Music Album Review: Oasis- Be Here Now

So I wanted to do something different. Work has provided me with a lot of free time so besides just ranting about how bad the Mets are, I wanted to add something other type of things to the blog. My friend Jeff and I took the train to NYC this morning and we were figuring out ways to spent our free time at work.

Jeff wrote some album reviews for his school newspaper and I thought it would be cool to do one. So every once in a while when a particular album comes to mind and I feel strongly enough about it to actually review it, well I'm going to do it. So BACK OFF!

Be Here Now(1997) is one of the more controversial albums out there in terms of the opinions of fans, critics and the band itself. Some love it and see it as another classic on an epic scale that puts Oasis on another level compared to the other musical acts at the time. Others see it as an over the top, overblown, musical mess that lasts an excruciatingly long time.

At the time of the release of Oasis's third studio album Be Here Now(1997), Oasis was one of the most popular bands in the world. Their first two albums, Definitely Maybe(1994) and (What's the Story) Morning Glory?(1995) skyrocketed Oasis to worldwide fame and are considered to be the holy grail of albums in Great Britain. Be Here Now became one of the most anticipated album releases and with all the hype surrounding it, it was bound to disappoint.

While it may not be as good as their first two albums, Be Here Now is a force to be reckoned with. It's length of 71 minutes and 38 seconds is massive for 12 songs but Oasis finds a way to make it work. Much like the first two albums, Be Here Now is really just a continuation of what made Oasis so popular. Catchy and simple lyrics, layers of guitar riffs, melodic repeating hooks and a brash sound consisting of horns, strings, keyboards and anything else that Oasis finds necessary to make their music so dynamic and robust.

Listeners know right away what to expect from the album from the opening track "D'you Know What I Mean." The song splashes a bucket of cold water in the listener's face as Oasis starts the engine to the album with this almost 8 minute long masterpiece. Liam Gallagher's vocals are as good as ever as his voice pierces the song with his distinctive and unmistakable nasally whiny style. Noel's lyrics often come under fire but they are insanely catchy and are a perfect match for Liam. The way Liam draws out the sound in his vowel's and the full blown guitars in the background make the song hypnotic like. It puts the listener in a trance with its mesmerizing sound and hype driven swagger.

Highlights of Be Here Now include the two heart felt ballads "Stand by Me," and "Don't Go Away." Liam's vocals are incredible, his best work to date. The sound is soaring and while the lyrics are simple and repetitive, it doesn't seem to matter.

Noel gets his chance to sing on "Magic Pie," a cool and slow building 7 minute epic that makes you wish that Noel sang more of his songs (Liam is too talented!) The sound drowns the listener as the music swells to a bursting point. Like many of their songs, the sound is very Beatles-esque. Oasis will either emulate their sound or throw in lyrics that make numerous references to their idols.

Maybe the best song on the album is the poppy infectious "The Girl In The Dirty Shirt" which encompasses everything that Oasis is about. Another track that "shines" (Noel's favorite word) is the title track which is Britpop in its purist form.

The album ends with the nine minute epic (every song seems to fall in that epic category) "All Around the World," Oasis's attempt at the Beatles' "Hey Jude." The criticism of the albums lengthy songs is definitely warranted here but it doesn't ruin anything. 7 minutes of "It's Gettin' Better (Man) follows and is another loud arena rocking piece that is very upbeat and will put you in a good mood no matter what. The "All Around the World (Reprise) that brings the album to a close is a replica of something you would find on a Beatles album (Nothing wrong with that.)

Be Here Now is truly a work of epic proportions. It's one of those albums that just leaves you feeling good. It's almost upsetting that Noel dismisses it as complete shit. The album has its flaws, and there are many. Some of the songs could definitely be shorter. Songs like "My Big Mouth" and "Fade In-Out" are messy sounding and entirely forgettable. The album doesn't necessarily have a flow to it and it seems like just a group of random songs put together.

Be Here Now might be too over the top and long to please the average listener. If you were introducing one of your friends to Oasis, you would stay away from this one. But to the Oasis fanatics, this is more of a great thing. The songs are just as good as the ones off their first two albums. You could really call this album Definitely Maybe Part 3 as their sound does not really differentiate between their first three albums. Oasis will never return to the popularity of the mid 90's but Be Here Now is the closing chapter of their reign at the top of the music world. It might not be as radio friendly as their first two albums, but Be Here Now is a music experience that is just as good and dare I say it, maybe better than what made Oasis so popular to begin with.

Final Rating 3.5/4

Top Bangers: "D'you Know What I Mean," "The Girl in the Dirty Shirt," "Don't Go Away"

Quick Rant

So last night in Philadelphia, Toronto Blue Jays closer injured his foot when he ran down the first base line after batting in the 10th inning. Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston was livid after his closer got hurt after batting in a National League Park. This was his reaction.....

"Instead, Gaston's resented having to play by National League rules, arguing that forcing pitchers to hit put American League teams at a disadvantage and endangered hurlers unaccustomed to the rigours of baserunning.

His worst fears were realized at the end of a five-run Toronto 10th inning, when closer Scott Downs injured his left foot after a grounder to short. Downs hobbled down the first-base line, then left the game.

"That's what happens," said a disgusted Gaston. "My guys don't take batting practice every day and they don't run, so things like this are going to happen."

Ok where to begin. This is exactly what happened last year when The Ming got hurt in Houston running the bases. To me this whole thing is hilarious. Baseball players are the highest paid of all atheltes. Key word atheltes, right? How can you be an athelte if you cant run around the basepaths. It is really pathetic to me that Gaston would get mad about this. If a professional baseball player can't run to first, well we have problems,

"The rigours of baserunning!" That's like the rigours of walking up stairs. I mean yea it requires that your legs work, but any normal moderatly healthy human being with leg capacity can do this.

Gaston says that my guys don't run. Is that a joke? This is a professional sport and your guys don't run! Well then Gaston, I think it is your fault when guys like Scott Downs get hurt when they run down the line. I mean God save us that a professional athelte has to run a little. Just imagine if Downs got a base hit and had to turn first and run toward second. He might of died.

I believe Cito Gaston saw that the schedule had Toronto playing in Philly. Maybe he should of done some running drills on their day off Monday.

As for the DH rule, I'm not one of those guys that don't watch the American League because it's not "real" or "pure" baseball. If I had to chose for the DH to be adoted in the NL or abolished in the AL i would choose the latter but I think everything is fine how it is.

I will thank Gaston and the Blue Jays for beating the Phillies last night. Mets are now only 3 games back and yes, their roster still sucks.

Positive Pitching Trends for the Weekend

There were 10 pitchers who caught my eye this weekend who looked very good on the mound. As we reach the midway point through June, pitchers are finding themselves and coming into their own. The following 10 pitchers seem to be trending upward or have already been pitching extremely well and are setting themselves up for great second halves.

In no particular order:

1. Ricky Nolasco- I must admit, I loved this guy preseason. After a great second half in 2008 and a stellar spring training, Nolasco looked ready to become a legitimate ace in the National League. Everything came apart in the first two months, so badly that Nolasco was shipped down to figure things out. Friday was maybe Nolasco's best start of the year going 6 innings giving up 2 runs and 5 hits. Most importantly was his 1 BB and 9ks. Sign of good things to come from this guy.
Note the control in this highlight http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906135025969&c_id=fla

2. Zach Duke- What to say about Zach Duke. Interesting career so far for this 26 year old lefty. Duke burst on the scene in 2005 going 8-2 with a sub 2 ERA in 84 innings. The following three years have been forgetful but it seems like Duke is back in 2009. After his 8 inning 3 run start on Saturday, the lefty is 7-4 for the Pirates with an ERA of 3.10. I expect Duke to win 14 games this year with a sub 3.5 ERA. A true feat for a pitcher on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Note: No matter how bad the pirates are, 2009 has been a magical year for Pittsburgh. A Superbowl and a Stanley Cup! Enjoy these teams. Maybe the Pirates will finish above .500 this year.

3. Cliff Lee- AL Cy Young award winner from last year had no chance to repeat the year he had last. Some saw 2008 as a huge fluke but he is proving that he is one of the best pitchers in the game right now. Sunday he took a no hitter into the 8th inning. Lee went the distance and allowed 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 6. After a rocky start, Lee has a 2.88 ERA and 69/20 strikeout to walks. He seems to be getting stronger as the season progresses. I like this guy. http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906145060695&c_id=cle

4. Rick Porcello- Jersey kid and favorite for AL rookie of the year in 2009. Was possibly the top pitcher in the 2008 draft but sign-ability issues dropped him to the bottom of the first round. The Tigers scooped him up and their decision has payed off, big time. Porcello is only 20 years old but is pitching like he has been up for 5 years. After another stellar performance this weekend, throwing 7 innings of 1 run ball, his numbers on the year are very solid. 7-4 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. I'll say it again, the kid is 20 years old.

5. Jered Weaver- Definitely better than his brother. Weaver got his 4th consecutive win in 4 starts, the one on Sunday had Weaver throwing a complete game shutout. Weaver is now 7-2 with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. This makes him the third best pitcher in the AL right now. http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906145059375&c_id=ana Notice Cliff Banger getting K'd up 3 times, ouch!

6. Josh Johnson- Peter Gammons' pick to win the Cy Young. He has not disappointed with a 6-1 record, a 2.76 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. 83 strikeouts to 23 walks. Went the distance on Sunday. Has yet to give up more than 3 earned runs in a start this year and has failed to reach 6 innings in only 1 of his starts. His location is dirty. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906145054443&c_id=fla

7. Matt Cain- Finally getting the run support he deserves and is turning that into wins. Cain went the distance this weekend improving to 9-1 with a 2.39 ERA. His start on Sunday was his best of the year going 9 innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 9 and walking none. Keep up the good work. Younger and overshadowed by Lincecum on the Giants staff. Cain is 25 and is looking at a breakout year. Fastball was unhittable http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906145059373&c_id=sf

8. Tim Lincecum- The other guy on the Giants staff. The one that won the cy young award last year. Looking better than ever after a complete game shutout with 8 k's over the weekend. Brings his strikeout total over 100 and is now 6-1 with a 2.66 ERA. I love watching this guy pitch. http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906135025681&c_id=sf

9. Jon Lester- Had a rough start to the season but has given up only 1 run in 4 of his past 5 starts. Numbers are a little high but expect those to come down as the season progresses. In Philly this weekend, Lester struck out 11 in 7 innings of work giving up only 1 run on 2 hits. The slider he gets Howard on in the 6th inning is straight filth. Also Feliz in the 7th gets embarrassed http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906135025817&c_id=bos

10. Dan Haren- Your NL Cy Young as of June 15th 2009. Wait, his record is only 5-4? Well yea but that is only because the D'Backs are horrible. Haren threw a complete game 2 hitter giving up a run while striking out 7. His ERA is now sitting at 2.2 and he has a ridiculous strikeout to walk ratio. His WHIP is at an unreal 0.81 with 90 ks and 13 walks. Unreal
http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906135025761&c_id=ari

A New Level of Hell

Um so lets see, well yea I'm still alive which is good.

Castillo, use two hands next time. Should i feel bad for him. Na! He is making 25 million dollars over his stay with the Mets. Granted he might have trouble sleeping, I'm sure his bed was nice.

Maybe we will win today? Maybe this team will be good one day?

By far, the worst loss of a game I have seen my high school baseball days.

I need a drink

Omar Minaya and the New York Mess

The face of the New York Mess franchise is right here. The Mets lost in typical heartbreak fashion last night to the Phillies to fall 4 games back.

This should of been a sweep. The Mets had all 3 of these games won. The Phillies were able to mount two come from behind wins to further pour salt in the wounds of Met fans that have been festering since September 2007.

In my opinion, the 2009 Mets are the worst Mets team since the Art Howe days of 2004. The product on the field right now is terrible and the blame falls on the shoulders of Omar Minaya.

It all came together in 2006. Minaya had built a team that was the best in Baseball. For almost all of 2006, they were. We all know how that year ended. Heartbreak, tragedy, travesty, shameful, pathetic and soft. All these words have become associated with the New York Mets since Beltran took a called third strike.

So after two September collapses, one being the greatest collapse in baseball history, losing on the last day of the season, at home twice, the Mets find themselves limping into Yankee Stadium to face their cross town rivals. The Mets do not know the meaning of the word momentum. The Mets are not mentally tough. They are not competitors. The fire burnt out a long time ago and Minaya remains behind, breathing in the smoke.

Where to begin?

Raul Ibanez hit a 3 run homer in the tenth to give the Phillies the lead for good. Who served it up? Satoru Komiyama I mean Ken Takahashi. Ok so Jerry Manuel wants to bring in a lefty to face Utley, Howard and Ibanez. That makes sense right? O wait, left handed hitters are hitting .444 against him and he has a 3.20 WHIP against them! Both those numbers are not typos. So what does Takahashi do? He walks Howard then gives up a 3 run bomb to Ibanez.

Don't managers get paid for these kind of things?

The real reason we lost this game. Yep, the lineup. It is embarrassing. It gets me really angry so I am going to type this as fast as possible. After Beltran and Wright, this lineup is full of a bunch of scrubs. Barring F-Mart who has like 30 career at bats, everyone else is garbage. The Mets got 3 runs off Moyer in 6 innings. Not bad, I can live with that. So what happened in the seventh eighth and ninth inning? The Mets went down without a base runner! Are you serious? Score one run and the game is over. 7th, 8th 9th inning and not a base runner. It's so pathetic.

Is it the players fault. Not really, because they suck. They aren't supposed to hit. Castillo is an automatic out from the left side. Alex Cora, cant expect him to get a hit. Why? Because he sucks. He is a 33 year old career utility infielder. Gary Sheffield? 3 for his last 30. This guy is 40 years old! Our number 6 hitter; the great Fernando Tatis. Hey Minaya, this guy had his last hurrah last year. Dont get the impression that this guy is actually good. Our catcher? Whoever it is, he isn't going to be hitting.

So after Beltran and Wright, the Mets lineup is made up of Sheffield, Murphy, Tatis, Reed, Santos, Cora. Now do you realize why this team doesn't score runs. In the past nine games, these guys are hitting a combined .230

Next order of business, the Mets rotation is very thin. Pelfrey and Maine are good number 3 and 4 starters, not 2 and 3s. I mean after Johan it is those two, Livan and Tim Redding. They may be doing an ok job now but these guys have yet to prove anything.

Also Omar Minaya spent 13 million a year on Oliver Perez. That move alone should get Minaya fired. Especially when Derek Lowe was on the table. I mean how many Met fans would kill for Randy Wolf right now.

I lost my train of thought.

Anyway, it is Subway Series time which is always fun. Mets need to be careful tonight because the Yankees are not a happy team. I would say to expect a slug fest but the Mets are not capable of that.

As the legend Mr. P would say

"You're just not that good. You go to catch a ball and you drop it. It's not your fault, you're just not good" Go and try to hit the ball, you strikeout. Not your fault, you're just not that good."

Ah Fried day!