Oasis

Oasis

Don't Believe the Truth (Sony)

Oasis' sixth studio outing is a wallop upside the noggin of those who slagged off Manchester's heart and soul when generation-defining broadsides Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory? were forgotten amidst the snow-blinded pomp of follow-up Be Here Now. Even 2000's roundly panned Standing on the Shoulder of Giants hardly merited the critical drubbing it received. Heathen Chemistry, all right, less bangers and more mash, for certain. Here now is a righteously soulful return to the massive yet intimate, stadium-ready Oasis of Mancunian myth, the geezerly swagger of "Turn up the Sun," bracketed by the triple-shot raveups of "Mucky Fingers," "The Meaning of Soul," and "Eyeball Tickler," and born aloft by the percussive ordinance of new kit-sitter Zak Starkey. It's not all locomotive fire; single "The Importance of Being Idle" and "Guess God Thinks I'm Abel" swaddle Liam's rough-edged whiskey falsettos in Noel's most sublime guitar work. Finally there's "Let There Be Love," a despondent bit of balladeering that shamelessly moves the brothers bedrock love of Lennon and McCartney front and center, until by the end, a creeping and desperately needed reaffirmation of the cathartic powers of rock & roll obliterates any nagging doubt about staying young and living forever. Whatever. Oasis have their master plan and they're sticking to it. (Saturday, 8:15pm, Cingular stage)