Despite All My Rage...1995 Was A Kick Ass Year for Music

So, the last blog post was about re-working my favourite albums of 1994.  I had so much fun writing that one, I decided to re-visit 1995.  This time, I'm not bound by any list I created 31 years ago, so this is going to be a list of the albums from that year that have grown with me.  And there were a lot of amazing albums that came out 31 years ago.

First off, maybe you know this but Oasis' "(What's The Story) Morning Glory?" is my favourite album of all time, thus it is my favourite album of 1995.  So it gets the elevated pass.  It's like the CEO on the top of the org chart and, therefore, I'm not going to put it on this list.  Sweet, already breaking non-existent rules I've set for myself.  So, this is the best of the rest so they say, and maybe I'll expand the list to 15 just for shits and giggles.  But I really need a list of 30.  Hmm, okay, we will do this, but only because I've neglected the blog for so long and it's supposed to be a writing outlet.

1995 was the year I graduated from high school and started university.  A "transition" year if you will.  And all these albums helped with that transition.  And they still help today.  As an aside, the first album I bought at university was Lenny Kravitz's "Circus" and it did not make the list of 30...crazy but I recently found the cassette for $3, listened to it for the first time in 30 years, and gotta say it's an uneven album.  Lenny really leaned into irony on "Rock and Roll Is Dead", but did he need to make that track so dour and serious?  

Also, I think Candlebox's "Lucy" was the second or third CD I bought at university.  Their debut is super solid, one of my fave debut albums of all time.  Lead single "Simple Lessons" was also pretty awesome, despite the lack of a guitar solo.  So I was excited for "Lucy".  And unfortunately it did not meet my expectations.  So, it also did not make the list. 

Also x 2, lots of people like The Presidents Of The United States Of America (the band).  I am not one of these people.  The first time I heard the song "Lump" I was like no.  When I heard "Peaches" I was like hell no.  So, this one did not make the list either.  Anyway.

Remember my de-facto #1 is  "WTSMG" by Oasis (it is the CEO of my musical hierarchy) so this is why it is not on the list.  There is a whole blog post devoted to this album, it might be the second blog post I ever wrote, if you are so inclined.

Let's get on with the list!

30. "You'd Prefer An Astronaut" - Hum.  I like all the albums this band has released and I hate to be the person that calls out the hit single, but goddamn "Stars" nails the quiet/loud dynamic so well and still kicks so much ass.  

29. "Balance" - Van Halen.  This was the first VH album I ever bought and while some people dislike this one, I gotta say, it has a lot of killer tracks.  "Not Enough" is such an amazing power ballad, and you should listen to me as I'm a power ballad aficionado. 

28.  "A Boy Named Goo" - Goo Goo Dolls.  Again, lots of people like to pick on the GGD, but they have a lot of solid tracks, many from this album.  "Name" was the big track here.  In the 90's, every rock / alt rock band (unless your name is Rage Against The Machine or Tool) needed a ballad, preferably with acoustic guitars to appeal to like everyone.  Hey, every band likely wants one of their songs to be played in a grocery store.  That said, "Naked" is still my favourite track on this album and I feel it does not get enough love (it does not even appear on the GGD's Greatest Hits album, come on, GGD!).

27. "To Bring You My Love" - PJ Harvey.  How good is the song "Down By The Water"?  So good.  Yes, I'm calling out the hit single again.  This was my first taste of PJ Harvey and is still a great listen.

26. "The Woman In Me" - Shania Twain.  I fully credit my sisters for getting me into this one, and, come on, "No One Needs To Know" is on the "Twister" soundtrack and everyone loves that movie.  I think it was years later I realized that Shania's songs sounded like countrified Def Leppard, and that made me enjoy her music more.

25. "100% Fun" - Matthew Sweet.  Such great power pop.  I have been re-visiting this album a lot lately and the closing tune "Smog Moon" is a gem.  It is a ballad, yet nary an acoustic guitar can be found, which is likely why it wasn't huge and doesn't get played in the grocery store.  Still, get it on your playlists stat!

24. "Medusa" - Annie Lennox.  I love Annie Lennox.  Yes, this is a covers album, but Annie makes the tunes her own.  Also, "No More I Love You's" is such a super weird single but it works in all the best ways possible.  Ah, the 90's.

23. "One Hot Minute" - Red Hot Chili Peppers.  This was the first RHCP album I ever bought.  Have I ever told you I lived in the wilderness era and neglected music between the years 1989 and 1991?  I missed a lot of seminal albums, including "Blood Sugar Sex Magic".  This is their only album with Dave Navarro.  I like this, but to be honest, my fandom of RHCP has fallen off in recent years, so it's harder to connect with their material.  Still, this album has "My Friends", so that RHCP could also jump on that 90's ballad train. 

22. "Mirror Ball" - Neil Young.  Pearl Jam joins as Uncle Neil's backing band and the results are ramshackle and rocking.  I just picked up the vinyl reissue and I forgot how good this record is.

21. "Post" - Bjork.  "Hyper Ballad" is my favourite Bjork song of all time and the rest of this record also delivers.  "Enjoy" is such a jam.

20. "Grand Prix" - Teenage Fanclub.  This band was not on my radar in 1995.  But "About You" is the best song The Hollies never wrote.  Super solid jangle pop (my family still does not believe this is an actual genre of music).

19. "Alice In Chains" - Alice In Chains.  I like this album, but sometimes I find it difficult to listen to, which is why it is not higher on the list, even though the cover shot is quite memorable.

18. "The Great Escape" - Blur.  This is the second or third album I bought at university.  As mentioned in the previous blog post, hearing "The Universal" broke my hatred of Blur.  That said, this album is somewhat uneven, IMHO, but the highs soar above the clouds.

17. "Insomniac" - Green Day.  Is "Walking Contradiction" one of their most underrated singles?  I think it is.  I feel they made a conscious decision to be less commercial on this one, but it's a solid album which I spin more than "Dookie" but less than "Warning".  

16. "Collective Soul" - Collective Soul.  Did he really put Collective Soul ahead of the heavy hitters above?  Yes, he did.  This album is still so super solid.  And the band played homecoming at Guelph for our first year and I'll always respect them for that.  Also, Canada's Rusty opened and their album "Fluke" is an honorable mention for best of 1995.  This album doubles down on the acoustic ballads with two that were released as singles, including one that incorporates strings.  This is also CS' best selling album.  I rest my case.

Like Bon Jovi sang, we're halfway there.  If you aren't bored yet, I invite you to read on!

15. "On" - Echobelly.  I spin this album once a month.  "King Of The Kerb" is what dreams are made of, and if I still could make mixtapes, I'd put "Go Away" on all of them.

14. "Stanley Road" - Paul Weller.  Paul Weller was also not on my radar in 1995, besides being part of Oasis' "Champagne Supernova" in some capacity and duetting with Noel Gallagher on "Talk Tonight" on some "White Room" performance from a free cassette I got from Q Magazine in 1995 (RIP Q Magazine).  But Paul Weller has been on my radar since 2008; he is now one of my favourite artists, and this album has aged like fine wine.

13. "Soup" - Blind Melon.  Such an unfairly maligned band...in no universe should they be "one hit wonders".  One, their debut is solid.  Two, "Walk" is so, so good and, three, "Galaxie" legit was on every mixtape I made in the 90's.  

12. "Foo Fighters" - Foo Fighters.  The start of a 30+ year career I don't think anyone saw coming.  I just saw FF in Toronto this summer and I forgot how many good songs they have.  This debut is so assured, even though it is a glorified demo.  "For All The Cows" rules.

11. "...And Out Come The Wolves" - Rancid.  Old people reading this: did you ever have a blank tape at the ready so you could stealth tape a song you liked off the radio?  "Ruby Soho" was that song for me in December 1995.  This album still kicks so much ass.

It's time to break into the Top 10!

10. "A Northern Soul" - The Verve.  Title track rules, as does "This Is Music" and "A New Decade".  And they sneak in an acoustic ballad ("On Your Own"), plus a symphonic acoustic ballad ("History") between extended jams.  Note, both these ballads were released as singles.

9. "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" - Smashing Pumpkins (or is it The Smashing Pumpkins?).  This was a very fertile period in SP's career.  "The Aeroplane Flies High" boxset of b-sides is killer.  However, as with any 28 track double album, there is filler here, but like "The Great Escape" the highs SOAR.  Example:  "Bodies"?  Underrated and amazing.

8. "Jagged Little Pill" - Alanis Morissette.  Crashed towards the earth like the meteor in "Armageddon" and still gives a visceral thrill listening today, even if the examples of irony are questionable.  Wait, is that ironic?

7. "Above" - Mad Season.  Of the two AIC-related records released in 1995, this one has grown with me more.  Bluesy, dark, uplifting, a real showcase for Mike McCready's guitar and Layne Staley's lyrics.

6. "A Different Class" - Pulp.  If someone asked me to define Britpop by one song, I'd pick "Common People".  This is lightning in a bottle stuff.  And Jarvis Cocker is one of the coolest people on the planet.  While I'm glad I was 19 when this album came out, I finally saw Pulp last year live and I'm happy to report that hearing "Common People" live at age 49 with 16,000 others singing along still hits in the same way.

Before we hit the top 5, we will pause for some honorable mentions:

• Aforementioned "Fluke" by Rusty.  Just reissued on vinyl so I can re-visit it regularly!
• "Up" - Great Big Sea.  Great Canadian band that I had the pleasure of seeing multiple times in university.  This is true "feel good" music.
• "Return Of The Rentals" - The Rentals.  Matt Sharp from Weezer's side project that created some super catchy jams like "Friends Of P" (just put it on a playlist the other day)
• "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" - Bruce Springsteen.  I wasn't yet in my Springsteen immersion phase, that took another 5 years.  I respect this album even if I can't fully get into it.

Also, I don't love the entire albums but there are a few that produced amazing songs / singles:

• "Misery" & "Just Like Anyone" - Soul Asylum (from "Let Your Dim Light Shine").  "Frustrated Incorporated" from the former, genius wordplay and the latter had an awesome video featuring Claire Danes sprouting wings.
• "Fire In The Head", "The Bazaar", "Sister Awake" - The Tea Party (from "The Edges Of Twilight").  Great live band and IMHO a great singles band.  Can't really get into their albums except maybe "Transmission".  Still, these three tunes are very good.
• "Side Of The Road" - Blue Rodeo (from "Nowhere To Here").  One of my favourite Blue Rodeo songs, but following up "5 Days In July" would always be tough. 

Alright, on with the top 5!

5. "Infernal Love" - Therapy?  This is a dark masterpiece.  I have listened to this album consistently for 31 years and my least favourite songs are actually the singles, "Loose" and "Diane" (lead single "Stories" does rule and I would love to name my still not finished novel "Happy People Have No Stories".  Alas, I'm writing the blog instead of the book).  The rest...it's so weird in a great way, and a departure from "Troublegum" in almost every sense.  Except the dark lyrics.  "Me vs. You" is my dark horse favourite on this one - menacing and like "Stars" totally nails the quiet/loud dynamic. 

4. "Elastica" - Elastica.  So much fun.  I think it's 16 tracks in like 38 minutes.  This is a killer debut that they never properly followed-up on.  I mean, "The Menace" was not good.  But this album = pure gold.  Lightning in the bottle once again.  Did they rip off other artists?  As an Oasis fan, I don't really care if they did, as they painted everything with their own brush.

3. "Garbage" - Garbage.  Speaking of amazing debuts...Garbage has been one of my favourite bands for 30+ years because of this album.  Many years ago, there was an Instagram tag going around in the vinyl community where you had to post your 10 most influential albums without explanation.  This was one of mine, mostly because it introduced me to different genres of music...for an almost exclusive, guitar-music loving person like me, it was a real eye-opener.

2. "The Bends" - Radiohead.  Simply one of the best guitar rock albums ever made (after #3 on my list, is this ironic?).

1. "These Days" - Bon Jovi.  I have written two lengthy posts on Bon Jovi, explaining my "complicated" relationship with them.  Maybe I need to do a third now that I'm back in blogging mode.  In 1995, Bon Jovi were my favourite band and while Oasis has surpassed them and "WTSMG" did surpass this album in 1995, "These Days" is my favourite Bon Jovi record, in my top 10 of all-time, and is a musical path I wish they would have ventured down for the rest of their career.  While some of the songs still ooze with cheese, many are introspective, with great lyrics and amazing Richie Sambora guitar solos.  The CD singles from this era focus on spectacular live versions from the Bon Jovi catalogue.  1995-96 are their peak live years.  At any rate, this album is still great, and the title track is one of my all time favourite songs. 

So that is 1995.  Looking back, this may be one of my favourite music years.  This top 30 is stacked and I didn't even include albums by No Doubt, Hayden, Moby, The Cardigans, Supergrass or The Chemical Brothers.  Wow.  Also, you may note the lack of hip hop on this list.  In 1995, I was all about rock music, but you will see some different genres in future lists, I promise.

Can I do some random rambling about other awesome music stuff that came out in 1995?  It's my blog so of course I can.  One, I gotta talk about Def Leppard's first greatest hits album, "Vault 1980-1995" because the "new" song on the comp, "When Love And Hate Collide" is one of the best "new" songs on any greatest hits album, and also re-established their relevance in the mid-90's, which they threw away when they released "Slang" in 1996 (no shade from me, I really like this album).  "WLAHC" is a ballad, of course AND has some strings.  People, this is not a coincidence. 

The best "new" songs on greatest hits albums (as curated by Ted):

• "Mary Jane's Last Dance" - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• "Always" & "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" - Bon Jovi
• "Not The Girl You Think You Are" - Crowded House
• "Again" - Lenny Kravitz  
• "Changes" - 2Pac
• "Electrical Storm" & "The Sweetest Thing" - U2
• "Murder Incorporated" - Bruce Springsteen

Also, the best soundtrack of 1995 is "Empire Records".  Just so many great songs by so many great bands.  Also, the movie is great.

The blog has been revitalized and I feel there will be a 1996 retrospective coming soon.

Until next time...

Best of 2015

So, I felt 2015 was a pretty damn good year for music so I'm going to run down my personal faves in this easy to read list!

20. Def Leppard - Def Leppard

Okay, don't run when you see this one leading off. I like all kinds of music but I was 11 when "Hysteria" came out, so I'll always have affinity for Def Lep. I think Def Leppard have released 3 studio albums since 2000. Their last effort, "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge", didn't do much for me so I was skeptical about this one. But it is better than it has any right to be. Total classic Def Leppard sound and it is definitely a welcome return.

Key Tracks: Let's Go, Wings of an Angel, Dangerous, Battle of My Own

19. Marilyn Manson - The Pale Emperor

I'm not a huge MM fan, but I do enjoy his greatest hits and "Mechanical Animals" was a solid record. I kind of lost track of MM after that album, but I saw this one come up in the new releases on Google Play so I downloaded it. I was pleasantly surprised. It has a real bluesy feel to it but still retains the trademark MM bite. Also, creepiest album cover of the year.

Key Tracks: Killing Strangers, Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge, Deep Six

18. The Decemberists - What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

This one came out right at the beginning of 2015 and is one that I re-visit often. I was lucky enough to see the band back in March on this tour and they put on a very good live show.

Key Tracks: Make You Better, 12/17/12, Philomena

17. Drake - If You're Reading This, You're Too Late

I like Drizzy. I like that he wears Toronto on his sleeve and I like his rather minimalist tunes. He goes for substance over grandiose. This was a surprise "mix tape" that seems more like a full fledged album to me, but semantics, I guess. I went to OVO Fest this year and while Kanye did kill it in his guest spot, Drizzy was who the crowd was there for and he delivered.

Key Tracks: Legend, Energy, 6 Man

16. Low - Ones And Sixes

I heard about Low from my friend Simon on a Facebook music forum I'm part of. I guess they've been around for a while (like 20 years) but this is the first music or record I heard from them. I like what I hear a lot. So I have downloaded the rest of their catalogue, but have yet to listen to it (I'll get around to it eventually, see album #6). "Ones And Sixes" is a mellow but melodic album that I've listened to quite a bit since I bought it in September.

Key Tracks: Spanish Translation, Gentle, No End

15. Ash - Kablammo!

I love Ash. The world honestly needs more Ash albums. This was a crowd-funded album apparently but the band rewards those who contributed (and those who contributed by purchasing) with pure power pop at its best. Seriously, if you aren't into and/or familiar with Ash, do yourself a favour and seek out "Intergalactic Sonic 7"s", their first greatest hits record, because it is pure gold. And with this record, the hits keep on coming.

Key Tracks: Let's Ride, Dispatch, Hedonism, Cocoon  

14. Paul Weller - Saturns Pattern

The modfather returns with another gem. I wrote about this record a few posts back but I really enjoy it. Like Springsteen (post coming, I swear), Paul Weller keeps getting better with age.

Key Tracks: White Sky, Saturns Pattern, Going My Way, Pick It Up

13. Wilco - Star Wars

Not so much lo-fi but more the return of tight, 3 minute tunes with impeccable melodies. This was a surprise free album and then I ended up finding the vinyl at Kops Records in Toronto for 50% off (like $12). Completely worth it. Similar to Weller and Springsteen, Wilco seem to be getting better with age.

Key Tracks: More..., The Joke Explained, Random Name Generator

12. Muse - Drones

Definitely a return to form. I didn't dislike "The 2nd Law". I did sort of dislike "The Resistance", but the albums I always revisit in the Muse catalogue are "Origin Of Symmetry" and "Absolution" due to the strong guitar presence. For the first 9 tracks, this album brings it. They apparently went back to recording as a 3-piece on this one and you can hear it. Plus, Mutt Lange co-produced. Given my affection for Def Lep, this is a big plus.

Key Tracks: Reapers, Mercy, The Handler, Psycho

11. Veruca Salt - Ghost Notes

Comeback album from the '90's alt veterans, reunited after a nasty break-up. I think honestly this is their best album. It's certainly their most consistent. The lyrics are biting, the riffs are solid. While I enjoy "8 Arms To Hold You" due to the metal-ness of it, listening to it now, a lot of tracks are somewhat dated. I don't feel that will be the case with this record. Recommended if you are looking for a band that seems to be hitting its stride...close to 20 years after last putting out a record with all 4 original members. Let's hope they keep this reunion going.

Key Tracks: Museum Of Broken Relationships, The Gospel According To Saint Me, Black And Blonde

10. Modest Mouse - Strangers To Ourselves

My wife and I had our first child the last time Modest Mouse released a full-length. Dudes, she is almost 9 now! Back then, Johnny Marr was in the band. He's gone onto solo endeavors now, but the band is still tight, writing solid, wiry tunes that ooze with Isaac Brock's quirkiness. Like Ash, the world needs more Modest Mouse, so hoping I don't have to wait until my daughter turns 18 for the next record.

Key Tracks: Ansel, Wicked Campaign, The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box, Shit In Your Cut

9. Foals - What Went Down

This is a British band that I discovered via Google Play. I don't even know how I did, I just was browsing new releases and I remembered hearing something about the band Foals, so I took a chance. Glad I did. This is a solid record, filled with both guitar anthems and off-kilter pop tunes. I think these guys are a big deal in Britain.

Key Tracks: What Went Down, Mountain At My Gates, A Knife In The Ocean

8. Ryan Adams - 1989

Yep, I dig T-Swift. What I dig more is stripped down, alt-rock/country versions of her hits. Bad Blood is completely re-invented into like a campfire hymn. My New Year's Resolution - you heard it here first - I need to learn Bad Blood on guitar. Check my progress later this year. You have to respect both T-Swift for her song writing chops and Ryan Adams for putting his stamp on these songs, with no hint of disrespect.

Key Tracks: Bad Blood, Style, Wildest Dreams

7. The Dead Weather - Dodge & Burn

Like Veruca Salt and Modest Mouse, we needed Jack White's other band to make a comeback this year. Alison Mosshart is a complete badass. At first, I didn't love this record, but I liked the back half enough to keep spinning it and I have been rewarded with songs that burrow under your skin. Mile Markers might be my favourite song of the year, or at least in the top 3. I know Jack White is a busy guy, but I have 2 requests in 2016 - get a tour going with this band and release another Dead Weather record!

Key Tracks: Mile Markers, Cop and Go, Impossible Winner, I Feel Love (Every Million Miles)

6. Sleater-Kinney - No Cities To Love

This was admittedly my first Sleater-Kinney album purchased and actually the first one I ever listened to. It's a barn burner so I went and downloaded their catalogue on Google Play and I now know what I've been missing. I've read about this band frequently. And I've seen some Portlandia episodes and I have the Pearl Jam live album where PJ opens with an acoustic set and then give it up for Sleater-Kinney (Ed Ved says (this is in the ballpark I feel) "you will now have the profound experience of hearing Sleater-Kinney"), before PJ goes back on. Don't know why I never gave them a shot before considering my complete obsession with buying music. Anyway, the lesson is when you read about a band frequently, don't wait 15 years, check them out right away! Or maybe wait and then you can have a new discovery with a huge discography to tap into.

Key Tracks: No Cities To Love, Bury Our Friends, No Anthems, Price Tag

5. Third Eye Blind - Dopamine

A six year gap between albums is fine with me when the product is of this quality. And this is despite 4 of the first 5 tracks being kinda of a bit too poppy/cute for me. But they are still catchy. What those songs lack in depth, the other 8 tracks bring it and bring it large. There are some great 3EB songs are on this record, some of which could become some of my faves. Apparently, this is it, so if that's the case, then they went out with a nice bang, just check out the confessional lyrics (Stephan Jenkins' best songs are about Charlize Theron or drugs or both) and intense guitar shredding on last track Say It.

Key Tracks: Back to Zero, Something in You, Say It, Exiles

4. El Vy - Return to the Moon

A side project from the National's Matt Berninger and his long-time friend Brent Knopf works well on many levels. While it is not The National, the songs are cut from the same sonic cloth and offer complete satisfaction. Okay, I know I said that Dead Weather track was my fave of the year, but now I think it's I'm the Man to Be from this outfit. The lyrics are off the charts weird, but the swagger is there. Sometimes you need a song to just make you feel something, even if you can't fully explain what that feeling is.

Key Tracks: I'm The Man To Be, Return To The Moon, No Time To Crank The Sun, Sad Case

3. Ghost - Meliora

My friend John gave me the heads-up on this band. By heads-up I mean he said I should run to listen to it immediately, so I did. I really feel the Satan-leaning posturing is a joke, but it doesn't matter, this is a really solid album of progressive metal. But don't run away or be turned off by that label, the songs are accessible and devoid of excessive soloing. No one really knows forsure who is in the band, but they are all players. This album grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. It also warrants and rewards repeat listens. Additionally, 2nd creepiest album cover of the year.

Key Tracks: He Is, Cirice, Absolution, Spirit

2. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Chasing Yesterday

A really solid album that I wrote about earlier in the year. I just listened to it again today as I'm writing this and it still thrills. Some of you may be somewhat shocked that NG isn't number one on my list. It is held out of the top spot by a surprise reunion album that I don't think a lot of people saw coming.

Key Tracks: Riverman, The Ballad Of The Mighty I, The Right Stuff, The Dying Of The Light

1. Blur - The Magic Whip

As evident by last year's list, I was/am still enjoying Damon Albarn's solo album "Everyday Robots". But then Blur announced they recorded a new album, the first with all 4 original members since 1999's "13". Like Veruca Salt, "The Magic Whip" documents a band hitting its stride or at least finding comfort with one another again. Its a bit of an understated affair, but that reflects artistic maturity I think. The ballads are sublime and Go Out squalls with 1997 indie-rock fervor. Highly recommended.

Key Tracks: Go Out, Ong Ong, My Terracotta Heart, Lonesome Street

I'm definitely excited to see what 2016 holds in terms of musical surprises. Until next time...

Where Were You October 3rd 1995? A Written History of How Oasis Became My Favourite Band

Where were you October 3rd 1995?  I was at The Stone Road Mall in Guelph, Ontario, Canada with some friends.  I'm almost certain we were going out for dinner at Legend's Bar & Grill because we could use our meal cards at this establishment.  But of course, we needed to stop into HMV first because it was a Tuesday and Tuesday was and still is, new release day.  I likely suggested or insisted that we do this.

On the new release wall I saw Oasis' 2nd effort "(What's The Story) Morning Glory?" and I immediately grabbed it.  I didn't even know it was out (email was only just catching on, we weren't there with the Internet yet) so was pleasantly surprised. I also am pretty certain I picked up Lisa Loeb's "Tails" that night, which I still have in my collection. Don't ask me how I can remember this stuff. But the Oasis album is the subject of this post and without a doubt changed the way I listened to music.  Although Do You Sleep? by Lisa Loeb is still a killer tune.

I'll backtrack a little bit.  I stumbled upon Oasis' excellent debut "Definitely Maybe" almost by accident.  Again, it was at an HMV (but this one was in Oakville), on a listening station in October or November of 1994.  My friends and I had 2nd period spare in Grade 13 so we would frequently make the 10 minute drive from Burlington to Oakville to hit HMV (at that time I guess our hometown Burlington wasn't populated or cool enough to warrant having it's own HMV).  Anyway, as soon as I hit play on the listening station disc man and heard the opening chords of Rock N' Roll Star I was hooked and I was pretty sure when I got to Supersonic that Oasis were my new favourite band.

After digesting "Definitely Maybe" and feeling that all the songs were great, I needed to see if Oasis had any other songs. Over the course of 1994, I discovered that Oasis had put out CD singles for Live Forever, Shakermaker, Cigarettes and Alcohol and Supersonic.  I picked all of these up as they had b-sides, which I soon discovered were as good as the album tracks.  My friend Simon and I then found a real gem in Hamilton when we were CD shopping at Dr. Disc at the end of 1994.  As an aside, if people asked me in high school what my hobbies were, the answer was CD shopping.  And creative writing.  But mostly CD shopping.  And I guess things haven't changed, though the blog is a way to keep the writing candle burning.  Anyway, we found the CD single of an Oasis song I'd never heard of called Whatever.  This wasn't on "Definitely Maybe" and contained 2 b- sides (It's Good) To Be Free and Half The World Away that also weren't on the album (Slide Away, the penultimate album track from DM rounded it out).  So obviously this was an easy pick-up. Whatever and the b-sides solidified my feelings that Oasis were awesome.  Many Oasis tunes made my best of 1994 mix tape compilations (I want to say there were 3 tapes that year), though Always by Bon Jovi was number 1 for legacy reasons and because it is an amazing power ballad.

In May 1995, we were going on class trip to Toronto (maybe to the Art Gallery of Ontario or somewhere cultural like that).  I knew that Oasis was coming out with a new single called Some Might Say (though I'm not sure now how I knew this), so I had Dr. Disc order it for me.  It came in the day before the class trip so I immediately taped the song and the three b-sides so I could walkman it up on the bus.  I was loving Some Might Say, despite the rather inane lyrics, the song soared and the guitar outro was bueno. Revisiting the reissues of "Definitely Maybe" and "WTSMG" and hearing the early live cuts included makes you realize what a powerful singer Liam Gallagher was. I feel the Some Might Say single, backed with Acquiesce and Headshrinker equal Liam's voice at its most powerful. In addition, the b-sides on this single (also including the Noel sung Talk Tonight) are probably the best trio included on any of their singles. So where did Some Might Say fit? I wasn't sure as again it wasn't on DM.  And then in August 1995 Roll With It came out and it still wasn't part of an album. But the song was good (not as good as Some Might Say) and the b-side Rockin' Chair is still one of my favourite b-sides by any band ever.

In September 1995 I was off to start my post-high school life, chasing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Guelph. I was moving away from home for the first time, living with 3 roommates (whom I didn't know) in a building that was designed by the person who built a prison in Kingston. But I was excited. A girl in my alcove noticed me wearing an Oasis t-shirt early in the year which got us talking about the band. One day, she ran downstairs saying she had just heard and taped the new Oasis song Morning Glory off the radio. Yes, taping songs off the radio was a regular thing prior to Napster, iTunes, etc. I dubbed it off her tape and wow, I was blown away. This was somehow better than both Some Might Say and Roll With It. Buzz saw guitars, vague lyrics about razorblades and mirrors (Cocaine references were lost on me then, as they still are now). This upped the ante for the new album, but none of us had any idea of when it was coming out.

So the first month of school was good and we were hitting our groove by October, as I said, we figured out what alcohol serving restaurants accepted our meal cards. When I flipped over "What's The Story" at HMV, I saw that it contained Roll With It and Some Might Say, which quelled the small worry that was kicking around inside my head.  Also it had Morning Glory on it, so automatically it fit the like 3 songs, buy an album rule we had for buying albums (though this never really applied to me.  I have a story about Weezer's "Blue Album" I'll save for another post).

When I got back to the dorm I put on "WTSMG" and immediately after hearing Hello the thought was "best album ever".  Wonderwall and Don't Look Back In Anger reinforced this, though it was kind of surprising to hear Noel on lead for the latter as traditionally songs with his lead vocal were pegged for b-sides. It was a good surprise. The whole album flowed for me immediately. No bad songs (even the Swamp Song instrumentals fit). And soon, I began playing the album at least 3 times a day for the rest of 1995 up until we left Guelph in May 1996. Two of my roommates said that they had to buy the album once they left school for the summer because they were that used to hearing it all the time, even though they weren't fans of Oasis. I picked up the singles for Wonderwall and Don't Look Back In Anger when they dropped in late 1995/early 1996. As an aside, The Masterplan probably is the best b-side in the history of b-sides. I even bought the Chemical Brothers' Setting Sun single because Noel sung the song (still a good song). I bought every magazine Oasis was featured in also. I was full-on obsessed.

Because of "WTSMG", I like Radiohead, Pulp, Chemical Brothers and ironically, Blur. Even though these 4 bands don't really sound anything like Oasis. And Oasis is the most straightforward sounding of those bands above, but they got me into British music, which then got me into electronica, which then got me into indie rock. Before I was a complete hair metal / meat and potatoes rock kind of guy, not that there is anything wrong with that mind you and I still enjoy these genres. But "WTSMG" opened my mind to other genres.

Listening to that album over and over again as I was in a new place with new people made me "feel" music maybe for the first time and each song has a great memory attached to it. I never played or wanted to play an album as much as this one and this holds true today. The recent reissue of the album (of course purchased on new release Tuesday) brought it back into focus for me, although I never really go too long without spinning it. Hearing Noel's demos for some of the album's barn burners show what a gifted song writer he is in terms of melody, structure and soaring choruses (present tense, the first High Flying Birds album is a gem), but listening them along side the finished product also shows what Liam brought to the party even if he wasn't penning the actual songs.

In my mind Oasis was an impenetrable force that couldn't be destroyed. If people talked shit about them I staunchly defended their work. I still won't shut-up about them (just ask my wife). Their 1994-1996 output I would put up against the definitive 2 year period of any other band. Noel has admitted that he should have held onto some of the b-sides for future albums and he was probably right, though I do like at least half of each post-Morning Glory Oasis albums (including all of "Don't Believe The Truth" and "Dig Out Your Soul", both late career masterpieces).

I think without sounding too heavy handed, this album was (is) like religion for me. Bon Jovi, my previous fave band (there will be posts on this), took me through my years of innocence and my first taste of high school. Oasis and "WSTMG" specifically was with me almost from the beginning of my journey to becoming the person I am today. Right place, right time but the music backed it up for me.

Yep, I think I'm going to re-institute the 3 time a day playing of this album starting now. You know what some might say...