Conveniently rounding up Oasis' UK B-sides for the rest of the world's delectation also allows another opportunity to assess the songwriting credentials of one Noel Gallagher. Gallagher Snr has often stated his desire to record his strongest material on singles as well as albums and this compilation certainly bares that out.
Indeed, if further proof was needed, the set kicks off with possibly the greatest Oasis song yet, 'Acquiese'. Why this was chucked away as the B-side to the pedestrian 'Some Might Say' is anybody's guess. It's an absolutely spellbindingly great rock'n'roll song featuring rampant guitar, Liam singing the verses and Noel taking over on the anthemic and life-affirming chorus, "We need each other/We believe in one another", his voice reaching for the top tier of stadium rock heaven.
The charming 'Underneath The Sky' and the yearning 'Talk Tonight' follow, both also easily the equal of anything on the band's three full-lengthers. Indeed, the proto-grunge instrumental 'The Swamp Song' is the only real duffer on the album. So what else do you get for your pop dollar?
Well, there's a raging cover of 'I Am The Walrus' taken from a Glasgow gig back in 1994, the strolling 'Rockin Chair', the dreamy 'Half The World Away', the fists-in-the-air rabble-rouser 'Stay Young' plus Noel's personal favourite, the epic grandeur of 'The Masterplan', and his very own 'A Day In The Life'.
There are other tracks that could have made the cut - 'D'Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman' and the Stevie Wonder-inspired 'Step Out' spring to mind - but presumably there may be a sequel to this collection if the band do carry on. Going on recent evidence, a second volume will struggle to defeat this album as a masterclass of pop songwriting nous. Simply masterful.
by Simon P Ward