Gob Squad
On the cover of the latest issue of Mojo, the venerable British mag slurps: “Oasis: This Nation’s Saving Grace, The Kings of British Rock Reborn!” Yet, even without media pandering over its new album, can onetime undisputed champ Oasis still lay claim to the heavyweight Britrock belt in 2005? Especially when there’s another quintet — upstart Leicester lads Kasabian — challenging? By stacking up a few of each band’s more salient (read: less charming) features, we help Cockney-rebel-loving Kansas Citians decide whether they should see Kasabian play the Bottleneck on Saturday or just stay home, roll a spliff and listen to the new Oasis.
The Mission Statement:
Kasabian: “We got a computer and we cut rock and roll up, because there’s no point in going back to how it was. It’s all about new ideas and creativity.” — singer Tom Meighan
Oasis: “You pick up your guitar, you rip a few people’s tunes off, you swap them around a bit, get your brother in the band, punch his head in every now and then, and it sells.” — guitarist Noel Gallagher
The Album:
Kasabian: Kasabian — Shamelessly swipes ideas from pretty much every Stone Roses, Primal Scream and Happy Mondays album ever made. Still, the band makes up for it with swagger, unflagging energy and addictive grooves that veer from menacing to euphoric.
Oasis: Don’t Believe the Truth — Yet another in a string of mediocre offerings that makes the band’s Definitely Maybe–(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? heyday seem so long ago. Limp pub-rock essentially devoid of the adroit songwriting and power that made Oasis special in the first place. Lead single “Lyla” shamelessly nicks the Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man,” and unlike its past Beatles “tributes,” Oasis rarely pushes blatant thievery to a place of interest this time around.
The Trash Talk:
Kasabian: In a recent interview with NME, Meighan called Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas a “posh fucking skier.” Guitarist Sergio Pizzorno has said of Franz Ferdinand and Keane that “they are not real, and they’ll get found out soon enough” and written off the Darkness as a “comedy act.”
Oasis: The list is lengthy and legendary. Highlights include Noel once saying he hoped the members of Blur “catch AIDS and die,” singer Liam Gallagher calling George Harrison “a fucking nipple,” and, of course, the pair’s ceaseless attacks on each other. In the May Mojo, Liam brands Noel “a fucking smug cunt.” Noel responds, “It’s always been about Liam being a fucking idiot, really.”
The Bad Boy Behavior:
Kasabian: The band’s members have freely admitted to indulging in all the drugging, boozing and groupie-banging they can manage.
Oasis: Despite a decade of bratty exploits that have landed them in tabloids and courtrooms — bannings from airlines; fights with fans, foes and photographers; tours abandoned after intraband squabbles; myriad cocaine-fueled benders — Noel and Liam say they’ve given up the drugs, mellowed out and are devoted family men. Zzzz.
The Unbridled Arrogance
Kasabian: “We’re the best band in Britain.” — Meighan
Oasis: “We’re not arrogant — we just believe we’re the best band in the world.” — Noel Gallagher
