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Aug 13, 2010 Web Exclusive By Lily Moayeri

How many "greatest hits" does Time Flies... 1994-2009 make for Oasis? Three? One every five years or so? What is the reason for this? Particularly since the choices on each of these collections, Familiar To Millions (2000), Stop The Clocks (2006), and now Time Flies (2010) don't vary greatly from each other (except that Familiar is a live album). The same songs from the first two albums—the ones that made Oasis the entity it is—show up on all compilations, then a few from more recent albums get added with each release. Time Flies, being the most current, is the most comprehensive Oasis retrospective. There are 26 U.K. singles, spread over two discs, and, alas, the deterioration of Oasis is a little too apparent on Time Flies.

All nastiness aside, there is a reason why Oasis is the larger-than-life phenomenon it is. At a time when rock 'n' roll had lost its center, these guys showed up with all the right ingredients, including the sex and the drugs. Plus, they had some killer hooks and some expertly chosen riffs (some they arguably stole off other people and barely repackaged) that sounded just right. This is why for the majority of Time Flies you will be singing at the top of your lungs, flooded with memories, feeling like you did when you first heard such songs as "Supersonic," "Live Forever," "Wonderwall," Shakermaker," and their prom song for the '90s: "Champagne Supernova." Granted, most of these memories and belt-outs are from the first two albums, Definitely Maybe and (What's The Story) Morning Glory? The selections from later albums—while not standing up to the quality of their predecessors—are the best of a sad bunch, making Time Flies a solid collection with the odd misguided moment. Most of the questionable singles are coagulated on the second disc. So by the time you reach these, you're worn out from the air guitar marathon of the first disc, and you're looking for a breather anyway.

If you were a super-lucky die-hard there was a four-disc box set import of Time Flies, complete with DVDs of 38 videos and the last recorded live show—but it's already out of print worldwide. And there is also the five-disc vinyl version. Even if all you have is the basic package, you will be privy to the sentimentality of the fans and the impact of Oasis via the emailed commentary of their followers included in the liner notes under each song. Oasis, even in pieces, is going to live forever. (www.oasisinet.com)

Author rating: 6/10