and She is Love are quite nice and understated. Better Man rocks with an irrestible groove. But without doing a complete rundown I can just say there are plenty of standout tracks here. And the lyrics work well, too.