Don't Believe The Truth [Limited Edition Specially Packaged CD + DVD] [CD+DVD]

Firstly the whole album sounds unlike Oasis, in fact the only song on it that sounds like the Oasis everyone knows is "Lyla".

"Turn Up The Sun" kicks the album off and is one of Andy Bells best offerings for Oasis to date, a ballsy song with a vocal Liam delivers with conviction! Such a huge change this song points a new direction for the band and also fires you up like old songs like "Morning Glory" and "Rock N Roll Star" but this does it in a different way, it is bulky, it is brash, it is BALLSY!!! As Noel has said the intro and outro are unlike Oasis totally, and for once he was right! Don't expect loud guitars for the solo.

"Mucky Fingers" the song Noel wanting as the first single and Liam wanted to sing on. Personally I can't get over the HUGE Velvet Underground rip off in the music, but a strong song nonetheless, sadly the Velvets shine through a lot on this song and therefore to people who are familiar with them this song will be hard to digest. Great lyrics though!

"Lyla" we all know well enough now. First single from the album and #1 too, no suprise. But this is possibly the worst song on the album, it is very Oasis of old and could well have fitted on Heathen Chemistry. Just read the reviews of the single for this song.

"Love Like A Bomb" is Liams first offering on the album in terms of songwriting and quite a summery feeling song. It does ooze 60's Beatlesque sounds but it doesn't have any direct "steals" from songs. Not a bad little number but after 1:21 you REALLY hear The Beatles shine through on this song.

"The Importance Of Being Idle" one of the albums best songs easily. Noels songs on this lp are totally unlike what he wrote in the past, they stray away from the well paved path Oasis have made style-wise and meander through the scrub and hills a little picking up a different direction. Brilliant lyrics and again with the no noise guitar solos!! This song is a strong album track.

"The Meaning Of Soul" is an all out 2 minute Liam-penned rock n roller that sounds much better than the much bootlegged Glastonbury performance. Not much can be said about this song as it is just simply rock n roll without the noise of Oasis of old. Great little harmonica solo too.

"Guess God Thinks I'm Abel"
Here we go with another of the albums best songs and again Liam written, this song simply is a perfect album track and is well written and built up. Liams lyrics are interesting and not as crude as SOTSOGS "Little James", but this is such a strong song it can't go un-recognised. Ending with a huge loud noise ending after such a peaceful acoustic driven number too, typical Liam there. Great song!

"Part Of The Queue" has got to be the next single on the album... or at least a single somewhere down the line. This song is beautiful, it has shades of a well known song from the 80's but it's not as blatant as I thought it was originally. Noels lyrics on this song as on "The Importance Of Being Idle" are very strong and his singing is spot on perfect. Up-beat acoustic arranged song with a well placed gritty guitar followed by a haunting piano solo and sends a direct statement to the listener. This HAS to be the next single!

"Keep The Dream Alive", well here is Andy's second song, not bad either and could possibly be a single... maybe. It has a somber mood hiding underneath it's exterior and almost like it's a turning point in a life, song, or whatever. It is definitely a thoughtful song and actually quite emotionally delivered by Gallagher Jnr. A soaring loud guitar solo rips through towards the end, lifting the song to another level.

"A Bell Will Ring" is Gem's only song on the album and it's very Revolver era Beatles (as much as I hate comparing anything by Oasis to The Beatles) as Noel said in an interview. This song is such a good way to close the album and is very positive. It could well have been a good song if it was arranged similar to others on the album, ie in an acoustic driven format without the electric rhythm guitars. But this is still a great song and I am glad it got included on the album after hearing the Glasto performance I knew it had potential.

"Let There Be Love" is a song from Noels little book of songs that dates back to 2000. But this version is MUCH MUCH different from that version. New lyrics and a new arrangement, compared to Noels acoustic guitar demo. This is such a great way of ending the album, a beautiful song sung by both Liam and Noel it is a fitting way of ending a truly inspiring album from Oasis. The song will not dissapoint the majority, I am sure. Really good stuff.

All in all this album is the album Oasis have been promising since Be Here Now, it is what they should don't a long time ago and will wipe away any doubters thoughts. It's a new Oasis, it's a new sound and it's NOT Oasis of old. This is a new era in Oasis history, I just wonder where they can go from here...

Everyone has visions of what a new album should sound like, and I was just a bit disappointed when I first listened to the CD. However, I have purchased albums before that take a couple of playings before I gel with what a band is putting forth.

This happens to be one of those cases.

I listened to the CD the first time sitting in traffic on my commute home and felt a little let down. However, I decided to give the album another shot and proceeded to pop in the CD and put on the headphones in the evening.

The second time round, I caught all the different nuances of the songs, and really started to get into it. The third time through I was absolutely sold.

The band has taken a slightly different turn, but it is unmistakably an Oasis album. I now cannot stop playing this new album.

Definitely worth the money. Go out and buy this CD!

For people new to the band, go out and buy Definitely Maybe and (What's The Story) Morning Glory? These are classic albums which everyone should buy, or at least hear in their lifetime.

Then, if you like what you hear and want more, go and buy the B-Sides collection - The Masterplan.

Still can't get enough Oasis?

Oh dear, this is where the back catalog gets a bit sparse on good music, for the honest truth is that Oasis haven't made a quality album since 1995.

Until now.

With their new album Don't Believe The Truth Oasis have reasserted themselves as a musical force again, it begins strongly with dense opener Turn Up The Sun and visits many sounds and ideas in the 42 or so minutes (yes, it is a tad short) till closer, Let There Be love.

The sound of the band has changed - gone are the layers upon layers of electric guitars and feedback that made them so exciting in their heyday, to be replaced by mellow acoustic sounds and a heavy 60s vibe. All through their career Oasis have been compared to the Beatles, despite sounding nothing like them, but now they really do sound retro, but fresh at the same time. Many of the songs here do not sound like 'classic' Oasis, but that does not matter, as this is a very satisfying and well produced album.

A step in the right direction then...