Sill running? Definitely, Maybe.

A new discography has been broached my friends... enter the era of Oasis.

Genuinely excited by this one.  Muse was always going to be a bit hit and miss to run to by their very nature (whiny paranoia / angry bastards) whereas Oasis pretty much just solidly rock out.  Or do they?  I mean, my knowledge of them is staked fairly firmly in the mid '90s-early-2000s era (first three albums plus [of course] The Masterplan); after that, things get a little more sonically... hazy. 

I'm vaguely aware of sporadic singles after that... 'The Importance of Being Idle' and 'Songbird' spring to mind (from around 2003/4 I think - I seem to remember a surprisingly earnest Liam crooning his heart out on the TV whilst I was sat, pint in hand, in the Uni's on site bar - the amazingly named 'The Library').  

However, I don't think I've actually listened to an entire album by Oasis since the Be Here Now / The Masterplan era.  I've heard a lot of chatter about diminishing returns but I obviously can't comment yet...  I guess we'll see.

Total albums to run to: 7 officially. 

Total of albums I am going to run to: 8!  The Masterplan is not being missed off this list, even if it isn't officially a studio album.  Hey - my rules.

Album 1: Definitely, Maybe

As I've already outlined, I am unapologetically-biased towards Oasis' early stuff and I was looking forward to running to this well ahead of actually getting on the treadmill.  

What's the Story... is quite clearly a more considered, polished effort, however it's the rawness of Definitely, Maybe that's it's best asset.  Liam swaggers and snarls for 50 minutes solid of good old-fashioned rock, making the run pretty much a breeze.  

I say pretty much, because (confession time) I really don't like Slide Away (just lock me up in Sacrilege Towers, I know); I never have liked it and having to run to it, 45 minutes in and knackered, whilst Liam chews and spits the phrase 'sllllllliiiiiideee awayyyyyyy' repeatedly into my face for what feels like a lifetime is... less fun.  

Luckily I'm a forgiving kind of a guy.

Runner's rating (/5): RRRR

Running time: 52 minutes
Distance: 6.8km
Calories: 537

Favourite track: Columbia. Hands down.

Worst tracks: Shakermaker (boring) Slide Away (irritating).

Fun fact: I was on the cusp of being too young (10 going on 11) to appreciate this when it was first released in August 1994.  However, the album brings back great memories from the summer of 2007.  

Random, I know... the reason being that I had not long moved to Leicester at the time to begin my teacher training in September of that year.  In the interim, I got a job at Joules Clothing (customer service and data input) in Corby, which I appreciate sounds about as much fun as a hot black coffee enema, however it was genuinely a good time; full of opportunities waiting just around the corner.  

I distinctly remember finishing work on a Friday, driving home (ex wife's parents house at the time) in my Renault Clio (my very first car...weep), windows wound down, 'Columbia' blaring out of the speakers (plus, the album was on CASSETTE).  I almost get goose bumps thinking about it now.

Album 2: (What's the Story) Morning Glory

This is a truly great album. Re-listening in 2021, I can see why it really cemented Oasis' reputation as one of Britain's best bands at the time, and for a number of years afterwards.  

If Definitely, Maybe is the Bells whiskey of the collection, Morning Glory is the single-malt Glenlivet; similar base flavour, but a far more refined approach.  Fetch me the ice bucket, Jeeves!  

Every track is either literally a single or good enough to be one.  Even Liam's voice is better on this album.  In short, it's just bloody brilliant and as such my run was a breeze too.  You know it's a good album when you barely focus on the run at all and could actually go a further distance just to keep listening.  Top drawer.

Runner's rating (/5): RRRRR.  Yes - well spotted - that's the first full 5 R rating I've given.

Running time: 51 minutes
Distance: 7.1km
Calories: 550

Favourite track: Morning Glory.  They're pretty much all great though.

Worst track: Untitled 1 and Untiled 2 - they bring nothing to the party.

Fun fact: Released a year after Definitely, Maybe, I was just beginning to get into music at this point. I seem to vaguely remember buying this from Woolworths' CD aisle in St Neots, Cambridge where I lived at the time.  Pretty canny edition to the early Dan Thomas collection.  Before you think too highly of me though, I am duly bound to point out that the first piece of music I ever physically bought (single or album) was...

....wait for it...

'Where's the Love'.  

By Hanson.

I'll just leave this here:

Sorry.