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Heathen Chemistry
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List Price: $11.98
Our Price: $6.97
Your Save: $ 5.01 ( 42% )
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Manufacturer: Sony
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0696998658622
Label: Sony
Manufacturer: Sony
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Sony
Release Date: 2002-07-02
Studio: Sony
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Editorial Reviews:
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At their career zenith, Oasis were lauded as the best band in the world. They were actually never the greatest rock & roll band at any time, but for a few years they were the biggest. While they offered the '90s two of its most defining albums, and a resurgence of '60s-influenced Manchester rock, Oasis tumbled off the top of the mountain in the last half of the decade. Heathen Chemistry is their first step back up the ascent, albeit a small step. The album opens with "The Hindu Times," which will certainly be listed among Oasis's best anthems, and it closes with "Better Man," a distorted-guitar-driven thrill that revs up to 60 mph in second gear. But between the strongest songs on the disc, Noel "Walrus" and Liam "Eggman" Gallagher exploit the Beatles references almost to the breaking point. It's no secret that the Gallaghers worship the Beatles (who doesn't?), but here they've gone beyond obvious influences and stepped right into infringement territory. On "Born on a Different Cloud," Noel's guitar weeps a little too gently, and Liam's signature rasp now sounds like a deliberate imitation of Lennon with a cold. Further, Liam shares the mic with Noel, who sings lead on several tracks, the best being "Force of Nature." Unlike on Beatles albums, however, the switch back and forth is jarring (Liam might be the biggest troublemaker, but he is also the better singer). Nonetheless, if a band is going to unapologetically rip off what was unquestionably the best band in the world, no one does it better than Oasis. --Beth Massa
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Oasis' Most Lackluster Album to Date
Comment: Oasis fans at Amazon and other forums must be drugged up when they claim Heathen Chemistry is a "return to form." Personally, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants was by far their best produced album that might have been a let down in terms of lyrics (I can see a liar, standing by the fire; put yer money where mouth is), but it was their most emotionally charged work in tough times. Consequently, Oasis attempted to regain their lost swagger and not give a damn about the album's production by producing it themselves. The aim of making a 21st century "Definitely Maybe" fails pathetically with filler after filler. Even the singles (especially Little by Little and She is Love) plod along with little emotion that should of been released as B-sides. Gem and Andy's contributions are crap with the useless instrumental "a quick peep" and generic rocker "hung in a bad place." Shockingly, its Liam's songs that provides a short spark for the band with the tender "songbird", the Lennon-esque Born on a Different Cloud(might sound too familiar with Happiness is a Warm Gun, at least in terms of structure), and the gritty closer "better man." There's absolutely no doubt that Heathen Chemistry is a weak effort from Oasis to reclaim their brilliance found in DM and WTSMG, but Oasis fans should realize how vastly underrated SOTSOG was when comparing the two.
Customer Rating:
Summary: 3.5; succeeds only half the time
Comment: Some bands can reach a status where their next record has almost an aura that surrounds it as if it's an "event"; one of the biggest bands ever has new material that is about to hit stores. Even if the albums don't light the world on fire or they are just simply underrated gems that didn't sell well, their next one still is on many's anticipated list. Oasis for al their faults and criticisms are a similar band and after the misfire/underrated "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" which had some listenable songs next to just simply decent, "Heathen Chemistry", their 5th not counting their b-sides collection "The Masterplan", the band shows some topform songwriting which hurts when its against some poor numbers as well.
The Hindu Times: Bar none one of the best anthems they've done in years and probably ever. With a great beat, Liam's trademark attitude-laden vocals and that catchy Middle Eastern-sounding riff, this gets the album off on a really high note and well worth your time. 9.5/10
Force of Nature: Whatever momentum was generated by the last song deflates a bit as it's basically an ugly and kind of bland stomping dirge sung by Noel. It's one of those songs that feels very repetitive the more it goes on and there's no real great chorus to save it either. 5.5/10
Hung in a Bad Place: A heavy rocking tune that might make one recall "Definitely Maybe" stuff. Besides its rather annoying dissonant guitar notes and a less-than-remarkable chorus, it's got a nice energy to it though it's not really a great tune in the end, it's just good. 7/10
Stop Crying Your Heart Out: Probably one of their best ballads in a while though "Roll it Over" is up there. With piano, string sections, an emotive vocal delivery, it's got all the makings of a great tune. Only thing that's a bit of a drag is its outro with harmonics but it's mercifully brief so it's nothing major. 9/10
Songbird: The first single penned by Liam (he wrote "Little James" from the Giants album) and it's a nice acoustic ditty with piano, handclaps and what sounds like a musette/organ sound in the background. It's Liam deciding to sing instead of bring the attitude and it's quite the good tune. 9/10
Little by Little: This is either an effective power ballad or an attempt at replicating the feeling of "Don't Look Back in Anger". Personally I think this makes the 3rd great song in a row and it's quite catchy, Noel's vocals soar and it's got a psychedelic production. 9/10
A Quick Peep: More filler than anything really which sucks because the jangly acoustic riff playing throughout is actually quite catchy and it's got some jazzy keyboard parts but in the end it's just simply a way to connect the first half with the second half. It's cool for what it is but probably won't be liked by most. 7.5/10
(Probably) All in the Mind: I've seen many a people outright this track saying it's just boring and not really interesting. Strange that I was singing it the other day so go figure. Sure it's a little repetitive and Liam sounds like he'd rather sing it and get it over with but strangely I actually like listening to it. 8/10
She is Love: Another one of those strangely love-it-or-hate-it tracks as the track sounds like something Lennon and McCartney wrote in their spare time. Acoustic guitars and organs, Noel sings a love tune (with some admittedly bad lines) but it's pretty decent as a tune. My one complaint is that Noel's vocals don't sound as strong as on something like "Sunday Morning Call". It's either pure cheese or pure good pop song so try it out anyway. 7.5/10
Born on a Different Cloud: Despite the fact that "Be Here Now" was released 5 years previously, they haven't gotten their long, unneeded lengths out of their system and the song has kind of an eerie atmosphere and strange tremolo chords and slide guitar but it goes on far too long and halfway through, you'll feel like you've kind of gotten the point. 6/10
Better Man: A big stomping rock song with distorted blues riff and solos and the swagger and attitude that the brothers always had in abundance. It closes the record on a big way, at least sonically anyway and makes a cool rock song. 7/10 However, the song has literally 30 minutes of dead air at the end until a secret song is at the end. Very unnecessary by far.
It's quite an uneven record and for every bit of greatness like "Hindu Times" or "Songbird" there's dreck and just decent and a bit of laziness in its songwriting. Unlike Giants which actually had some good non-single tunes, this is a case where the singles were chosen quite wisely.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The MacDonalds of Rock Music
Comment: Oasis sound more and more like a Beatles tribute band who never heard anything past 1967. For people who like their music unchallanging, easy to digest, and predictable. "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" is a Big Mac.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately underrated
Comment: For the most part, this is a rock-n-roll album with big guitars. In spots, it's a bit overproduced. Like all its predecessors, this Oasis album has that air of familiarity and gives you that, "I've heard this before" feeling. I think it's quite fresh, though. Oasis is a paradox: they beg, steal and borrow from the Who, the Beatles, the Stones, the Stone Roses, Slade, T. Rex, Bowie, etc, but still come out sounding like Oasis. With the exception of one or two songs that are blatant rip-offs, the worst that can be said for its originality is that it's "derivative" in places.
This is also the first Oasis album with songs written by the non-Gallagher members of the band, and the first album to feature more than one song by Liam (three, in fact).
"The Hindu Times" (Noel) - Neo-psychedelic. Big guitars with raga-sounding lead guitar licks and Liam's braying vocals. In the rhythm guitar you'll hear a smidgeon of "Jumpin' Jack Flash." This is a song (apparently) about nothing ("I get so I high I just can't feel it."). It's one of the better songs on the album and a good one to crank with the windows down.
"Force of Nature" (Noel) - This song floated around for a year or two before HC as Noel solo song (he's the singer.) Noel's vocals are great; he really screams it out. There's a healthy dose of anger and cynicism in this one, rare for Oasis. The best line: "I betcha knew right away/It's all over town that the sun's going down/on the days of your easy life." The ghost of Marc Bolan has certainly possessed this tune.
"Hung in a Bad Place" (Gem Archer) - Though not written by a Gallagher, "Hung" sounds like it would have fit right in on Definitely Maybe. It's another big guitar song with Liam's nasally snarl. The more I hear it the more I dig it! Lyrically, it's in the vein of "Free" by Jagger/Richards: "I can go where I wanna/be where I wanna be now . . ." This has the makings of a great live tune.
"Stop Crying Your Heart Out" (Noel) - When I hear this song all I can think of is "Dear Friend" off of Wings' Wild Life. After the slowly plodding piano intro, it turns into a power ballad. The lyrics are weak and cliche. Sample: "`Cuz all of the stars are fading away/just try not to worry/you'll see them someday . . ." This is one of the more disappointing songs on the album and, unfortunately, it ended up being a single.
"Songbird" (Liam) - Liam, with typical braggadocio, declared this one, "Better than anything on Revolver." The only Beatles song this tune might be better than is "Mister Moonlight" or "Revolution # 9," and even that would be a stretch. The guitar and rhythm sound like they're taken directly from "Lyin' Eyes" by the Eagles. It's a throw away and shouldn't be on the album.
"Little by Little" (Noel) - Noel sings this one and does a great job on vocals. The verses sound like many a Pink Floyd tune. The chorus makes this a good pop-rock tune. It has a nice guitar solo. It's basically about a relationship and inner searching ("Why am I really here?") There's nothing new in it, musically or lyrically, but it's a pretty good track, nonetheless.
"A Quick Peep" (Andy Bell) - Instrumental. I can't decide whether this is Pink Floyd doing The Pogues or The Pogues doing Pink Floyd. Either way, it should have been saved for an EP or a B-side.
"(Probably) All in the Mind" (Noel) - Perhaps a bit of a twist on the whole neo-psychedelic thing. Instead of dealing with personal exploration, it's about wanting to run away with someone else to another "life" that may only exist in his imagination. Not bad.
"She is Love" (Noel) - Has a folk-rock-pseudo-soul feel. Definitely pot-laced. I think the Black Crowes rubbed off on Noel when they toured together last year. It's Oasis doing a stripped-down version of "Soul Singing" on Lions. Very catchy.
"Born on a Different Cloud" (Liam) - A blatant Lennon rip off, this song is drenched in "I'm Losing You"from Double Fantasy. I swear Noel dug up George Harrison up and got him to replay the guitar solo from "How Do You Sleep?" The lyrics are even more of an obvious theft, ala "living on borrowed time" and "It's no surprise to me/that you're classless, clever and free." Yoko should sue have sued Liam for this one. There's a kind of clever . . . er . . . interesting line: "Talking to myself again/this time I think I'm getting through." If you like covers of John Lennon's solo work, you'll love this one.
"Better Man" (Liam) - The younger Gallagher takes his turn with a slightly Crowes-esque blues based rocker. Don't get me wrong, it's not a rip off. Very good song, certainly Liam's best. Positive lyrics from Liam who, by all accounts, is a drunken lout. Very, very subtly, it ends like "Nineteen Hundred Eighty Five" by Paul McCartney/Wings, which probably is no accident. This track is something like 38 minutes long. I thought something was wrong with my CD or the player because there was almost a ? hour of silence. Fast forward to minute 33 and there's a nice little surprise.
Heathen Chemistry falls squarely in the middle of the pack of Oasis albums. It's better than some but worse than others. It is a nice transition album between Standing on the Shoulders of Giants and Don't Believe the Truth. 3.5 stars would be a more than fair rating for it, but I'm rounding up rather than down, and giving it 4 stars.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Two stars is generous!
Comment: Perhaps its the fact that "Owen Morris" is not producing their albums anymore, or the fact that they need a producer, because Oasis produced this album themselves, and while thats all well and good. Noel Gallaghar (singer/songwriter/lead guitarist)said in a interview around the time of this release that the band should take responsibilty for their own records, its actually very dissapointing even compared to "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants" and "Be Here Now" both which got more flak than they deserved because they were by no means bad albums at all, they were just unfoccussed.
Heathen Chemistry is pretty watered down and weak, it does not stand up well as a entire listen and too much of the tracks sound more filler than anyhting else.
"The Hindu Times" "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" "Little By Little" would make you think that Oasis are back with a vengeance, to re claim their status, but they just don't cut it with their best songs, and in their own way lack alot of life.
Whats worse is that "Don't Beleive the Truth" is even worse, much worse, and unfortunatly saw Oasis previewing their entire album, miming to the album on TV, just before its release.
If Oasis want to pull out a stunner they need to get out the electric guitars, crank up the amps and get Owen Morris who produced their first three albums to make them sound "live" and "loud again." Oasis are a live band, thats the sound thats missing from this album.
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