"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.

"Kickin' up a storm from the day that I was born / Cast a pod with me, one from 'Let it Be', open up your eyes get a grip of yourself inside . . . "

In 1997, Oasis was the biggest rock band in the world. So, it was befitting they released an album grand in scope, length, guitar overdubs . . . well, grand in everything. Unleased onto the public at the end of the summer, Be Here Now flew off the shelves, blasting out of stereo speakers and Sony Discmans around the world. The fans and critics raved, with some going so far as to call it Oasis' best yet.

When the mania subsided, a critical reappraisal took place. Was Be Here Now an overindulgent, cocaine-addled mess? Maybe. Was it the symbolic end of Britpop? Possibly. Nearly three decades later, though, it remains an important piece of the band's history. "D'You Know What I Mean" and "Stand By Me" are classics, "All Around the World" is an earworm, "My Big Mouth" and "Be Here Now" are driving rock songs, and there are other gems throughout. Ambitious, overly-long, bone-crushingly loud . . . but most importantly, a whole lot of fun.

Follow Drop the Needleheads on Instagram and Facebook: @needleheadspod

CHAPTERS:

Intro (00:00)

Background (Recording, Production) (21:53)

D'You Know What I Mean (41:36)

My Big Mouth (50:43)

Magic Pie (57:15)

Stand By Me (01:00:26)

I Hope, I Think, I Know (01:09:03)

The Girl in the Dirty Shirt (01:17:43)

Fade In-Out (01:21:53)

Don't Go Away (01:24:58)

Be Here Now (01:31:23)

All Around the World (01:37:28)

It's Getting Better (Man!!) (01:41:13)

Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (01:45:00)

"Someday you will find me caught beneath the landslide, in a champod supercasta in the sky . . . "

After Definitely Maybe exploded onto the scene, Oasis was charged with the ever-difficult task of following up its success. In the spring of 1995, they decamped to Rockfield Studios in Wales armed with Noel Gallagher's newly-minted tunes. Just over two weeks later, they completed their second album (with a ton of soon-to-be-classic B-sides left over) - by all accounts, a breezy and productive session only marred by one dust-up between Noel and Liam.

Released in October 1995, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? was an immediate smash in the UK. It expanded upon their debut LP while maintaining the band's stadium rock bona fides; the power pop of "Some Might Say" and "Roll With It", lighters-in-the-air anthems "Champagne Supernova" and "Don't Look Back in Anger", and pulsating rockers like "Hello" and "Morning Glory". Oh, and some acoustic song by the name of "Wonderwall".

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X: @needleheadspod

CHAPTERS:

Introduction (00:00)

Background (Recording, Production) (28:15)

Hello (44:25)

Roll With It (53:15)

Wonderwall (01:00:43)

Don't Look Back in Anger (01:14:16)

Hey Now (01:28:53)

Some Might Say (01:33:52)

Cast No Shadow (01:44:10)

She's Electric (01:53:50)

Morning Glory (01:57:15)

Champagne Supernova (02:10:00)

Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (02:18:00)

"Is it worth the aggravation to find yourself a pod when there's nothing worth casting for?"

In the history of rock music, few debut albums have had the seismic impact of Oasis' Definitely Maybe. Released in 1994 at the height of the grunge movement, this group of Mancunians countered the nihilism of the day with their own brash brand of life-affirming rock 'n' roll. Their mix of loud guitars, sneering vocals, pop sensibilities, and stadium-sized hooks immediately took hold in England, propelling them to the forefront of the "Britpop" movement.

Over three decades later, Noel and Liam Gallagher mended fences and took their band (including founding member Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs) back on the road. The Live 25 tour has been a triumph, balancing 90's nostalgia with crackling performances that sound fresh as ever. With a songbook featuring cuts like "Live Forever", "Supersonic, "Slide Away", "Cigarettes & Alcohol", and more, it's no surprise Oasis is finding themselves yet again as the world's biggest rock band.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X: @needleheadspod

CHAPTERS:

Introduction (00:00)

Background (Recording, Production) (24:18)

Rock 'n' Roll Star (44:45)

Shakermaker (51:25)

Live Forever (58:05)

Up in the Sky (01:10:11)

Columbia (01:14:12)

Supersonic (01:22:00)

Bring it On Down (01:33:15)

Cigarettes & Alcohol (01:38:45)

Digsy's Dinner (01:46:06)

Slide Away (01:48:50)

Married with Children (01:56:30)

Reception (Critical, Commercial) (01:59:30)

Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (02:03:45)

"Hey, it's lonely at the bottom, Man, it's dizzy at the top / But if you're casting in the middle, oh, ain't no way you're gonna pod . . . "

The year was 1979. Disco and punk were the rage, and bands like Led Zeppelin were considered "dinosaurs" by the rock music intelligentsia. Wounded from personal loss (the death of Robert Plant's son), addiction (Jimmy Page and heroin, John Bonham and alcohol), and the lukewarm reception of Presence in 1976, the band came together to record their (unintended) final studio album.

In Through the Out Door is an anomaly in Zep's catalog, a keyboard-heavy album with a distinct lack of guitar riffs. Yet, its eccentric nature makes for an interesting listen, from the samba-infused earworm "Fool in the Rain" to the ambitious prog-rock epic "Carouselambra". John Bonham's death before a schedule US tour in 1980 closed the door on any possible follow-up, so this LP remains the band's swan song.

CHAPTERS:

Background (Recording, Production, Cover Art) (28:45)

In the Evening (42:05)

South Bound Saurez (49:02)

Fool in the Rain (53:48)

Hot Dog (01:02:35)

Carouselambra (01:05:10)

All My Love (01:14:29)

I'm Gonna Crawl (01:21:28)

Reception (Critical, Commercial) (01:25:35)

Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (01:31:52)

Series Wrap-Up (01:53:15)

"For the mighty arms of podcast hold the heavens from the Earth . . . "

In the summer of 1975, Led Zeppelin was on top of the world. Ahead of an upcoming US tour, Robert Plant and his family took a vacation, but a terrible car crash left him and his wife badly injured. The shows were canceled, and a hobbled Plant met up with Jimmy Page in Malibu to channel their frustrations into new songs.

Released in 1976, Presence is a guitar-heavy album with a sense of urgency. The opening epic "Achilles Last Stand" sets the tone for what's to follow, while "Nobody's Fault But Mine", "For Your Life", and "Hots On for Nowhere" feature Plant's angriest lyrics to date. The lack of a catchy single or supporting tour meant lower sales and a lukewarm critical response, but time has been kind to this anomaly in Zeppelin's discography.

CHAPTERS:

Introduction (00:00:00)

Background (Recording, Production) (00:32:50)

Achilles Last Stand (00:54:33)

For Your Life (01:06:05)

Royal Orleans (01:12:45)

1976: Year in Review (01:21:18)

Nobody's Fault But Mine (01:31:25)

Candy Store Rock (01:51:50)

Hots On for Nowhere (01:57:40)

Tea For One (02:02:45)

Reception (Critical, Commercial) (02:10:25)

Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (02:13:40)