Amazon.co.jp
「世界一のロックンロール・バンド」と自負するオアシスは、この『Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants』でも、1960年代後半に活躍したビートルズらの影響を受けていた。彼らに敬意を表しているが、このアルバム中のベスト・サウンドでも、彼あの音楽には到達していない。だがこれこそがオアシスで、彼らは自分たちの全力を尽くしている。『Gas Panic』や『Where Did It All Go Wrong?』は、ファースト、セカンド・アルバムとなる『Definitely Maybe』と『(What's The Story) Morning Glory? 』で見せたような、キャチーで明るい彼ららしい曲にした。 巨匠たちの影響が最もよく表れている。 サイケデリックな『Who Feels Love』は、 シタール、タブラ、テープループを使い、東洋思想に影響を受けたジョージ・ハリスンを思わせる。ロックのような『Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is』は、ドアーズやローリング・ストーズを目指したが、歌詞の力がやや弱かった(「Ready or not, come what may/The bets are going down for judgement day」など)。リアム・ギャラガーが書いた『Little James』の歌詞も不可思議で、父性愛を讃えた歌なのだが、「You live for your toys, even though they make noise」といった歌詞などはロックらしくない。『Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants』でオアシスが大きく前進したとはいえないが、前作の『Be Here Now』に比べれば確実に進歩した。彼らが20世紀後半のイギリス・ポップスにどれだけ傾倒しているかを聴きたい初心者には、『Definitely Maybe』や『 (What's The Story) Morning Glory?』をお勧めする。Rob Burrow
From Amazon.co.uk
With
Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants, Oasis--the self-professed "biggest rock & roll band in the world"--continue exploring their fascination with Great British Bands of the late 1960s. Paying homage to your heroes is one thing, but many of
Standing On The Shoulder's best moments sound like their icons' worst. However, this is Oasis, and they do manage to pull some stunners out of their hats: "Gas Panic" and "Where Did It All Go Wrong?" demonstrate the command of catchy hooks and epic anthems that made their first two albums--
Definitely Maybe and
(What's The Story) Morning Glory?--such classics. Elsewhere, their influences are more obvious. The psychedelic "Who Feels Love?" is a perfect example of George Harrison in full Eastern Mystic mode, complete with sitars, tablas and tape-loops. Outright rocker "Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is" has the strut and stomp of vintage
Doors or
Rolling Stones, but is ultimately let down by its weak songwriting ("Ready or not, come what may/The bets are going down for judgement day"). The most dubious lyrics are saved for the Liam Gallagher-penned "Little James", his paean to paternal love which--perhaps unintentionally--contains some of rock's most laughable couplets ("You live for your toys, even though they make noise").
Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants doesn't represent a major step forward for Oasis, but it is a definite improvement on the band's previous album,
Be Here Now. For stronger evidence as to why Oasis is credited with resurrecting Britpop in the late 20th century, newcomers to the band would do well to investigate
Definitely Maybe or
(What's The Story) Morning Glory?. --
Rob Burrow
