Confessions of a Fanboy

One of my favorite songwriters – and you know what? Fuck it! I’m going to say it! — one of the best songwriters of this generation turns 40 today.

His name? Noel Gallagher.

Let’s get this part over quickly, then. Yes, I’ve heard it all before. He’s a knockoff artist. He’s unoriginal. He’s an asshole. I probably left something out. I mean, some dude can splice together a Beatles record and a Jay-Z record and is called a genius and innovator. The fuckin’ guy wrote none of these songs and made neither album. Meanwhile, Noel Gallagher uses a chord progression that’s been used 100,000 times and he’s a thief. That’s a load of horseshit.

Gallagher’s personality and refusal to bow to anyone – along with a penchant for saying some hilarious and sometimes stupid things – has helped lead to a stricter standard being applied to him than what is applied to other artists. If you have a record collection of more than five albums and can say no two are alike, I might lend credence to your critiques of Noel. I might but I probably won’t. Even if he is guilty of all of the above, and I don’t think he is, he is still one of the best songwriters of this current generation. The songs stand the test of time.

Now that we’ve retired that nonsense, let’s get on to celebrating the man’s 40th birthday. I have a lot of favorite Oasis songs that are sung by Liam, but I’m going to focus on some of the cuts Noel sang himself. These rank among my favorites.

• ”Don’t Look Back in Anger”|(What’s the Story) Morning Glory
  This is a prime example of a song that stands the test of time. “Don’t Look Back in Anger” is one of the truly great anthems of the ’90s. Vocally, this may be Noel at his purest and the song soars as high as it ever did more than a decade after the fact. Listen to the connection between the song and the thousands gathered at Wembley stadium on Familiar to Millions. It’s a goosebump moment.

• ”Talk Tonight”|Some Might Say EP/The Masterplan
  If there is a criticism to be made of Gallagher, it’s that he might not always recognize his best work. He has had hit b-sides (“Acquiesce”) and this tender, acoustic track could have been one, too. It’s one of his simplest melodies and best vocals. On any given day, this is my favorite Oasis song. I almost figured part of it out on guitar when I was in college. Almost.

• ”Going Nowhere”|”Stand By Me”/The Masterplan
  Another great B-side! This one is TheWifeToWhomI’mMarried’s favorite Oasis song. It’s a Bacharach homage and features Gallagher’s best guitar solo. His desire for escape is very real even if the dreams he has seem a bit shallow. Besides, who among us hasn’t dreamed of becoming a rich rock star?

• ”Step Out”|Don’t Look Back in Anger
  A lot of Noel’s lead vocals, particularly in the early years, were acoustic B-sides. This is a rare example of Noel taking lead on a full-on rocker.

• ”The Masterpan”|Wonderwall/The Masterplan
  Yet another great B-side! This is a brilliant string arrangement and lyric. Another classic Noel Gallagher anthem.

• ”Where Did It All Go Wrong?|Standing On the Shoulder of Giants
  I hate this album – well, hate may be a bit strong. This album disappointed me. “Where Did It All Go Wrong?” is a definite high point. “Do you keep the receipts for the friends that you buy?” might be one of my favorite lines ever. Another great vocal.

• ”The Importance of Being Idle”|Don’t Believe the Truth
  Perhaps Noel’s best vocal on record and a great, whimsical tune. This one makes me laugh.

Filed under: Tags: Oasis, The Concept Album Mix Tape