Unpopular Opinion: Oasis

I'll begin with what the popular opinion is regarding Oasis. People say their first 2 albums were outstanding, as were the non-album songs from this period. They say the 3rd album was a let down and the albums that followed weren't a patch on their early work.

This seems evident from the setlist from their comeback tour which has just 1 song that was made after 1997. Their original run lasted until 2009 but how many people remember their final singles? I certainly don't.

We're all in agreement about album 3 and beyond then but my unpopular opinion is that I don't think much of their first 2 albums either. I say this as someone who knows most tracks on both albums despite never owning either such was their popularity at the time.

Part of me wishes I did like their music. I'm always interested in hearing what Noel Gallagher has to say and I often find myself nodding and agreeing with him. 

In particular I find Noel Gallagher refreshingly honest about the state of modern music. For example at a time when Adele was somehow selling a ridiculous number of albums he called it granny music, which it is. It's a shame I don't think Noel Gallagher's music is up to much either.

Even Liam Gallagher has grown on me in recent years. I didn't think much to him as a person in the 90s but these days I find his bluntness quite refreshing and often funny.

What's wrong with the music then?

Well in 1993 when I would have called myself a rock and metal fan the progression of my music tastes were getting into music that was heavier. When the dynamic amongst my peers shifted from American rock bands to British indie bands my issue was it was going in the wrong direction because the music was softer. That's what ultimately led me to getting into rave music instead.

That said, there were plenty of Britpop songs that I liked, just not Oasis ones.

The bigger problem I have with their music other than it being too soft is that it's too slow. The one thing that's drawn me towards music more than anything is beats. In the mid-90s I was listening to happy hardcore, a genre many said got too fast but I always saw that aspect as a good thing.

I'm not saying all slow music is bad, I have plenty of chill out music in my collection. Oasis aren't a chill out band though. Their music is made to be played out loud and for crowds of people to sing along to at the top of their voice. In that sort of situation I'd want music that's quick.

Don't get me wrong, I've been out and about and joined in a sing song of "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back In Anger" and that's fine for the 4 minutes or so the songs last for. 2 hours of that sort of thing would drive me up the wall though. 

Unpopular Opinion: David Bowie

This is the first in an occasional series of posts where I talk about music I seem to be in the minority for liking or disliking.

I begin with perhaps the most unpopular opinion I have. David Bowie is one of the most successful artists the world has ever seen. Some say when The Beatles called it a day he was the one to fill the gap they left behind. Yet I honestly don't see the appeal.

My music memories begin in 1987 and this was the year David Bowie released his "Never Let Me Down" album. The album was a flop and I have no recollection of the singles from it. This started a 6 year hiatus for David Bowie the artist and as such as we entered the 90s I'd still never heard of him.

When I became a Queen fan following the death of Freddie Mercury in 1991 I finally became aware of David Bowie thanks to "Under Pressure". My first impression of David Bowie was a positive one.

By the time of his comeback in 1993 I'd become more aware of David Bowie the person at least though not sure I knew too much of his music. Whilst my peers would give me stick for liking Queen mainly because they were old hate, David Bowie was considered one of the pioneers you should respect.

I don't recall too many people heaping praise on his 1993 singles and they were a bit of a non-entity for me. When Nirvana covered "The Man Who Sold The World" later on in the year this was seen as a David Bowie song you should like, and indeed it's not bad.

A lot of praise I was hearing for David Bowie in general was how he pushed the boundaries with his image rather than how groundbreaking his music was. I'd seen the pictures and knew of the Ziggy Stardust persona, I could imagine how strange that might have been in the 70s but don't necessarily see it as a good thing.

Into the late 90s the David Bowie I was seeing was an old duffer trying to be down with the kids. He teamed up with the Pet Shop Boys on "Hallo Spaceboy" and then did the drum & bass record "Little Wonder" which I thought was crap.

I can't place a point in time on this but I recall a TV advert for some greatest hits compilation of his and there was a clip of "Space Oddity" and "Starman". Both songs sounded quite good from the clips but after hearing in full they're not bad but not as good as the clips suggest.

At the same time this is as good as it gets when it comes to his music. He does have catchy numbers such as "Let's Dance" but I've always found that one irritating. The majority of his music is neither catchy or interesting in my opinion, it just sort of exists. It's almost like it's the image that does the talking and the music is secondary.

Yet the best song he's ever written is one he gave away to someone else. I'm talking about "All The Young Dudes" by Mott The Hoople. He knew how to write a good song then, but most of what he did write just isn't my cup of tea.