In a renowned interview featuring Pete Doherty predating The Libertines’ fame, a moment crystallizes as he waits in line for the latest Oasis album, nonchalantly munching on a croissant. When probed about his thoughts on the band, Doherty, in characteristic style, retorts, “I subscribe to the Umberto Eco view that Noel Gallagher’s a poet and Liam’s a town crier.” This unconventional perspective encapsulates Oasis in a manner unparalleled, a sentiment mirrored in Noel’s likening of their music to the poetic depths of Bob Dylan and the audacious resonance of The Velvet Underground.
Oasis finds itself embroiled in controversy with their recent nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a fate shared with many of their peers. Dismissing the honor, Liam Gallagher bluntly declares, “As much as I love Mariah Carey and all that, I want to say: do me a favor and f*** off.” Such sentiments echo among music aficionados, perhaps stemming from their positioning after the initial surge of British Invasion rock bands. Nevertheless, irrespective of personal inclinations, the indelible mark Oasis left on the rock music landscape is undeniable.
Their ability to craft poetically resonant melodies from eclectic influences results in a catalog of songs that endure as contagiously today as upon their release. Noel’s prowess as a songwriter converges seamlessly with Liam’s charismatic frontmanship, forming a symbiotic force. Though these differences eventually culminate in the band’s dissolution, a poignant chapter preceded this inevitability.
During interminable stretches in dressing rooms, weathering interviews, and gracing the stage, Noel plucks a song from the doldrums of ennui — ‘Mucky Fingers.’ He reflects, “[That was] the result of one too many nights in the dressing room, brainwashing Gem with The Velvet Underground and then thinking, ‘F*** it! Dylan rules!’” The song mirrors the essence of Bob Dylan and The Velvet Underground, akin to how Oasis’s lyricism, fueled by Liam’s raw energy and the band’s collective dynamism, draws parallels to poets and town criers. Noel alludes to this synthesis, envisioning, “Imagine Bob Dylan singing [The Velvet Underground’s] ‘I’m Waiting For The Man’, with that kind of frantic drumbeat all the way through.”
Embedded within the fabric of the band’s 2005 album, ‘Don’t Believe the Truth,’ ‘Mucky Fingers’ played its part in the record’s meteoric success, becoming one of the fastest-selling records in the UK, achieving triple platinum status within a week. While not necessarily the most nostalgically cherished track among fans, its execution perfectly encapsulates the quintessence of Oasis’s greatness.
The song serves as a testament to the band’s unparalleled ability to extract inspiration from the banal and infuse vitality into a musical genre like no other. It stands as an exhilarating auditory experience, solidifying ‘Mucky Fingers’ as one of Oasis’s standout tracks in their expansive discography.