Aug 12 AOTD: Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

Aug 12 AOTD: Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

A number of albums heard during any time but the era in which they broke may make you scratch your head and wonder how it sold so well in the first place.  Morning Glory - selling more copies in one year than any other British album except Sgt. Peppers and Queen Greatest Hits - may be just such an album. However, in 1994 England and the rest of the world were in desperate need of something less bubble gum than the crop of boy bands beginning their dominating run up the pop charts. And all the "cool" kids needed something beyond yet another Seattle scene grunge band. With the final, fragmented Floyd album being released that same year, Classic Rock and it's kissing cousin Progressive Rock were essentially done. The 90s seemed to have also washed its hands of any pop rock band without emo frontmen shoe-gazing their way into the hearts of angsty teens.

By 1995, when this - their 2nd album - was released, Noel Gallagher was the band leader and brother who led from behind, writing all the songs and playing some serious lead-guitar shreds.  His little brother, Liam, was the frontman singer full of swagger and flippant curses for anyone daring enough to step in the way of these bickering lads from the streets of Manchester, England.  They fought! Viciously. Constantly.  So it's no wonder that they broke up in 2009 due to irreconcilable differences. What IS a wonder is the power of this album despite their feuding. It's hard to resist the melodic paths of Liam's voice as he churns out snarling whines (like in "Roll With It" or "Some Might Say") or bends his British rasp to a backing choir (like in "Cast No Shadow" or "Champagne Supernova"). And the sound had progressed in its use of instrumentation, crescendo, and space since their 1st album, Definitely Maybe.

The album opens with the whimsical "Hello" and platitude-pandering "Roll With It" - nothing too heavy.  But then a couple of the best radio-friendly tunes - "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back In Anger" (sung by Noel) -  rise from the tracks.  The middle of the album ping-pongs between greasy rockers, breezy ballads, and one early Beatles-like tune, "She's Electric," before arriving at a climax, "Champagne Supernova," that catapulted the band into world-wide fame. "Supernova" contains lyrics of nonsense, true, but it also reflects, according to Noel himself, a zeitgeist the brothers themselves had been caught up while growing up - waiting on others, especially your rock 'n' roll heroes, to come and save you - after all, that's the promise, right?  But they never do live up to their promise. You've got to find your own salvation.  And when you do, you'll shine ... like a Champagne Supernova in the sky.  I am not at all sure what that looks like.  But I know this song beautifully builds to just such a finale - a beautiful, starry explosion.