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OASIS - "LORD DON'T SLOW ME DOWN"
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Written by Mark Reed
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Wednesday, 31 October 2007
"Being Rock Stars Is Easy" "Lord Don't Slow Me Down" is Oasis ten-years-late attempt at Radioheads "Meeting People Is Easy". It follows the similar hallmarks of gravitas : the black and white stock, the all-areas-access of life in the band, the moments of faux intimacy with the various members of the band. Whereas the Radiohead documentary used the footage to create a compelling view of the overall alienatory nature of hypermania, of numbing long distance travel, of meeting thousands of people, and being asked the same questions over and over again, this Oasis documentary never even attempts to scale the heights of the Radiohead work : it just documents a tour.
Over 95 minutes we get to see the band revert to type. Namely a) Liam Gallagher is a bit arrogant (and not very likable), b) Noel Gallagher is self-effacing and the more mature ringmaster, c) Gem and Andy are talented chaps along for the ride and the shared glory and d) the drummer doesn't say anything. In fact, given the amount of screen time Son-Of-Ringo Zak Starkey is given, the viewer doesn't learn anything about him - not even the fact that he also plays drums for The Who : overall, Zak is overlooked and instead fulfills the role of musical worker in the eyes of the film-makers instead of being a full member of the band.
Comparisons with the Radiohead film are inevitable as the styles are too similar not to. Whereas the Radiohead one seems a sometimes-little-too-unflinching look at the touring world, the Oasis one seems, despite its apparent depth, far more shallow. Oasis as a whole don't think, don't ponder, don't debate : they just do it - and it seems without a moments contemplation or thought. In these circumstances, without an internal monologue or debate, Oasis just seem like an unstoppable juggernaut of self-assured arrogance. The material chosen for the film is also a little scant : it appears to lack any cohesion of narrative, or theme, or even merit : scenes just tumble onto the next. The interview extracts (Liam's particularly) seem to be at best random and infected with beermat philosophy. It's not to say that this isn't bad - its not by any shot - but frankly, Radiohead did this kind of thing a decade ago, and they did it far better. The only real moment of any true pathos is when Noel reads out a fan letter that is by turns touching and desperate at the same time.
What would've been more interesting is if this too had been shot ten years previous : during the height and madness of the "Morning Glory" / "Be Here Now" years when the band were loaded on drugs, overblown ideas, and living in the eye of the media hurricane. As it stands, this particular snapshot of the band as it powers arrogantly through Yet Another World Tour is quite interesting by virtue of Noel Gallagher's presence alone : Liam Gallagher chugs another beer and spouts unlikable nonsense, whilst the Other Three sit on the salaried sidelines. The Music is presented almost as an afterthought, The Thing That Oasis Do That Isn't As Interesting As Standing In Black And White Eating Sandwiches In A Hockey Arena In A Foreign Town.
The package is made a lot more worthwhile by the inclusion of a second disc containing a full show from the band headlining in their hometown of Manchester. The sort-of-sequel to "Familiar To Millions", it documents one night on stage, featuring a full length show and a myriad of show-specific extras such as fan photos taken on the night and camera phone footage. That said, it also reflects the apparent lack of imagination in the bands setlist - by playing a mere fraction of their later material they are very much in danger of becoming The BritPop Oasis Stones by presenting very little contemporary material, and concentrating on providing a lesson in abject Stadium History. (Which is unfair, as Noel publically criticises Liam's dogged refusal to vary the running orders and fails to reflect the often strong qualities their recent songs do have). In fact, if I had to choose I would suggest that the extra disc of concert material will be seen far more often than the slight documentary. That said, the overall package is fine value at the price, and should be seen as a worthy, albeit inessential addition the bands body of work.Only registered users can write comments.
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