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Oasis: Bio (DVD Details)

Unique ID Code: 0000133449
Added by: David Simpson
Added on: 20/8/2010 13:19
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    Review for Oasis: Bio

    5 / 10

    Oasis are the greatest British band from the past twenty years. Go on argue. Say Blur, Manic Street Preachers even the Spice Girls. But the band who had the most critical and commercial success were Oasis. Led by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, they were a rollercoaster of great songs and even greater controversies. With their recent split (one of their many break ups) it seems that a full stop has been put on the band… but when you watch this documentary, it could simply just be a question mark.

    This documentary goes through the lives of Noel and Liam, growing up in Manchester and the problems that came from the family. This is fairly interesting to see how they grew up and their discovery of music and inspiration by band The Smiths. The development of the band and the belief of Noel showed how they went from playing empty bars for two years and the amazing story behind how they got their record deal which needs to be heard to be believed. What followed was an explosion of popularity through songs like Supersonic and Live Forever and their debut album Definitely Maybe being a debut Number 1. After this came What's the Story (Morning Glory) and the awards flowed freely as they went from strength to strength and even cracked America, which was a rarity at the time and turned them into international superstars. However, the volatile nature of Noel and Liam is covered and how it almost destroyed the band itself. Also covered is the commercially successful Be Here Now, which was a critical disaster.

    This was a great documentary, however the one thing that is missing is Oasis themselves who only make brief appearances and in fact none of their music is included. If you had no idea who they were or had never heard of them, then you would still have no idea, or even why they are deserving of a documentary. It is this one touch that would have made the documentary better and the fact that this was obviously made before their last split, it could have done with a little update to add why the last split happened. However, if you are after a good overview of the Noel and Liam, then this is a pretty good documentary.

    Your Opinions and Comments

    Best British band of the last 20 years?  Radiohead, without a shadow of a doubt.  They've made albums that are in the top 10 of the 'Greatest of All Time' lists and have written songs that Noel Gallagher could only dream of penning.
    posted by David Beckett on 29/8/2010 14:59
    Music is such a subjective thing.  Gotta say, hate both Oasis and Radiohead...
    posted by Si Wooldridge on 29/8/2010 18:53
    Radiohead? Damn I forgot about then... but then as much as they gained critical acclaim ask any random man in the street to name a radiohead song and they'll scratch their head. Oasis? Wonderwall without hesitation.
    posted by David Simpson on 30/8/2010 09:55
    I think more people would be up to name a song by the Spice Girls or Take That than Oasis but that's no mark of quality! In terms of the great bands from the last 20 years, how about moving away from guitar driven rock and consider bands like The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy?
    posted by David Beckett on 31/8/2010 14:47
    Despite not being able to name one by Radiohead, I beat there are many if they heard they'd recognise.

    Oasis are not in the same league as Radiohead really, it's like comparing the Sex Pistols with Pink Floyd.
    posted by RJS on 2/9/2010 01:05
    Oasis could well be the best tribute band of the last 20 years (Beatles meets T-Rex, with a bit of a Lydon slur thrown in to complete the course). Whilst thoroughly entertaining, they haven't an ounce of originality and made a career out of shamelessly ripping off classic riffs and melodies. Lucklily, with Liam G's wonderful vocal style they raised it above the norm, though I find it painful seeing Noel Gallagher taking himself  so seriously. Without his brother he would be a reasonable busker at best. Now don't get me started about the dirge that is Radiohead. IMHO the most over-rated band on the last 20 years turning in a line of hammy meloncholy and faux crooning that set music on the dreariest trajectory of the last 50 years, spawning yawn-making wannabes in their wake like the incredibly dreary Snow Patrol, the rather better Muse, and a host of other dull as dishwater copyists. Now that should stir up some spirited comment!!! Oh - and for my money, the best band in the last 20 years would have to be one of the following: Mudhoney,  The National, Interpol, Cherry Ghost, Sonic Youth, and countless others that have done something truly original.
    posted by Stuart McLean on 4/9/2010 22:22
    All I can say is, with regards to Radiohead, you are sorely misguided and really need to give them a proper go.
    posted by RJS on 4/9/2010 22:30
    My wife is a radiohead fan so I've heard it all ....from the inane three chords of CREEP through OK Computer and beyond. I guess they were / are original and I was being deliberately harsh. Music is so subjective as Si says. (For example, he is a huge post-John Foxx Ultravox fan whereas as soon as he departed I hated everything they did). Just for the record I'm a big Tom Waits fan and my wife hates him.
    posted by Stuart McLean on 5/9/2010 13:12
    I'm not a huge fan (I do like, don't get me wrong) of Creep and the album it comes off, but The Bends is just fantastic, OK Computer is a very good album with some classics on it, and In Rainbows (despite initial reservations) is definitely one I can play on loop.
    posted by RJS on 5/9/2010 18:17
    I remember avoiding 'The Bends' as it seemed too achingly melancholic for my sensitive soul. Maybe I should revisit. Despite my comments, in a 'Radiohead vs Oasis' debate I would concur that there is no contest when it comes to creativity and originality. Radiohead would win hands down. I have never listened to any of In Rainbows.
    posted by Stuart McLean on 5/9/2010 20:01