Oasis - Familiar to Millions

In 2000 Oasis wisely dispensed with theatrics and concentrated on being the world's greatest stadium-sized pub-rock band. And so, with just three mammoth video walls in tow, they toured the world. Big as the video screens were, however, the band's straight-ahead rock and Liam Gallagher's mouth were even bigger, and contributed much to the drama, tension, and entertainment of the tour behind Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. Fine examples of both were recorded when they played Wembley Stadium. Musically, Oasis make good on their claims to be the biggest and the best with rocking versions of "Supersonic," "Shakermaker," "Cigarettes & Alcohol," and "Live Forever." As for Liam, Familiar to Millions wouldn't be half the album it is had his inane ramblings, brotherly abuse, and audience taunts been edited out. That's where the real live atmosphere lies--there and in the sound of 70,000 fans singing the choruses of "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger." --Dan Gennoe Amazon.com

The Gallaghers Live in Wembley

This may not be Knebworth in August 1996 (if only they would release that on cd!), but it is a good live recording of Oasis. March 23, 2008

"Hello, Manchester!!!"

It was July 2000, Oasis played Wembley Stadium in London for two nights in a row. The heat was on, the expectations were high, and the thousands of fans that crammed the famous soccor field were "mad for it!" Everything was going good; Oasis were and still are the biggest band in England with a timeless influence on most of the bands coming out of America and Europe today, and they were to take the stage by storm, but there was one too many problems: Liam had just broken up with his then wife actress Patsi Kensit, was seriously drunk, and Noel wasn't talking to him. The effects of all of the above are evident on this recording.

Liam greets the fans as soon as he steps onstage after the intro of F**kin' In The Bushes fades out with a hammering comment at Wembley Stadium, calling it a 'sh*thole', before sarcastically and hilariously saying "Hello, Manchester!" which is welcomed with a few boos from the crowd and a giggle from Noel. After that, the music plays on with a collection of their most recent singles from their 2000 album Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants: the handraiser Go Let It Out and the soothing Who Feels Love, before venturing into a string of greatest hits, in no order: Wonderwall, Don't Look Back In Anger, Live Forever, Stand By Me, Roll With It, Champagne Supernova, and Supersonic. In between songs, Liam and Noel are heard commenting with and at the crowd ("This is for all the people in the front row..." as Liam presents a song), the lighting operator ("...turn the f**kin' light off!" as Noel scorns the poor fellow), and each other ("Let's have a couple more of these songs, Noel...write a couple more of these babies!" as Liam presents Supersonic). The highlights on Familiar To Millions are the cover versions of The Beatles' Helter Skelter (taken from the US tour), and Neil Young's Hey Hey My My (which Noel sings with a passion), and the B-side Step Out (which is an underrated Noel sung number).

Familiar To Millions may not be the best live album ever released; in my opinion, it is not (Liam's tired voice is enough to convince me). But the Gallagher brothers manage to make it unintentionally entertaining and funny at times.

Recommended

B- April 5, 2006

Well done (to the crowd)

Ive always been a big fan of oasis but they really let themselves down here. This was an opportunity to perform a memorable, energetic and musical show, well it was certainly memorable.
The whole thing with getting the crowd singing along and adding in guitar solos that just seem to go on froever isnt what oasis are capable of, and to put it on an album...
I also cannot believe the songs they put on there, or didnt put on. There are tracks such as "Gas Panic!" and "Who feels love?" whos ever heard of this crap more like. "Supersonic" "Stand by me" and "Live Forever" are probably the only songs worthy of being on there, seeing as Champagne Supernova and Cigarettes and Alcohol are delivered so poorly.
This album is missing many of the bands greatest and underrated songs, such as, "Morning Glory" and "Rock and Roll star", instead they insist on playing them boring, repetitive songs that everyone associates with oasis because they're too thick to notice the decent tracks, how many times have we heard "Dont look back in anger" and "Wonderwall" (which incidentally arent done by oasis on this album, but half of the drunken crowd) far too many times, so you dont have to put them on an album.

Dont waste your money.
October 15, 2005

Lay off the cigarettes, Liam

Instrumentally, Oasis is still a tight band, and Noel's vioce still sounds good, (his cover version of Neil Young's "Hey Hey My My" is a highlight) but damn Liam really sounds like he just woke up after a rough night. They rush their way through "Wonderwall" like they're bored with it, and their version of Champagne Supernova also sounds weak voiced. Now some times the ragged effect does work, versions of "Stand by Me", "Live Forever" and "Cigarettes and Alcohol" are still pretty rousing.

Liam is still up to his onstage shenanigans, asking the girls in the audience to show some breasts, leading the crowd in chanting his name, pointing out to Noel that he finally got all the words to "Roll With It" right in mid-song, giving the people in the front row a hard time, complaining about the lighting and stage props, and even giving Noel yet another hard time, "you should write more songs like this Noel." Implying that he hasn't been writing songs like that lately. But he makes a conciliatory gesture, to Noel at least later when he praises the lyrics for "Gas Panic".

They're still a very fun band live and a tight band musicianship-wise at least anyway. Now if they could just get Liam to behave himself... ah screw that, then they wouldn't be so much fun. Just stick to the alcohol, Liam, and leave the cigarettes alone. October 13, 2005

"Nobody knows / the way it's gonna be."

Most of Oasis' greatest songs are on here, and they sound just the way you'd expect live: amazing. Don't Look Back in Anger is, if possible, even better than the studio version; the band goes insane on Supersonic and Shakermaker; only Champagne Supernova seems to lose some of its eerie grace with the more rough-around-the-edges live sound. Of course, Liam acts out a bit: it's hard to catch what he's saying most of the time, but it's quite amusing when you do.

"This is for all the people in the front row...no not you...nor you guys...alright, maybe you. And you."

Even songs that were less than classic in the studio, like Roll With It, get a boost from the live energy - on that particular number, Liam now advises us not to let "any f*****" get in our way.

And while the band is great, the audience is impressive in their own right:

-There's a moment during the first verse of Wonderwall when they suddenly sounds like the world's biggest gospel choir.

-Such is Liam's faith in them that he even lets them take the whole chorus of Don't Look Back in Anger - and even though it comes through a bit muted, it's pretty incredible.

Finally, Liam's weary take on Stand By Me, supported by the always-enthusiastic audience, has to rank among the most affecting pieces of music ever recorded. It's just so - _romantic_. July 5, 2005

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