"But my pod woke up on the wrong side of his cast . . . "

Eight years from their explosive debut Definitely Maybe, Oasis had graduated into stadium rock stalwarts. Their previous album, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, was met with lukewarm response; its psychedelic flourishes and laid-back vibe were a far cry from the ear-crushing, electric guitar-dominated sounds of their early work.

It's no accident that 2002's Heathen Chemistry begins with "The Hindu Times", a sinewy riff that recalls some of their earlier successes. It also seems likely that "Little By Little" and "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" were written with arena singalongs in mind. Then . . . there's the rest of it. From very high highs to puzzling lows, Oasis' fifth studio LP is the band at its most confused. In between the obvious highlights, what are the gems and what are the stinkers?

"Kids are running around naked, podcasting in the bushes . . . "

As the popularity of Britpop declined, Oasis found themselves at a bit of a crossroads. So, they decided to switch things up. They ditched their iconic logo for one with a more futuristic typeface, added some psychedelic flourishes to their songs, and used a completely non-British photo of the New York City skyline. for the album cover.

The end result was Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, an uneven affair that nonetheless features some top-notch Noel Gallagher compositions and some of his brother Liam's best vocal performances. The public may not have gobbled it up like their previous releases, but it kept the band top of mind as they graduated into reliable stadium-rock mainstays in Europe.

On a very special episode of Drop the Needleheads, Schmiggy and Yahtzee discuss Oasis' triumphant return to the United States on their Live '25 tour. They both attended the Chicago show on August 28, 2025, and were among the tens of thousands blown away by what has become the tour of the year . . . nay, decade.

They talk about the long-anticipated show 16 years in the making, the vibes in the city leading up to show time, and the myriad of emotions throughout Oasis' 23-song set. They also discuss why this tour is having such an impact on hardcore and casual fans alike, resurrecting guitar-based stadium rock in a way no other band could pull off.