Noel picks his company doesn't he though.

Hangs about with total knobheads from Kate Moss to Brand, even going so far for that Putin lapdog Lebedev.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's the first time in ages that I look at the German national side and I don't see any genuine world class talent there? Even during some fallow periods in the early 2000s (when they still got to a WC final), they were peppered with at least some class, be it Ballack or Kahn.

2014 seemed a perfect blend of the old and new - the hard running, physical warriors alongside the sleek and silky technicians (which the reforms sought out to develop I believe). Every time I watch Germany now, its all much of a muchness. Not terrible players, but nothing that excites and the playing style is flat. There's nothing distinctive about it anymore.

Going off topic, maybe it's a general trend in international football where identities are blending what with the globalisation of ideas and coaching, to the point everything is indistinct. Gone are the days when Spain were defined by tiki taka, Netherlands defined by flair, Germany defined by industry and nerve, Italy defined by guile and tactical acumen.

Even the traditionally tactless but physical England are catching up now with technically brilliant players, where now they are blending traditional physicality with real skill. Something that I think will (unfortunately as a Scot!) reap rewards in future tournaments.

Rugby Union, what a boujie, up itself, unbearably upper/middle class sport.

And what is a World Cup when there are only about three countries that could ever win it, or care about it?

Christ, even if Scotland won the whole thing I'd turn the telly off, they're all spoilt private school lads that goes for all the other national teams in the UK and Ireland.

I'm not a fan, but they sure as hell still know how to perform a tune. Listening to that new song, you wouldn't believe they're in their 80s.

Been reading up and listening to Labi Siffre a lot recently, a fantastic singer-songwriter and criminally underrated. Folk and soul at its best.

More recent and obviously not Oasis, but Liam's performance of Greedy Soul at RAK studios (I think?) is out of this world. It's self-penned, the vocals are 10/10, it's just got that raw energy but with an unbelievably tight performance from everyone.

In my time as an Oasis fan (starting mid-00s), I'd never seen him better.

Best wishes to him, his family and friends. Haven't had the pleasure of interacting with Johnky on this site before but pray he's going to be okay. All my thoughts with yourself welshylad and all who know him.

Always said it, the live releases we do have are not that great and not a representation of the band at their best.

Knebworth is a significant event for the size, but isn't all that relative to their other performances around this time. And Wembley 2000 was naff too, shit setlist and not Liam's best performance.

Oasis management seem to think bigness = greatness. God knows the number of great Oasis performances that are essentially missing because of Oasis management. They should release a deluxe album of songs recorded at various concerts ala Bruce Springsteen Live 1975-85. Something like Oasis Live 1993-98, covering their golden period as a live act. Could only dream of obtaining an official release for something like this:



But hey, that's far too ambitious for Oasis and their management.

RIP Michael Parkinson, here interviewing Noel in 2006.



A few years ago, when asked to describe his most surprising guest, it was Noel. He admitted it took a lot of persuasion from his son to interview him after he brought into the tabloid narrative of him 'being a yobbo', but upon interviewing him, thought he was one of the most thoughtful and interesting guests he'd spoken to. High praise indeed from somebody who's interviewed seemingly everyone from popular culture the last 50 years.

And you don't see interviews like that on prime time TV anymore, it's all about plugging something interspersed with forced banter. Parky was the last of a dying breed.

Ah fantastic gig, maybe my favourite gig I've been to. Noel didn't have to sing a word as the crowd had it covered!

This thought came back to me, and generally think the song doesn't mean anything specifically. But it carries general themes that run through Noel's earlier songs.

Defiance, solitude, making it through life by yourself... by all accounts, he's always been a bit of a loner. Not in the sense he has no social networks but somebody happy in his own company.

I always liked that about Noel's songs. Never self pitying, and doesn't take a 'woe is me' approach to loneliness, or more accurately, solitude. Rare for songwriters to embrace that.

Let's take a look at this album once again.

I never disliked Meaning of Soul, I think it's fine as a little interlude in the album, certainly nothing awful like Ain't Got Muffins. Generally I think Liam's songwriting on this is at its strongest, Meaning of Soul gives the album a little bite and Love Like A Bomb and Guess God Thinks I'm Abel offer a light breeziness to it. The latter one in particular is a favourite of mine.

Never understood the hate for Mucky Fingers either, it doesn't have that awful dad rock glam dreariness that Noel seemed obsessed with around this time (Force of bleedin' Nature, Waiting For The Rapture) and lyrically one of his better ones I think. It NEEDED Liam's voice on it though, the vocals are crying out for a venomous Liam performance. Let There Be Love... yeah good song brutally murdered by production. Not sure how they turned a potentially lovely song into something soooooooooooooooo plodding and boring. But hey, that's Sardy for you.

Keep The Dream Alive sounds like a sixth form band writing an Oasis song, and A Bell Will Ring is typical Gem Archer songwriting - i.e. shite. Apart from that, I can take everything else on the album.

So an album ruined by:
(a) Not enough Noel written/Liam sung songs - come on guys, you are Oasis for a reason.
(b) Horrific production choice, enough said on this.
(c) Poor song choices - as sympathetic as I am towards this album, everyone knows of the songs Noel had in his locker at this time. No, there's nothing truly classic in them but there was a good batch of very very good songs going to waste.

It's a shame, because Don't Believe The Truth is probably Oasis album post-90s that had the most potential to be, not great but a really good album. Rectify these points and it would have easily, by far, been the best since Be Here Now.