• Band Name: Oasis
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Jul 2, 2002
Metascore
55 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 22
  2. Negative: 3 out of 22
  1. Oasis can't help but sound like a group battling to free themselves from being last century's thing.
  2. 80
    Sounds like a band back on track. [#8, p.120]
  3. 80
    Heathen Chemistry finds the quintet back in cracking mid-'90s form.
  4. Oasis is back, and in top form.
  5. Pretty much the same Beatles-esque pub-rock with Middle Eastern punches you'd expect--though with more shared singing and songwriting duties than past outings have had.
  6. Essentially, Oasis have tentatively begun to master the art of becoming veterans: writing songs that reflect their circumstances and not a mythical image of what they once were; songs that suggest there's life in the old beast yet.
  7. While the electronic flourishes and arrogant bombast that respectively marred the band's last two efforts are thankfully gone, there's nothing on Heathen Chemistry to suggest that the "Wonderwall" commercial glory days of the mid-'90s are coming back.
  8. Heathen Chemistry gets back to what Oasis do well.
  9. A step up from the previous two tossers. [12 July 2002, p.84]
  10. It's hard not to find this album kind of disappointing, a confirmation that no matter what they do, Oasis Mach II will never have the sheer abandon or thrill as Definitely Maybe through Morning Glory.
  11. As on the last few Oasis outings, particularly the arrogant Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, from 2000, Noel's nerdy-architect tendencies are counterbalanced by the bratty and hedonistic snarl of his brother Liam.
  12. Those who are already fond of the band, and who go into Chemistry with a proper sense of lowered expectations, should leave entertained.
  13. 60
    Crackles with anger, energy, and defiance. [Aug 2002, p.156]
  14. 50
    The new material, with some exceptions, lacks spark and flair, having a sense of anti-climax about it. [Aug 2002, p.106]
  15. 50
    There's got to be something better, man. [July 2002, p.94]
  16. Noel Gallagher's songwriting is more derivative than ever. [Aug 2002, p.78]
  17. That the band that churned out some of the best records ever made in a phenomenal two-year creative splurge should be reduced to anything as pubby as this is nothing short of tragic.
  18. Any good news – Liam’s decent fist of songwriting, the less oppressive sound, the professional playing – is rendered largely irrelevant by the gaping chasm where more decent songs should be.
  19. 40
    The good news is that they haven't completely lost their nerve; they still play their bombastic brat-rock like it's the apotheosis of Western pop culture. Sadly, this is also the bad news. [Aug 2002, p.113]
  20. Psychedelia is really only compelling when ego takes a backseat to kaleidoscopic music, and the Gallaghers are, of course, incapable of such a gesture.
  21. Nowadays, the Gallaghers can only offer stylized guitar murk and hookless acoustic ditties; even scarier, you can understand their lyrics, which are more mush-headed and lovey-dovey than you'd expect from a band this self-satisfied.
  22. Heathen Chemistry also takes the time to cop riffs and progressions from previous Oasis hits.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 80 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 56
  2. Negative: 9 out of 56
  1. TonyS
    7
    This is a good album by Oasis but when you're one of the all time greats, good isn't good enough. There are 6 classics on here but 4 very ordinary tunes a very short instrumental. The band produced the record themselves and apart from a few inspired moments, it's clear the boys should have got someone in, who knows what they're doing. The biggest crime is not knowing how to mix Liams vocals, he sounds too tame on certain tracks here, while Noels voice sounds too loud in the mix on some of his vocals. Overall, a good album but quite forgettable. Full Review »
  2. 8
    After the disappointment of Be Here Now and Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, the singles that came off Heathen Chemistry really gave Oasis fans a lot of cause for optimism. The Hindu Times has the typical Oasis swagger in abundance, Stop Crying Your Heart Out is as sleek and smooth a ballad as you'll hear. Then you have Liam's surprisingly brilliant Songbird, not to mention Noels double A-side Little By Little/ She is Love. Unfortunately outside of the singles, the rest of the album is a bit bland. Gem Archer and Andy Bells offering definitely take this album down a notch quality wise. Hung in a Bad Place and A Quick Peep are dreadful. If you replaced those tracks with 2 more Noel penned tracks it would have been a really good record. Instead, it's not bad. I also think if the best parts of this record was combined with the highlights of SotSoG, Oasis might have brought out a real classic. Full Review »
  3. Its not as immediately brilliant as morning glory or definitely maybe, but there are some fantastic songs on here! 'Force of nature' has a great edge to it, while s'top crying your heart out' and 'little by little' are captivating ballads. Pretty much every song is worth listening to again and again, overall the album is far better than it is given credit for Full Review »