Album Review: "Stop the Clocks" by Oasis (2006)

Oasis, the band that gave us probably the biggest rock song of the mid-90s ("Wonderwall", bookended by Nirvana's groundbreaking "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at the front end of the decade and Green Day's dreadful "Time Of Your Life" at the back), has released a two-disc best of collection with "Stop the Clocks".

I was never the biggest fan of these guys, as I found their writing far from stellar with riffs that were brilliant at times ("Supersonic", "Aquiesce", "Morning Glory") but blasé at others, decent if unspectacular soloing, and an image that was geeky, obnoxious and nothing that we hadn't seen done better by the likes of other rowdy Brits like John Bonham and Keith Moon who came before the Gallagher brothers. However, I think the appeal of Oasis can be pretty easily explained. They came along at just the right time, as the grunge vibe was beginning to wear thin thanks to Lollapaloozers like Billy Corgan who took themselves far too seriously. In other words, there was a hunger for the return of fun, melodic, brash rock n' roll around 1995-1996, especially in England, and bands like Oasis and their contemporaries like Blur responded.

(Closer to home, proof of that argument can be provided by looking at the KISS Reunion Tour in the summer of 1996, which broke all kinds of box office records while featuring only one song in the set list recorded outside of the glorious 1974-1977 timeframe, that being Ace Frehley's "Back in the New York Groove". But I digress.)

This collection does an adequate job of featuring some of Oasis' best work, like those tunes mentioned above, but is sorely missing in other respects. Sure, there's a lot included off of their first two albums, "Definitely Maybe" and "What's the Story Morning Glory?" but "Be Here Now"'s bombastic, way over-the-top and absolutely unforgettable "D'Ya Know What I Mean?" isn't here, nor are other familiar tunes like "Don't Go Away", "Little By Little" or "All Around the World". Instead, they've put second-rate efforts like "Lyla" and "The Importance of Being Idle" on this collection. Disappointing, but that's how guitarist Noel Gallagher wanted it, I guess.

On the whole, , though, it's not bad, and for a casual or new fan, it's an adequate if not thorough addition to the CD collection.

Reasonably priced at south of twenty bucks, too.

Overall rating: 6.25/10