Rating: 4/5
Verdict: The last will and testament of the Manchester greats
As well as providing modern music with its best family feud, and some memorable quotes ("We're not arrogant, we just believe we're the best band in the world," claimed Noel Gallagher once upon a time), Oasis also gave the world a fair few decent tunes as this new singles collection
proves.
The double album takes in everything from debut single Supersonic, which came out in August 1994, through to the band's final single, Falling Down, which was released last year before a back stage fight between Noel and brother Liam triggered the demise of the band.
It's no wonder the Gallagher brothers were such lippy sods, because the cocky swagger and sentiment of songs like Cigarettes and Alcohol, Supersonic, and Some Might Say, would make the most humble man a posturing yob.
But they are great songs, as are the national anthem-like sing-along of Stand By Me, the stomp and swirl of Shakermaker, and the lovely coupling together of Wonderwall - which, after not hearing it for a while, sounds more powerful than ever - and Stop Crying Your Heart Out is testament to the sublime heights the band could also reach.
Of course, at more than 130-minutes and 27 songs, there are also some of the Manchester band's lesser moments too, like the forgettable ditty Songbird off the equally forgettable Heathen Chemistry and the nearly eight-minute lope and drone of D'You Know What I Mean?.
If anything this collection could - or should - have been a retrospective, because some truly great songs are missing, like heartstring-plucker Champagne Supernova, Rock 'n' Roll Star, the scuzzy opener off debut Definitely Maybe, and acoustic beauty Guess God Think's I'm Abel, off mid-2000s return-to-form album Don't Believe the Truth.
Oddly, it's nine-minute single All Around the World (off 1997's average Be Here Now), with its lavish and grand string and horn arrangements rubbing along with Liam's gravelly whine and wailing guitars, that sums up the band's legacy best. The song is over-the-top and brash, yet still a cracker tune, which is what Oasis were all about.
