It’s been a while since there has been an album that people have really wanted to get a hold of from Oasis where they can actually recognize singles and like them since they almost doomed their perception in America with “What’s the Story? (Morning Glory)” because of the ill-fated almost one-hit-wonder status “Wonderwall.” But Oasis is back with another album, and their first since 2002, with “Don’t Believe the Truth.” This album has the feel of the Brothers Gallagher actually getting along for once in their lives, at least, long enough to pop out an album that has be largely hyped already as it has gained much recognition with the first single “Lyla.” But with that being said, this album seemed doomed from the get-go with the hype it has received, and in reality, it may leave many “fans” disappointed.

Track 1- Turn Up the Sun:

This track is the opening that begins, if you let your mind wander, in the desert by an oasis. It’s a decent song, not the greatest on this album, or others by any means, but it’s good. It has a good beat and good vocals. It really is just a good song all around, but doesn’t have anything spectacular about it.

Track 2- Mucky Fingers:

This track may be one of my least favorites on this entire album. It starts out like Oasis is trying to be Bruce Springsteen (which is deadly in the first place), just basically playing the same note continuously like they’re a garage band held up by their vocals. It’s good lyrically, but you just can’t take most of it seriously when the beat is so annoying. Very disappointing.

Track 3- Lyla:

Ugh. Just because it’s their first single does not mean it’s that great of a song. It’s one of the better ones, but it’s nowhere near the top on this album. It may sound the most like pop music to gain recognition, but that’s about it. It’s all style and no substance. Yet, after you get past the fact that the track is on the radio, you can actually appreciate it.

Track 4- Love Like a Bomb:

“Love Like a Bomb” is actually a good song; it’s probably the best song thus far on the album considering. It’s got a nice beat, very catchy lyrics, and it just has a nice flow and attitude with it. It’s very impressive and a welcomed song after listening to the past three.

Track 5- The Importance of Being Idle:

This song is good, yet not that great. It starts out very well, and the lyrics are quite impressive. It’s got a lot of what a good song has, however, it leaves ya hanging a bit ‘cause there’s like two verses and more instrument than vocals it seems. I’m sorry but I’m a huge Liam Gallagher fan and enjoy hearing him, or Noel for that matter.

Track 6- The Meaning of Soul:

This song is just too short. It’s a great song, and it’s quick pace adds to the coolness of it. I’m digging it, and if there was more of it, I’d like it even more. I’m sorry but we’re not back in the days of the Beatles where you can get away with under-three-minute-songs that are hits. A minute and 46 seconds doesn’t fly. A shame, too, ‘cause it has lots of potential to go places.

Track 7- Guess God Thinks I’m Able:

Guess this is what you call Top-40. Eerily the song starts off with an acoustic section that reminds me of “Goodbye Blue Sky” from Pink Floyd, and then it goes into vocals. Both of which are excellent things. I guess this would be considered by non-music purists to be the best song on the album, but to me, it’s not. If any song should get released after Lyla, this is next I think. It’s easy to listen to, it’s easy to catch yourself singing the words, or humming along to it and not realize it. It’s perfect for radio. It’s got heart-felt lyrics that lovers can go “Aww, that’s us baby!” But the only thing I don’t like about this song, which makes it the third best song in my opinion, is the ending. It’s so disappointing. The song is obviously done, then it almost fades out, and then Liam comes back in and sings, “Come on home, let’s make it tonight.” It feels like it’s time for a rock out section which would be awesome, but no, then it ends. It’s so annoying. Every time I hear it, it’s like “I want more! Give me more!” I mean, you can almost feel the cheesy Top-40 predictability coming, and it just stops. If you’re gonna make it a hit, make it a hit. I’m waiting for “Come on home, let’s make it tonight. Come on home, everything’s gonna be alright.” And instead I get the first part and then it ends. So aggravating. Maybe it was meant to be that way, and if it was, just to annoy me, good job.

Track 8- Part of the Queue:

After “Guess God Thinks I’m Able” we move back to an oasis feeling and I must say I don’t mind it. It feels sort of like “Love Like A Bomb”, which isn’t necessarily bad. It’s pretty good. It’s got some good music behind it. The lyrics aren’t the greatest ever, but they are pretty impressive. It almost sounds like Noel is singing. Not sure, I’ll have to check on that sometime, but regardless I like the song.

Track 9- Keep the Dream Alive:

This is my favorite track hands down. I love every part of it. The lyrics are excellent. The music and the sound is excellent, and I hope this becomes a future single to be played. I love the voice; I love it all. This is what should be played next on the radio, but I fear it won’t. It’s actually quite upbeat from a band I don’t usually hear upbeat sounds from. But it can win your heart over hearing it just once. Everything about it is really impressive and enjoyable. Honestly, this brings the grade for the album between a 3.5 and a 4. But we don’t have a 3.75 score here at CH, or else this song alone would be worth .75 points. It’s just that darn good. It’s really heartfelt and basically makes the entire album worth listening to, and makes it live up to most of the hype it has been given.

Track 10- A Bell Will Ring:

The hits just keep on coming. This is probably my second favorite song on the album. It’s just well done, and like “Keep the Dream Alive”, it’s excellent all around. It may not be as pop-esque, or heart-felt as “Keep the Dream Alive”, but it has plenty of substance that makes it number 2, in my opinion. It seems that this album gets stronger the further into it you are. And this is just another good song I really like all around. It’s a good song where you can sit back and enjoy it, sing along, it won’t be a radio hit, but it’s a hit by my standards.

Track 11- Let There Be Love:

This is the end it seems. But it’s a good end. And even if Liam Gallagher once called the late George Harrison of the Beatles a “Nipple” (Aka an Idiot in British slang), Let There Be Love honestly sounds a lot like the Beatles. It for some reason reminds me of “Let It Be.” But obviously it doesn’t hold the same context as that song did. Plus, this isn’t as powerful by any means as “Let It Be.” But the pace the song goes along, and the overall movement it goes down is similar in some respects. Plus, the Beatles were famous for songs about Love in many respects, so this is very much a decent song, but not Beatles quality by any means. However, it is a very good song to end this album on, and it’s very easy to enjoy.

Overall, this album was something that was over hyped by too many people. And when the amount of hyping occurred that did, it’s extremely hard to live up to all the expectations. Oasis more than held their own with the album, but it’s going to leave a lot of music “fans” disappointed. And when I say “fans” I mean the people that have their eyes glued to MTV or listen to all the “popular” radio stations that try to play the “coolest” songs and disregard better ones. The people who don’t realize My Chemical Romance took a song title from a John Wayne movie, or that “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” is actually a movie featuring James Dean. For some it’s forgivable, but more often than not it’s really not.

This album is for a true fan of music in general that likes all walks of the music spectrum and doesn’t get bogged down listening to 50 Cent or Britney Spears and the rest of the “popular” bunch. If I could, I’d give this album a 3.75, but I can’t because we go up by .5 increments. By no means is this album worth a 4.0 though, because that should be for excellent all-around albums, and with its flaws, “Don’t Believe the Truth” earns a 3.5.



Label: Sony
Release: May 31st, 2005

Track Listing:

01. Turn Up the Sun
02. Mucky Fingers
03. Lyla
04. Love Like a Bomb
05. The Importance of Being Idle
06. The Meaning of Soul
07. Guess God Thinks I’m Able
08. Part of the Queue
09. Keep the Dream Alive
10. A Bell Will Ring
11. Let There Be Love

Rating:



Review by: Matt