Sounds From Across The Ocean

Today we send some love to our friends from the UK with two of the biggest bands to come out of England in the last twenty years.

When Oasis set out to be the biggest band in the world, most people laughed. After all, how could a band with two brothers who can't seem to co-exsist in a room for more than 5 minutes possibly last long enough to gain any kind of following? Ah, but last they did. Oasis exploded out of the gate with their first album, DEFINITELY MAYBE, and quickly became the biggest UK band since the Beatles. Which makes sense since most of the songwriting chops of Noel Gallagher were lifted from the McCartney/Lennon playbook. But behind all the Beatle worship was a unique mix of old and new. It was a return to what rock was all about. Drugs, Sex and the repurcussions thereof. The band would hit it big in the US with "Wonderwall", but I still think the first album is the best representation of what this band is all about. Two songs from that album, the first single "Supersonic" and the concert favorite "Columbia" are included here. I have also provided two B sides which paint a much more elaborate picture of the band. "Fade Away", a B side from the first album's session is a pretty simple rock song (with a bit of longing in the lyrics for lost childhood.) Fun Fact: Oasis recorded a version of this song for a charity record which included backing vocals from JOHNNY DEPP!! The other B side is "Talk Tonight", a leftover track from the second album's session, which is just Noel singing with an acoustic accompanyment. I am still blown away by this song, very uncharacteristic for them.

(mp3) Oasis -- Supersonic
(mp3) Oasis -- Columbia
(mp3) Oasis -- Fade Away
(mp3) Oasis -- Talk Tonight

The Verve started out right about the same time as Oasis but did not meet with the same critical success until much later in their career. Released in 1993, A STORM IN HEAVEN, is at first listen, a combination of My Bloody Valentine feedback and Ride style shoegazer rock. It's interesting to look back on this record now, knowing where the band would go eventually leading to "Bittersweet Symphony", to see just how much they changed. But some of the blueprint is here. Richard Ashcroft's voice is still something a bit otherwordly and the guitars by Nick McCabe still slice through the song and almost seem to attack the listener. I have provided two tracks from this record; "Slide Away" and "Blue" which is probably my favorite on this album. I also recommend looking into Ashcroft's solo work as well, very different from this but also very good.

(mp3) The Verve -- Slide Away
(mp3) The Verve -- Blue