A penniless and cocky Oasis once stated they'd be the biggest and best band in the world. Four glorious years later this once impregnable self-confidence began to crumble.
Yet in-between let's not forget that Oasis reinvigorated rock n'roll. In their Blur-baiting, Brit-scooping, booze and drug-fuelled 'Morning Glory' heyday they sat astride the world. Sadly no one told them it wasn't going to get any better. 'Be Here Now' and 'Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants' came and went. Some penned premature obituaries, others looked elsewhere praying the wobble would only be temporary.
But chief oarsman Noel Gallagher appears to have kept some faith. The new-look Oasis includes a frontman who has discovered he had a songwriting 'touch' all along. The wise old (or middle-aged, rather) sage of the band has again glimpsed greatness. And the spare parts have been replaced by more able assistance (cheerio Bonehead and Guigsy and welcome Gem and Andy Bell).
With the release of single, 'The Hindu Times', Oasis made their most convincing statement of intent for some considerable time, even if 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out' sounded like a show tune version of the songs that have kept Oasis on Camden jukeboxes for over half a decade.
Liam's 'Songbird' and Noel's 'She Is Love' are their respective breezy ode's to loved ones and may just deliver the album's highlights, both marking a way out of the blustering rock n'roll cliche they feel compelled to deliver, despite the thunder having long since dissipated. Organic and folky, both tracks have a spring in their step missing from the plodding likes of 'Force Of Nature'.
The Lennon-esque 'Born On A Different Cloud' was so good Noel refused to believe that Liam actually wrote it. But then, given big bruv's tendency to 'borrow' from the past maybe he didn't.
By now, surely it is obvious that Oasis will never redefine rock n'roll. But would any of their adoring fans expect them to? Noel might secretly wish for a drop of the Beta Band's invention but he wouldn't thank them for their year-end earnings.
Essentially, Oasis have tentatively begun to master the art of becoming veterans: writing songs that reflect their circumstances and not a mythical image of what they once were; songs that suggest there's life in the old beast yet.
Not exactly former glories but it's getting better man.
