Do you remember the quaint phrase ‘touring to promote’? That was when a band would release a single or an album as an excuse to go out and play live. it seems strange now, but a band going round the country without something to hawk was rare indeed. It usually meant set-lists dominated by the new record, usually kicked off by the afore-mentioned single. It seems strangely archaic now, like keytars or good Eddie Murphy movies.
The reason it came to mind was the news that Oasis will be releasing a new studio album in September. Oasis are, still absolutely massive, despite releasing their last decent album in 1995. Every Oasis album follows the same pattern; Noel starts talking about a vaguely new direction, the taster single is universally lauded as being passable and then the album delivers a dozen effortlessly forgettable tracks, it gets listened to a few times before being put back on the shelf and everyone digs out ‘Definitely Maybe’. The band then follow this up with a huge tour, thousands upon thousands of fans go and have a great time when the classics get played. So why bother with the hassle of producing a new album in the first place?
There now exists the ability to tour for touring’s sake. The live experience, at all levels of gigdom, has never been more popular. Bands can announce a tour, play the favourites and make a pretty healthy living. Bands from yesteryear can draw crowds now they couldn’t have dreamed of drawing at their peak (Pixies, My Bloody Valentine.) They can draw massive crowds to see complete run-throughs of classic albums (Teenage Fanclub, Low.) You simply do not need a pre-text to go on the road anymore. And if your muse has taken its ball and fucked off home, why bother?
It could be that Noel Gallagher, despite all the evidence, genuinely thinks he has another great album in him. It could, more likely, be that the band get bored simply playing oldies and want to have some new stuff to avoid boredom. But guaranteed, when Oasis hit a stadium near you, there will be a far bigger cheer for ‘Slide Away’ than for ‘Lyla’. Forcing out an album when there is nothing worth recording only makes you realise how far away from their creative peak they are. Just do the shows lads, you know it makes sense.
Filed under: General Stuff Tagged: | Live, Oasis, touring
only makes you realise how far away from their creative peak they are
Hey Jude – 1968?
Three words which prove you are wrong – The Frog Chorus.
Oasis were pretty shit even when they were good. It was a case of “spot the riff/lyrical steal” etc when they were touring Def Maybe too. I liked the attitude though. Not many indie bands would have the nerve to have a lead singer wearing adidas trackies on stage at the old Cathouse in Glasgow. Incidentally, the gig was heaving with footballers wife-style poontang, too. Who says burds cannae spot an up-and-coming millionaire in the making?
Fair play to the Weegie Wannabes!
I loved Oasis because it had been grunge and shoegazing, so bloody miserable, and then a band came along saying ‘fuck this, let’s get wasted’. I was turning 18 and it was a great soundtrack.