Oasis were on some pretty shaky ground for the few years following 1997’s Be Here Now, a bloated, overwrought, cocaine-fuelled mess that had a couple of decent tracks.  After that they’ve been trying to regain their footing, and each subsequent album had some highs and some very low lows.  It wasn’t until 2005’s Don’t Believe the Truth that the band began to sound like a cohesive whole again.  Now we find ourselves with Dig Out Your Soul three years later, and we see the band continuing down the right path.

Dig Out Your Soul is the logical next step for Oasis: it’s bigger and more grandiose than its predecessor, but it’s still focused and superbly crafted.  Soul also finds the band delivering some of their best songs.  Lead single “The Shock of the Lightning” is one of the best rockers they’ve had since the late 90s.  As well, “Falling Down” and “I’m Outta Time” are other highlights.  Most of the tracks here seeOasis taking another stab toward psychedelic textures (see Standing on the Shoulder of Giants for phase one), such as in “The Turning,” where the Stone Roses’ influence shines through.

The album does have its faults, though.  Some tracks suffer from sounding too similar: “Bag it Up,” “(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady,” and “Waiting for the Rapture” all follow a pseudo-bluesy mid-tempo stomp.  As well, “Waiting for the Rapture” and “the Turning” are both lyrically similar.  However, all of this can be taken in stride, because individually these songs are strong enough to stand on their own.  The truth of the matter is Dig Out Your Soul is a damn good record, and another step in the right direction for Oasis.

Oasis at a glance:
Definitely Maybe *****
(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? *****
Be Here Now **
The Masterplan ****
Standing on the Shoulder of Giants **½
Heathen Chemistry *½
Don’t Believe the Truth ****
Stop the Clocks ***