Rating: NNN
Even though the beefed-up Oasis sound embarrassingly like the Moody Blues when they're not copping licks from the Beatles and Stones, they should still be applauded for stubbornly sticking by their yobbish everything-louder aesthetic while most of their contemporaries are off exploring string sections.
Taking a tip from the Prodigy's success, they've wisely turned up the distortion and bolstered the grooves for Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants (out Tuesday, February 29). Since there's so little guitar competition in their tax bracket, they might actually be able to turn the trick once more. If not, we can all look forward to a Liam Gallagher solo record, which, judging by his first-ever composition, Little James, should be a fascinating delight.
