Amazon.co.jp
2枚組ライヴアルバム
『ファミリアー・トゥ・ミリオンズ』から1年7か月ぶり、スタジオアルバムとしては
『スタンディング・オン・ザ・ショルダー・オブ・ジャイアンツ』以来約2年半ぶりとなる、イギリス出身男性5人組バンド、オアシスの最新5thスタジオアルバム。
力強いサウンドとディープな歌声のファーストシングル<1>（2002年4月U.K.チャート初登場No.1）、深く広がるスローバラード<4>（セカンドシングル）を中心に、軽快なアップテンポナンバー<3>（新メンバーのゲム・アーチャーがソングライト）、メロディアスなミディアムロック<8>など、ザラザラ感とハスキー感が混在するノエル・ギャラガーのヴォーカルナンバーが秀逸だ。アルバムタイトルは、ノエルがイビザで買ったTシャツから取ったもの。（速藤年正）
From Amazon.co.uk
Heathen Chemistry, is the fifth studio album from Oasis (sixth if you include
The Masterplan), and sounds like an album completely devoid of history and expectations--it is light and breezy and blissfully unaware of anything outside its (notably short) running time. The legendary Gallagher songwriting gland seems to have got stuck on cruise control since the late 1990s--and is focused on quality more than quantity now. There are some classic Oasis tunes here (the simple but effective "Stop Crying Your Heart Out"), yet the only song that wouldn't sound out of place on their 1994
debut is the playful rock growl of "Hung In a Bad Place", ironically written by new boy Archer. This poses a problem--what exactly defines an Oasis song now? Written by Noel? Sung by Liam?
Fortunately, Heathen Chemistry also features some overdue Noel Gallagher numbers--the more insightful, acoustic based songs such as the standout "Little By Little" (which contains the fantastic bridge "I didn't mean, what I just said / But my God woke up on the wrong side of his bed"). Nobody, really, does it better. Least of all his brother--"Songbird" is a startlingly good acoustic pop ditty, complete with trademark handclaps that, along with the voodoo spirit of Hendrix haunting his "Better Man", shows that his songwriting has improved tenfold since his last effort, but he still has much to learn. Where Noel Gallagher really excels, however, is in the production. For the first time, an Oasis album sounds clean and crisp--not musically, but in its sonic presentation--it's a technical achievement that elevates the album significantly.
Assured without being arrogant, heartfelt without being insincere--Heathen Chemistry will delight and repel in equal measures. It's a heroic return to form--hard as nails on the outside, yet soft and romantic on the inside--like every hero should be. --Ben Johncock
