Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Oasis

[3 STARS]

Epic Records

The reason that “Definitely, Maybe” – Oasis’ 1994 debut disc – was so good and embraced by so many, was that it had a sense of determination, a clear direction that passionately stated in song after song the band’s desire for more. Lots more.

With Tuesday’s release of “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,” the brothers Gallagher have rediscovered the power of purpose.

The 10-song record has Oasis saying too much was enough: The group is simply glad to have lived to tell the tale. Fitting sentiments, considering that chief songsmith Noel Gallagher has been living life from a clean and sober point of view of late.

Unlike the albums “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?,” a scattered collection of pop songs, and the bloated bummer “Be Here Now,” “Giants” explores the nuts ‘n’ bolts of what makes life good.

Pretty heady stuff from a formerly drugged-out band of Britpop hooligans.

The album does get ultra-sappy on the wimpy ballad “Little James,” written by Liam Gallagher for his stepson. The rest of the collection was penned by Noel and fares much better.

The already released single “Go Let it Out” will attract longtime fans – it’s typical Oasis-in-Sgt. Pepper-clothes pop, offering a nice ’60s psychedelic sound.

Understated in comparison is “Gas Panic,” the real rock song on this disc. The tune has Oasis’ signature guitar edge and an in-your-face vocal attitude. Remarkably, it doesn’t remind you of The Beatles, the Stones, T. Rex, Small Faces or any of the U.K. giants on whose shoulders Oasis stands.

The album’s opener “F- – – -ing in the Bushes” takes Oasis in a new direction. It is a tangle of drum loops, guitar repetitions and sampled voices taken from a 1970 rock documentary about the Isle of Wight Music Festival.

The song is important to the record because it sets up the disc’s main message when the voice of an elderly English matron says: “Fun, nice, life, youth, beautiful – I’m all for them.”