I loaded up the Fisheye today with some Black & White film. I’m interested to see the results because a lot of what I like about the Fisheye is the vivid colours you get from the film.
On that note I still have SEVEN rolls of Fisheye from the Oz tour to get developed. It’s tempting just to wait until I get home at the end of the year and then look back at all those photos I’ll have totally forgotten I’d taken. On the other hand I’d be totally paranoid about losing them to the international postage system or airport x-ray machines or general carelessness!
Another factor in this is the cost of processing. For each of the first two rolls I paid (AUD)$5 for processing and $6 for the developing. I didn’t even get prints, just digital copies. So if I’m going to be a film junkie in the long run it would be worth investing in a negatives scanner, thus reducing each roll’s processing costs to $5. That being the case I’m a bit reluctant to fork out $42 now for developing.
The phrase “return to form” is one I’ve always felt to be a little over-used, and I’d imagine it’s had it’s fair share of column inches in relation to Dig Out Your Soul. In this case I’d say it’s not only a lazy observation, but an inaccurate one, what with the previous two Oasis albums being by no means wide of the mark. Indeed it took a while to be convinced this one was an improvement on Don’t Believe The Truth. Lead single Shock of the Lightning is Oasis-by-numbers, just as Lyla before it, and to a lesser extent The Hindu Times before that (although that was welcomed with accusations of bare-faced plagiarism, which is in itself something of a Gallagher trademark – and while we’re on that subject, why did everyone always bang on about Oasis ripping off The Beatles? Answer me this: have you ever seen Definitely Maybe and Never Mind The Bollocks in the same place at the same time?).
The familiar sounding comeback single tactic can go one of two ways; either you think Oasis are past it and can’t come up with anything fresh and original, or it reminds you of just why you love Oasis,justifying all thise teen years spent staring into the bathroom mirror wishing your eyebrows would grow a bit bushier. Also as a first single, SOTL fulfills it’s role of being one of the weaker tracks on the album. Falling Down, on the other hand probably prevails as the highlight.
One slight disappointment is Liam’s’ effort I’m Outta Time (which I was appalled to learn will be the second single), which is just a tad on the whiny side (‘If I had to go/In my heart you’d grow’ – come on Our Kid, grow a pair), but other than is decent enough musically. Other highlights include stomping opener Bag It Up, and Noel’s lo-fi effort (Get Off Your) High Horse Lady.
Soldier On is casually epic, and a fitting end to the album. Fitting in that from start to finish, Dig Out Your Soul is the sound of band wise enough not to try too hard. Beyond the first two singles, it’s difficult to pick out anything to suit a Radio 1 playlist, which hopefully signals a future where the masses can continue to chew over the Kaiser Chiefs and leave the rest of us in peace to enjoy the good stuff.
