Customer Reviews

(What's the Story) Morning Glory

5 star:		(285)
4 star:		(69)
3 star:		(27)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

I used to hate Oasis. Back in '95, I despised them. They were posers, they were ripping off the Beatles, they were snot rock. I found a copy of "What's the Story (Morning Glory)?" in one of my friend's cars, shook my head at it and, to parrot what I thought was an utterly brain-damaged rhyme sighed, "Pretty shi**y (little kitty)."

About a month later I was hanging out watching TV at that same friend's apartment. We had the sound turned down on MTV and the closed captions were on and "Champagne Supernova" came on. I watched the lyrics ("How many special people change? How many lives are living strange?") and began to cackle. "We have to hear this crap," I said, and turned it up.

But what I heard when I cranked up the volume was not just a damn good song, but also a song I already knew from the radio, a song I'd heard and liked and was actually trying to figure out the name of. I had, without my own knowledge, become an Oasis fan. Before I left, I ended up copying the entire album.

Of course, now, nearly 10 years later, "Morning Glory" is a rightfully established classic album. Oasis went on and kind of became something else and it's too bad they couldn't sustain this level of quality and energy, but at least they produced one of those rare albums on which practically every song is a perfect, rock-radio gem. "Morning Glory" is yet another one of those I listen to for long stretches of time and put away but eventually come back to. Sometimes I only want to hear "Wonderwall," sometimes "Roll with It," sometimes "Don't Look Back" or "Cast No Shadow." Currrently, I'm re-grooving on the whole record because I recently watched the excellent Brit-pop documentary "Live Forever" and it got me back into it.

Another friend recently revisited me yesterday afternoon while I was cranking the title track and said, "Damn, remember when you used to hate these guys?" I do, but it was a long time ago.

This is the best album Oasis have ever done. Every track is brilliant, 10/10 for each song on the album. 'Hello' opens the album perfectly, with the line 'It's good to be back' - very significant. 'Roll With It' continues the fast rock trend that we saw in 'Definitly Maybe', 'I think I've got a feeling I'm lost inside' repeated at the end is a highlight. 'Wonderwall' - there is nothing more to say, sheer brilliance. 'Don't Look Back In Anger', argubly better than the previous track, Noels voice suits it well and it remains as one of the finest Oasis tracks ever. 'Hey Now' is a flashback to the debut album, very rocky and lots of guitars. 'Some Might Say' is one of the best singles released by the band, deservidly getting to ~1 in the UK charts, this is a classic. The lyrics may not mean anything but when a song is this good, they don't need to. 'Cast No Shadow' is dedicated to Richard Ashcroft, he and Noel are the best songwriters of this generation. This is a beautiful tender ballad, just right in the middle of a full-on rock album. 'She's Electric' is a fun, happy affair. The 'Digsy's Diner' of the album, a very successful hit, everyone I know who has this album regards this as a standout track.

However, with nine previous brilliant tracks, the album reaches its peak right at the end with the final two, epic tracks. 'Morning Glory', the title track of this epic album, is a mass of guitars and heavy drums. This is pure brilliance. Again, meaningless lyrics but still a landmark song. One of the best of the 90's. And then we finish with THE best song of the 90's, brilliant lyrics, superb chords, amazing rhythm and a lead guitar solo to die for (check the live version out on 'Familiar To Millions', 'Champaigne Supernova' is the finest Oasis track, in my own view, to date. Brilliant. Long live Oasis.

Despite Oasis' big claim to be a much better band than The Beatles (lead singer Liam Gallagher even went as far to verbally attack George Harrison in an interview), as well as proclaiming to be the best band in the world, they have made some excellent, tasty music that's hard not to love. If you can ignore most of the embarrassing (and often laugh-out-loud hilarious) behavior attached to the band's mystique, you may just enjoy their music, too.

_(What's The Story) Morning Glory?_ is a non-stop train of tasty, ear-pleasing rock candy, with that, add in a little bit of swaggering attitude, and you have Oasis' niche. Songwriter (and sometimes, singer) Noel Gallagher has an excellent ear for melody.. even if most of his musings seem to be, more or less, stolen from The Beatles and their British Invasion contemporaries. If you're a music lover who is lamenting the lack of Britpop/British Invasion spin-offs in the popular music pantheon these days, or if you just want some loud, good-old fashioned rock n' roll, look into this album, and some of Oasis' other offerings. That's basically it for this review.

Wow it the first word i thought of when Hello came on. This cd is probably one of the best follow-up cds ever. I love Oasis and every cd the same. If i were to tell people what cd to buy first id say this one just because wonderwall is on it. I do not care for that song because everyone else loves it, but to start off i would tell people to get this one. Cast no shadow and Morning Glory are awesome. Hey Now is a great song too, but no one ever talks about it. Then there is Some might say and Roll With it, which are also instant classics along with She's Electric and CS.

It was just one of those odd moments. A beautiful day, and I was walking down the street listening to this album for the first time on my CD player, when I heard them sing: "Another sunny afternoon / walkin' to the sound of my favorite tune..." - and, in that final multiplication of weirdness, that song, Morning Glory, did soon after become one of my favorites as I fell hard for this incredible album.

(What's the Story) Morning Glory? is an expression of raw musical talent. The songs are loud, direct and unapologetic; the lyrics are ambiguous, but sung with real feeling. The tone shifts from the sunny Hey Now! and hard-driving, almost fierce Morning Glory to the more introspective Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova, but even in its introspection, (What's the Story) is loud, direct and unapologetic. She's Electric, the only comical song (and pretty darn funny too), somehow doesn't break the mood.

Wonderwall, of course, is - Wonderwall. You could buy the album just for that song alone. When I think about it, though, I sometimes forget Wonderwall is even on here, the same way the rest of Talking Heads' Remain in Light shines seperately from Once in a Lifetime. Wonderwall in (What's the Story) is like the star on top of a Christmas Tree.

It's hard to compare Oasis with any other band from their era - at least, any other good one. Blur was more cerebral and affected, Suede was more sensual, and Morrissey's solo career was in transition. Whether or not Oasis was _better_ than any of those acts is a matter of opinion, but their broad appeal certainly doesn't make them any worse, either. Personally I think they had something many of those other acts lacked, a kind of sincerity. There's something about that old-fashioned brand of rock - songs that just wear well, that bear listening over and over, chorus after ecstatic chorus.

The songs from this album were written long before Oasis became a houshold name, they were written at the same time the tracks for Definitely maybe were written (91/92), they just decided the best stuff should go on their first album Def/Maybe and the rest would be released in a 2nd album - Morning Glory! Worth remembering when you consider the material in Morning Glory and the success it has had and is still having.
The songs from these 2 albums are about being unemployed and living of the dole which is why nothing like them has been written again and probably never will.
This album is quality and those who say songs like Hey Now! Cast No Shadow and She's Electric let it down aren't seeing the whole picture. They show the diversity that the band can reach and that they don't always take themselves as seriously as some might think. Its not Definitely Maybe which I would give 5 stars but its their own fault for releasing such a great debut in the first place that the follow up was always going to be under immense scrutiny.

Being a Brit I normally peruse the .co.uk site but needing some info on some American bands I thought I'd check out the .com side. Purely by chance I noticed a link to Oasis stuff so thought I'd have a look n see how Oasis are percieved over in the big ol US of A these days.
It seems like the chance for the boys to make it big over there have gone and fair enough, Liam deciding 5 mins before the MTV unplugged set that he had a sore throat probably didn't help (I was hugely disappointed too!) but don't hold this against them if you get the chance to see them live TAKE IT. They are amazing live and have repeatedly won/been nominated for 'Best Live acts' etc more so since their supposed downfall! Yes I am harping on about them a bit but if you've ever been to their gigs you would too.
And one final word, I've read several other reviews and they are all pretty accurate and fair but something they most definitely are not is COCKNEY, who Derek Mok incorrectly points out in the first page of the reviews. Just so no newbies think these guys are from London and speak with a Lock Stock n Two Smoking Barrels 'alright geeza' tone they don't. They are from Manchester and they speak with a thick Northern Mancunian accent!
I thank you.

After the pinnacle of snarling rock n' roll perfection that was Definately Maybe, Morning Glory was destined to be the album that made or broke Oasis: if it was bad, then they were a wondeful flash in the pan, like The La's, or if it was as good, then they could build up a decent follwing. Morning Glory was neither. It was better.

From the explosively snarling opener "Hello", which trails off into Gary Glitter's "It's good to be back", to the aching sweetness of "Cast No Shadow" this album encompasses the mood of a generation completely. Liam's vocals are consistantly brilliant, shining especially on the savagely aggressive "Morning Glory" title track, and the supercharged "Some might Say". Noel even manages to make his vocal debut on the tender "Don't Look Back in Anger". If you haven't heard "Wonderwall" and "Roll with It", then your in for two of Oasis's best, and most memorable songs. The album closes on Noel's own version of "A Day in the Life", the dazzling "Champagne Supernova". After the final notes have bubbled away, with Liam's lonely chorus still echoing throughout, each and every chord has been burned forever into the listeners mind.

Quite simply, the second greatest album ever written, topped only by Sargeant Pepper, though I doubt Noel would have it any other way.

Back in the mid 90's the music press (especially in Europe) hailed Oasis as the second coming of the Beatles. The band often treated their fans with contempt and both of the Gallagher brothers had egos that would consistently land them in trouble with each other and the public in general. The band never made it as big in the US as they did in England, but even with all the drama surrounding the group they have to be given credit for putting out some excellent music. "Morning Glory" is a great album from start to finish and probably the band's high water mark as a recording unit. Every song on this album is catchy as hell. These guys may not be the greatest musicians in the world, but there is something here that transcends your average pop pabulum. Several huge hits came from this disc including "Wonderwall", and "Champagne Supernova" both of which are great songs. Other winners here include "Hello", "Roll With It", "Some Might Say", "She's Electric", and the best song about cocaine addiction ever written "Morning Glory". For some reason this is the only Oasis album that I own, but each time I pull it out I remember how much I liked it and think about getting more of their stuff. The one negative comment I have is the production. The album is not recorded that well and has a very muddy sound in spots. It's a pity as proper production could really have enhanced this material, but overall if you like well done pop rock this is about as good as it gets.

The first Oasis song I heard was WONDERWALL. I loved it. I checked their music and then I found DON'T LOOK BACK IN ANGER. Oasis was at the top. I bought this album inmediately. Then I enjoyed CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA, ROLL WITH IT, MORNING GLORY and the entire album. It's a piece of the 90s, like one of the TOP ALBUMS. The bagde of a decade. Are you in?

I am a college student from China.In my country there are not many people know the great band Oasis,but I feel I am lucky because I didn't miss it.I began to lesten to Oasis's songs when I was in high school.That was their Standing on the Shoulder of the Giants,but I did not like it at that time.After I entered college,I listened to their Morning Glory occasionally.I burst into know that I should listen to it earlier.I consider Oasis as a symbol of Britpop!