10 Years since a low point

August from memory is actually the NZ anniversary, but still!

10 years ago this month was the turning point for the "britpop" phenomena. Oasis released the hugely anticipated Be Here Now.

In short the album was a shambles - average song length was around 5 minutes (so very long), culminating in the incredibly average All Around the World (fuckin 10 minutes long). If nothing else the album proves that you dont need a guitar solo between every verse and chorus.

To be fair there were some classics, Do Yer Know What I Mean was a fantastic anthem, Fade In Out (with Johnny Depp on slide guitar) kicked ass, and the title track came alive when they opened their ill-fated Wellington concert with it in 1998. I've also always had a soft spot for one of the most slagged off tracks - Girl in the Dirty Shirt - not entirely sure why (bad taste?)

But the album ultimately sufferred from Oasis' arrogance and drug taking (Noel Gallagher blames cocaine for the album). Its not their worst album though, and like Q say in their Be Here Now anniversary issue, its probably the last album by Oasis that people had a strong opinion on - which is true, a lot of the later stuff im completely indifferent to.

I guess the worst thing for Oasis was that only a month later, one of the greatest albums of all time was released by Radiohead, completely pushing the boundaries and taking listeners into what could have been uncomfortable territory.... but thats another anniversary on June 16 which will be covered then!

So this May, break out your copy of Be Here Now (if you dont have one - look in the $2 bins at Real Groovy lol!) and revisit what was one of the greatest follies on 90s music.