Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Though it is a clear improvement on the abysmal Standing on the Shoulder of Giants – how could it be anything else? – there's not an awful lot here to bear out Noel Gallagher's assertion that Heathen Chemistry is Oasis's second-best album. The creeping democratisation of songwriting duties hasn't exactly unearthed world-shattering talents in Gem Archer and Andy Bell, and while Liam's three contributions are slightly more rewarding, his reinvention of Lennon's psychedelic wheel with "Born on a Different Cloud" has little enduring value, a condition not improved by its Harrisonic slide-guitar break, a crass and obvious feature that simply underlines the band's shortfall in imagination. The others' efforts, however, do help Noel's songs to shine by contrast, even though he's starting to repeat himself with the limply anthemic "Stop Crying Your Heart Out", which borrows the reflective manner – and a few of the chords – of "Wonderwall". Elsewhere, "Force of Nature" is a plodding, Quo-style meat'n'spuds rocker that, Noel assures us, is not about Meg Mathews, despite lines such as: "You look like a fading picture/ I see the cracks frozen on your skin," and "Smokin' all my stash/ Burnin' all my cash/ It's all over town/ That the sun's goin' down/ On the days of your easy life"; while "She Is Love" has the kind of brazen simplicity that only a self-assured songwriter could pull off, brimfull of McCartney-esque singalong sweetness. That their reference points should still be so limited is sad: Oasis have been recording for two years longer than the Beatles did, but seem to have learnt nothing of their idols' eclectic musical interests. Predictable and dull.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments