CreationHow do you improve on a brilliant, practically flawless debut album? Well, you don't. You simply change course and try to offer something a little different. Whereas Definitely Maybe was the band operating as working class rock and rollers, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? found them determined to sound like the world-famous rockstars they were on their way to becoming. It was a little slicker, a bit more orchestral, and certainly more effects-heavy, but the one major thing Oasis retained from their first go-round was the "don't f**k with me" spirit. They had that in spades, and brought it out time and time again on the arena-rocking "Roll With It," the machismo-dripping blues-rock of "Some Might Say," and aggressive hooliganism of "Morning Glory." But mixed in with the straightforward rock anthems were a few more pensive tracks. And it's in these lighter ballads that Noel Gallagher revealed his true marketing genius. Much of Morning Glory has a sort of well-worn sound to it. Rather than invoke the suggestive echoes of their influences as they had on Definitely Maybe, they became more overt. "Don't Look Back in Anger" doesn't merely recall the Beatles discography, it embeds itself in it. The aforementioned "Some Might Say" doesn't just borrow the vibe of Slade's "Take Me Back Home," it goes through its signature riff note for note. And yes, those blatant appropriations make the album a little harder to swallow as more time passes. But then again..."Champagne Supernova." And "Wonderwall." And "She's Electric." When the individual songs are this great, it's hard to get wrapped up in what they may or may not have borrowed from other bands.
