Music Review: Oasis - "The Shock Of The Lightning"
Published August 19, 2008
I wrote earlier today about the upcoming release of AC/DC's first album in eight years. AC/DC is one of those bands that you like or you don't and there just isn't a hell of a lot of convincing to be done. They are what they are and you either get something from it or you don't.
The same can be said of Oasis, although the Gallagher brothers are probably twice as polarizing as the Youngs and that's why I'm not going to waste a moment of this (p)review defending them to those who aren't already onboard.
I suppose the most telling thing about "The Shock of The Lightning" is that TheWifeToWhomI'mMarried – also an Oasis fan – correctly identified this as a new Oasis song within ten seconds. She didn't even have to hear Liam to know. She said knowing that a new Oasis album was on the way helped, but there is something distinctive about the Oasis guitar sound and whatever that thing is was very apparent within the song's opening moments.
Oasis aren't incapable of subtlety; they simply choose to ignore it most of the time. These guys aren't going to get caught overthinking a song or a record, putting all their eggs in the basket of immediacy. When they nail that, they write classics. When they miss, you get (most of) Standing On The Shoulder of Giants.
"The Shock Of The Lightning" is loud, driving, and massive and yes, it is immediate. The hook isn't obvious and the song relies more on volume and bombast than melody, but the relentless surge, hypnotic keyboards, propulsive drumming, and sneering lead vocal suck you in and won't let go.
The real stars of this song are Zak Starkey and Liam Gallagher. When no one was looking, Starkey stopped being "Ringo's son" and became one of the premier drummers in all of Britain. Liam and his voice set plenty of people on edge, and God knows he's a total bastard but when did likeability become an essential ingredient for rock singers? He's just the latest in a long line of vocalists to play the anti-charisma card. My biggest gripe on this song is that Liam's voice is a little too buried in the mix.
There are a million reasons not to like Oasis, and I've chosen to ignore all of them. "The Shock Of The Lightning" has only increased my anticipation for Dig Out Your Soul. Now the only question that remains is whether or not to break out the $100 on the deluxe box.
Josh Hathaway is a Senior Editor for BC Magazine. He is formerly an award-winning journalist and broadcaster and publishes the BC Network site Confessions of a Fanboy.
- Music Review: Oasis - "The Shock Of The Lightning"
- Published: August 19, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Adult Alternative, Music: Alternative Rock
- Writer: Josh Hathaway
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Yea. that is a great song. Massive and a sure grower. Loved it. I might change my view on oasis. I can never like the gallagherbrothers, but there are someting about thew music that makes me feel fu.... unbeatable. Cool song !
If you stand back far enough and squint, Tan. The Coldplay album cover actually uses a painting by Eugene Delacroix. I think the big splotchy color on the Oasis cover means we may be heading back into a psychedelic phase on this one.
very good review
that's exactly how i fell about this great song
Thanks, all. I let the song sit for a couple days after obsessing over it when I wrote this. Now that I've come back to it, I'm finding that I agree with everything I wrote earlier this week. This is vintage Oasis and a promising lead single.
Superb song from an absolutely amazing rock n roll band. There's no point comparing Oasis to other bands such as Radiohead, Coldplay or even The Beatles. At the end of the day, Oasis will only make one sort of music - Straight-Ahead, Full-Blooded Rock n Roll, because it is what they're best at.
Well i have loved Oasis since being 15,16 at school and Supersonic smacked us between the eyes. Def Maybe now seems so long ago, WTSMG is one of the greatest albums of all time, be here now went a little flat though d'ya know what i mean still kicks ass, SOTSOG i though was more mature and very good and after that they went a little of the pace again but "the shock of the lightning" REALLY does it for me again. Back to their finest? maybe on this taster really seems we could be back to Oasis of old. I love this song. Moved to America from England two years ago and they are slowly (still) getting popular here maybe this will kick it all off. Great Stuff. Time to get Pissed again drunkedly sing and chant Oasis classics.
Zac Starsky isnt the drummer on this album....
p.s. any true oasis fan, and i mean you know every last word to every song including bsides, knows that BE HERE NOW is their best album
its true oasis, it sold the least for a reason... it wasnt poppy and mainstream which is a damn good thing
OASIS are legends
Ag, you are correct. I didn't get any artwork or credits with the advance single so I made an incorrect assumption. Zak is no longer with the banfd.
Zak is no longer with the band, but he IS listed in the credits for the album at allmusic.com
are they ripping off someone else this time?
Turns out Zak did drum on "The Shock Of The Lightning" and in fact drummed on the majority of the Dig Out Your Soul record. He's no longer touring with them, but did work with them in the studio.
It's a brilliant album, from song 1 to song 11. Heavy Beatles influence, reminiscent of some of The Kinks' later stuff as well, but all in all a classic.
Yeah, I like Be Here Now, too, no matter what everyone else says.
I really like this review. I'm glad he's not some Oasis fanatic, but it's good to see a good review of this song from someone who has slated some of their previous work. I applaud his honesty unlike the other critics who slate Oasis just for the sake of it.
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From far away, the album cover looks mighty similar to Coldplay's "Vida La Vida"...