Oasis — Dig Out Your Soul

They might be the self-proclaimed biggest band in the world, but Oasis has fallen off the music radar. (What's The Story) Morning Glory? propelled them to major popularity in 1995, and while I remember a few singles from its follow-up, 1997's Be Here Now, that's pretty much when the Gallagher brothers began fading into the background on this side of the pond. Many years, albums and lineup changes later, the Mancunian Beatles-wannabes are still ripping off other bands on their seventh studio album, Dig Out Your Soul — but at least they've gotten back to writing some good music. The disc starts strong with "Bag It Up," "The Turning" and my favourite Oasis song in ages, the solid "The Shock Of The Lightning." Noel takes lead vocals on a couple of decent tunes: "Waiting For The Rapture" and the haunting "Falling Down" (maybe a premonition he had about the Toronto Virgin Festival?). But the rest of the album dips into lameness ("I'm Outta Time") or is just plain forgettable. While it's much better than most of their recent output, it still doesn't hold a candle to (What's The Story) Morning Glory or Definitely Maybe.