It's Only Rock and Roll

Oasis

Dig Out Your Soul

Reprise

Action Rating: 7/10

Liam Gallagher sings,“Love is a Time Machine.” Indeed, a time machine back to nineteen ninety five. Dig Out Your Soul is the seventh studio album from Oasis. Just like 2005’s Don’t Believe the Truth it is a team effort, with each member contributing to the songwriting. They don’t look to create a new sound but stick to what they know.

The album opens with "Bag It Up", setting the tone. Though it isn’t an attention grabber, it’s a driving Rock and Roll song. “Ain’t Got Nothin” is along the same lines but it is very generic and it feels as it were written in about two minutes, very forced.

“The Turning” is an upbeat song that takes off with an explosive chorus and ends with homage to the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence”. They wear their influences on their sleeves proudly. They are often said to sound like the Beatles and this album is no exception.

“I'm Outta Time” is a very Beatlesesque ballad that even samples a John Lennon interview that you can faintly hear towards the end. But it’s such a beautiful song and definitely one of the album’s best. The slide guitar even sounds like it was provided by George Harrison himself.

Another possible Beatles reference, "love is a litany/a magical mystery," surfaces in “The Shock of the Lightning,” the album’s first single, is another one of the album’s best. This song could very well be Oasis’ best song in years and the drum solo provided by none other than Zak Starkey (Ringo’s Son). This song, along with I’m Outta Time, and the other ballad, “Falling Down”, fit well with the band’s older material.

“To Be Where There’s Life” is Oasis taking a psychedelic journey. Complete with sitar and lyrics that search for deeper meaning. (It does bring to mind a certain band from the sixties.)

“(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady” is an interesting song that includes hand claps and a slow burning groove. It stands out on the album and it is a good song but fails to ever climax and drags on for too long.

“Waiting for the Rapture” starts with the same riff as the Doors song “Five to One” but the song eventually comes into its own. “Nature of Reality” is one of the album’s weaker songs but the album ends in great fashion with the vocal echo of “Soldier On”.

Just incase you weren’t aware Oasis is very influenced by the Beatles. Dig Out You Soul as a whole, flows nicely and none of the songs are necessarily bad. At the same time the album is by no means “classic” and not many of the songs are great enough in their own right. It remains in the shadows of Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory. If you like Oasis at all I highly recommend this album. If you are just hungry for some rock and roll Dig Out Your Soul will satisfy your needs.

Standout Tracks: The Turning, The Shock of the Lighting, I'm Outta Time, To Be Where There's Life