Dig Out Your Soul

Untitled

Dig Out Your Soul, the seventh studio album by Oasis will be released on October 6, 2008. The first single, "The Shock of the Lightning," written by Noel Gallagher will be released one week earlier on September 29, 2008.

Concept and sound

In a January 2007 interview for NME, Noel Gallagher gave details on his vision for the album: "All the tunes I've written recently have been on the kind of acoustic side, you know? But for the next record I really fancy doing a record where we just completely throw the kitchen sink at it," he explained. "We haven't done that since Be Here Now. I'd like to get, like, a 100-piece orchestra and choirs and all that stuff. I think since Standing on the Shoulder of Giants we've been trying to prove a point of just bass, drums, guitar and vocals and nothing fancy. But I kind of like fancy! I'd like to make an absolutely fucking colossal album. You know? Like literally two orchestras, stuff like that."

In October 2007 Noel revealed more about the record to BBC 6 Music: "Funnily enough, we all write separately, but for some reason all the songs sound like they've got a common thread. We've been focusing round the grooves more this time, the last album was quite 'songy,' if that makes any sense, I don't know. But it was quite 'songy:' "The Importance of Being Idle", "Let There Be Love" - it was quite a British, retro, 60s sounding album. This is kinda focusing round the grooves more. Saying that, we've only done two tracks but all the demos that we've done are great." Noel also revealed details about his lyrics for his new songs: "I've literally got nothing left to write about: I've wrote about being a youth, and I've wrote about being a rock star, and I've wrote about living life in the big city. I've been re-visiting some of my more psychedelic trips of a younger man, because I remember them all you see...putting them to music."

In a November 2007 interview with Reuters, singer Liam Gallagher revealed more details on how the record is going: "All the songs are wrote, this record's gonna be fuckin' rockin'. There's no acoustic on it, man. We rehearsed about 10 tunes before coming in. Three are mine. Some are Noel's, some are Gem's, some are Andy's. We're there for a long time, so we just keep pickin' em off the tree, man. Some are sounding really fucking heavy, and then we're picking some out, and you go, 'Well that doesn't sit with that, right.' So we just keep moving about. We've got plenty of songs. We're not gonna go bored." Gallagher also revealed that the record,"Will have everything thrown at it. Let's just hope that Noel's learnt his lesson in the studio this time!"

In a February 28, 2008 radio interview for Los Angeles radio station Indie 103.1 with Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, Liam, Noel and Gem didn't give much away about the record, but did say that it was "less songy and more groove-based, not to say that it's dance music in any form", with some of it being "psychedelic and trancy" and that they are trying a few new sounds. When describing the feel of the record, Gem said: "it's rocking, without using a bagload of chords."

In the June 15, 2008 interview with talkSPORT, Noel said the album was "colossal", "rockin'" and added "it's gonna sound great live, which is the most important thing."

In a June 2008 interview with Russel Brand on his Radio 2 show, Noel said that the album title 'Dig Out Your Soul' came from one of Gem's lyrics on a song.

Recording sessions

Sessions were due to begin in July 2007, but it's believed proper band sessions did not begin until the start of August, during which Noel and Liam were photographed outside Abbey Road Studios with fans.

Sessions were halted in September 2007 due to the birth of Noel Gallagher's second child, telling BBC 6 Music: "We done a few tracks in Abbey Road about six weeks ago. Then we've taken some time off for me to get acquainted with my new son and then we start back in Abbey Road on November 5. - we'll probably work through a couple of months there, have Christmas off, then go and mix it and see where we're at."

On November 8, 2007, the band's official website confirmed that they returned to the studio on November 5, and they were working with Don't Believe the Truth producer Dave Sardy.

In Liam Gallagher's Reuters interview on November 13, 2007, he revealed more about the expected timespan of the recording sessions: "We've got six weeks there, seven weeks. We'll have it done by then, without a doubt. It'll be done by Christmas. It'll be done by the 15th of December, if everything goes well. Then we'll have Christmas off, and we'll go to L.A., mix it and maybe do a bit more over there. But not too much."

Oasis announced, through its website on February 5, that the band was in Los Angeles to finish off recording the album and to mix the record.

In a February 28, 2008 radio interview for LA radio station Indie 103.1 with Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, Liam, Noel and Gem said mixing had been slowed down by the equipment constantly breaking, but that they hoped to be finished in a couple of weeks.

In an appearance on Russell Brand's BBC Radio 2 show on March 8, 2008, Noel declared he would be going home on the next Wednesday, March 12, suggesting that work was finished in LA and, subsequently, on the record, although this wasn't confirmed. Oasis had also booked tour dates; a further indication the album was finished.

On April 14, 2008 Noel Gallagher announced in an interview criticising Jay-Z's appearance at Glastonbury that the album was indeed completed and they were searching for a record company with which to release it.

Previews and reviews

In an article for the July edition of Clash, BBC Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman said she thought the band were "back on total firing form", adding that the songs were "huge", that the first single would "hit you like a tonne weight and just really reminded me of when I heard stuff like "Rock and Roll Star" and "Supersonic" for the first time", and to "get excited 'cos it willl blow you away."

In Noel Gallagher's June 15, 2008 talkSPORT interview, presenter Andy Goldstein said he had heard a few tracks and that he thought it was some of the best work the band had ever done.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe announced the release dates of the album and the first single on his show on June 24, 2008. When doing so, he briefly spoke about the album saying that a few people at Radio 1 had heard a few of the tracks - he declared, "Oh Yes! Oasis are officially back and in rocking form."

Songs

Noel Gallagher gave a brief overview to Channel 4 Teletext's 'Planet Sound' in June 2007: "I've got 17 new songs written which are all good enough for the album. The rest have three or four each."

In May 2008, Noel told Toronto station The Edge 102.1 FM that he had written seven songs for the album, four of which were written during the recording sessions.

Also in May 2008, three songs recorded during the sessions for Don't Believe the Truth leaked online. The three tracks were: "Stop The Clocks", "Nothin' On Me" and, "I Wanna Live in a Dream in My Record Machine". Press articles at the time speculated that one or more of the tracks could be on the new album, however, BBC Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman said that none of the three tracks were on the album, after hearing it.

In her article for Clash Edith Bowman said she had been doing some interviews with the band for future press material, and had heard the album, saying Noel had six tracks on it, Liam had three, and Andy and Gem had one each. She also said that none of the leaked tracks appeared on the album.

Track Listing

Officially confirmed

• 'Bag It Up' - Mentioned by Noel in a MOJO interview to be a rocker, and the opening track on the album.

• "The Shock of the Lightning" - first single from the album. Written by Noel. He said in it's official press release: "If ‘The Shock Of The Lightning’ sounds instant and compelling to you, it’s because it was written dead fast. And recorded dead fast. ‘The Shock of The Lightning’ basically is the demo. And it has retained its energy. And there’s a lot to be said for that, I think. The first time you record something is always the best.”

• 'I'm Outta Time' - Written by Liam. Mentioned by Noel in a MOJO interview to be Liam's "obligatory Lennon lighter's in the air moment." A short video, believed to be Liam performing 'I'm Outta Time' in late-2004, appeared on YouTube in late June, 2008.

• 'Soldier On' - Written by Liam, mentioned by Noel in a MOJO interview to be the closing track on the album.

Unconfirmed

Known titles of recent, unreleased songs exist, but, at the present time, no songs have been confirmed to be included on the album by either band members or via official press releases. Noel Gallagher has said in the past that songs recorded for Don't Believe The Truth but not included on it would be considered for inclusion on the new album. The following information is all presented as educated speculation.

• "Don't Be Down" - written by Noel. Penned for his daughter Anais. Noel mentioned the track in at least two interviews in October 2002, saying it sounded a bit like Neil Young, but also claimed it was a song that "you will never hear, cos I wrote it for my baby girl."
• "Evil Eye" - written By Liam. Mentioned by him in a November 2007 MOJO interview, calling it "magical" and "a big tune". Features the lyric, "Don't give me your evil eye / It's not very wise." He said it would not be on the next album but "the one after that." This is a decision which could change, however, during sessions for the new album.
• "I Wanna Live in a Dream in My Record Machine" - written by Noel. Described by him as being about buying records and being "about 10 minutes long and it's big, psychedelic, loads of guitar solos, but it's good though, the lyrics are good." He's also said it's like Led Zeppelin doing The Beatles and "it's kind of like a "Champagne Supernova" thing." The song was first mentioned by Noel in Japanese interviews in September 2002 and in September 2005 to a Canadian radio station, he mentioned that it was "on the backburner." A February 2008 Q Magazine article mentioned this as a possible contender for inclusion on the album, although, seeing as their description of the song is a direct quote from a Noel Gallagher BBC Radio 2 interview, broadcast in October 2002, it's unclear how accurate their new information is. An early studio performance, running time 4:30, of the song was leaked on May 6, 2008, to Oasis forums. It is believed to have been recorded during sessions for Don't Believe The Truth in 2004.
• "Nothin' On Me" - Written by Liam. A version recorded for Don't Believe The Truth leaked out onto the internet on May 6, 2008. The song is 2:11 in length, and is similar to songs such as "Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is","Full On" and "Fuckin' In The Bushes" in that it is one of the closest songs they have reached to Hard Rock in their music. Unusual for an Oasis song, the time signature is in 3/4, as opposed to the standard Oasis 4/4 TS, being the 3rd Liam penned song to be in the 3/4 timing. It features the lyric, "They got nothing on me anymore / They got nothing on you / I don't care what they say anymore / All I want is the truth." First reports of the song came in a March 2003 The Sun article, which stated that Liam wrote the song after being arrested for assault in Munich, Germany in December 2002.
• "Let It Come Down Over Me" - In the January 2007 issue of Q Magazine, Noel revealed this track as another song left over from the Don't Believe the Truth sessions.
• "Stop the Clocks" - written by Noel. Possibly the most eagerly anticipated new song by fans due to Noel raving about the song (in late-2002 and early-2003 interviews). Speaking to Austrian TV show 'Arena' he went into more detail about the song. "I think is the best song I've ever written because of the words and the music, it doesn't sound like anything we've done before or anything I've ever written. In its lyrical content it's quite near to The Masterplan." The song was written in 2001 and recorded during sessions for Don't Believe the Truth, but not considered satisfactory enough for release. An early studio performance of the song, believed to have been recorded during sessions for Don't Believe The Truth in 2004, with Noel singing, was leaked on May 6, 2008 to Oasis forums as well as a live version from May 2003. According to Oasis fan websites Stopcryingyourheartout.com and Live4ever.us, this song will be the closer for the album.
• "Sweet and Sour" - Mentioned by Gem Archer in a June 2005 MSN interview as being one of the many songs demoed for Don't Believe the Truth but still unfinished.
• "The Boy with the Blues" - written by Liam. Recorded during sessions for Don't Believe the Truth and seriously considered for a Spring/Summer 2006 EP release, but aborted due to the song being not complete enough for release. Described by Noel in a January 2006 interview as being "catchy as fuck", "a bit like Spiritualized", and is "driven by a piano and acoustic guitars."
• "The Magic Can't Be Right" - written by Noel. First mentioned in an October 2002 interview by Noel as "sounding like The Rolling Stones" and being "pretty good."
• "You'll Be Crashing When You Burn (unofficial title)" - Noel can be heard playing this in the background on the 2007 documentary Lord Don't Slow Me Down. In the DVD commentary for that film, Noel said it didn't have a title and was still unfinished.
• "Get Off Your High Horse (Lady)" - according to Oasis fan websites Stopcryingyourheartout.com and Live4ever.us, this song is on the album. However, this title has never been mentioned by the band.

Personnel

• Liam Gallagher – Lead vocals, tambourine
• Noel Gallagher – lead guitar, vocals
• Andy Bell – bass guitar, guitar
• Colin "Gem" Murray Archer – rhythm guitar, lead guitar, keyboards
• Zak Starkey – drums and percussion
• Dave Sardy - producer.