The "Classic" Line-up: Paul Arthurs ("Bonehead"), Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Alan White and Paul McGuigan ("Guigsy")

When I began the blog, I was certain the one and only band that I was very well-acquainted with that I was not going to cover was Oasis. They were the first band I really listened to – heck, I even bought my first CD player in order to listen to their albums.

My decision not to cover them was based on the fact that I sincerely believed I had nothing to say about them that could be kind. Although their early successes are indisputable, their whole image became nauseating to me to the point that I ended giving away many of their CDs. The “bad boy” attitude is very fine when you are a teenager, but there comes a point when you don’t look a rebel any longer but an outright cretin.

The band was inexorably ruined for me the moment Liam stepped in as a songwriter. Noel was Oasis. Period. Liam was nothing but the face of the band, its public image. Noel was the brains nurturing it from the very beginning. Appearance can not take the place of substance.

The Gallagher Brothers, Noel & Liam

Besides, my disliking for Oasis was compounded by a number of bands in the Uruguayan scene that hero-worshiped them, with Astroboy blindly leading the pack. The saddest thing is that a band like Astroboy was not insincere at all – they were just narrow-minded, and they narrowed minds in turn. I am sure that was not their original intent – Astroboy set out to change the way music was perceived in Uruguay. In the end, they unnecessarily polarized the local scene and creativity took a turn for the worse.

I have recently rediscovered their music, and I even bought the albums I had given away once more. I am covering them if only because Oasis’ music filled my teenage years and now I reckon that my love of music must have been instilled by them. Noel was and will always be a master composer, and his ability to write in the “Us Vs. Them” modality will always ring true with those who don’t see a way to fit in the world. I am stopping at the album “Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants”. I refuse to venture beyond that point. That leaves us with “Definitely Maybe”, “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory”, “Be Here Now” and the excellent compilation “The Masterplan”. These albums capture the finest music that was forthcoming from their camp. As much as I outgrew the band, there are songs whose impact is undeniable. And I am not talking about “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger”.  There are a slew of songs like “Hey Now”, “Cast No Shadow” and “Listen Up” that deal with transcending the world while leaving a foot planted in it using terms that are simple yet memorable. I am glad I reconnected with those moments. That is what I want to share with you. Time will tell what fate will befall the band now that Noel is out.