By DAN AQUILANTE
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Last updated: 11:58 am
October 7, 2008
Posted: 3:07 am
October 7, 2008
ANY Beatles lover who finds it remarkable how one band crafted so many songs that attached to the soul will appreciate Oasis' skill at making new music that smartly salutes them.
It's easy to scream that Oasis are Fab Four copycats, but "Dig Out Your Soul," released today on Reprise, totally illustrates how the band references the Lennon/McCartney songbook with playfulness rather than plagiarism.
There's the obvious, like the interpolation of a John Lennon BBC interview into the song "I'm Out of Time," and the more subtle Beatles-esque beats of drummer Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son, who's currently on tour with The Who).
The better you know The Beatles, the more interesting the game gets. In the rocker "The Shock of Lightning," written by Noel Gallagher, sung by his brother Liam, there's the line about "a magical mystery," and then, at the close of the song "The Turning," there's a "Dear Prudence" acoustic guitar riff.
Throughout "Dig," Oasis weaves the references into their original music as if they're Beatles scholars. "Dig Out Your Soul" has hints of psychedelic pop, blues rock and stands among this year's best straight-up, old-school rock records. For a free ticket to ride this disc, check it out online at myspace.com/oasis.
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