Heathen Chemistry
by Oasis
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Jul 2, 2002
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 115 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 82 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 115
  3. Negative: 17 out of 115

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  1. Guus2002
    Jan 22, 2019
    3
    Many people turn to albums like Be Here Now and Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants as the worst albums by Oasis. Be Here Now had its moments and I believe that SOTSOG is actually a solid record. No no, the worst Oasis has ever been being on 2002's Heathen Chemistry.

    The album starts out promising with The Hindu Times. It isn't creative, but it gets the blood pumping and is a very    Many people turn to albums like Be Here Now and Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants as the worst albums by Oasis. Be Here Now had its moments and I believe that SOTSOG is actually a solid record. No no, the worst Oasis has ever been being on 2002's Heathen Chemistry.

    The album starts out promising with The Hindu Times. It isn't creative, but it gets the blood pumping and is a very strong opener. It isn't as strong as the demo recorded by Noel himself, but it is a solid tune. However, this song also shows the albums weak and **** points. All the songs are guitar-driven, but not in a good way. The only instrument you can hear is a guitar which is a disappointment after the rich instrumentation of the last album.

    Most of the songs are just overly long guitar rockers or ballads. A force of nature is an arrogant and sour slug of four minutes. Born on a different cloud and Stop crying your heart out are overly sentimental and melodramatic. She is love is just bland.

    But Oasis doesn't just bore in their own way. No, they copy sounds from other bands. Hung In A Bad Place is a z-list Black Crowes song. Songbird is Liam just trying to be John Lennon.

    There are two other bright spots on the album aside from the opener. Little by Little is fine. On another oasis album this would be filler, but here it's a nice break of pace. A quick peep is amazing. It's an original song that takes influences and uses it in an interesting way. It should have been the entire album.

    Heathen Chemistry is disappointing in every way. It doesn't live up to the promise of new sounds by their superior album that came before. It doesn't feel like an interesting album. And it isn't a very good album. Luckily Oasis kinda redeemed themselves on their next album, because this leaves a sour taste for a long time after you listen to this shadow of a once great band    … Expand
  2. Lhorkaven
    Jul 11, 2020
    2
    Boring glory. Wait, no glory at all. The songs in this album are boring and slow. And the music is practically nonexistent.
  3. wangl
    Feb 11, 2005
    0
    no way sis' or bro!
  4. TomasC
    Sep 26, 2003
    1
    Shit... BLUR RULZ
  5. JB
    Aug 12, 2002
    2
    Go away, please.
  6. JoshP
    Mar 30, 2004
    1
    It's funny how Oasis fans blame bad reviews on "backlash" and cant accept that Heathen Chemistry is a very bland and average record by a band that is getting worse and worse with each album.
  7. dsd
    Dec 27, 2002
    0
    awful, just awful
  8. EricC
    Aug 14, 2007
    0
    Pick up a guitar, put your fingers anywhere on the strings, and just strum that cord over and over. Than sing whatever the hell you want, or just whine in a singing voice, and you have as much creativity as a band like Oasis.

Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Most Discussed Album of 2002
56
#56 Most Shared Album of 2002

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 22
  3. Negative: 3 out of 22
  1. E! Online
    75
    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.
    Read full review
  2. PopMatters
    70
    Heathen Chemistry gets back to what Oasis do well.
    Read full review
  3. Billboard
    70
    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.
    Read full review
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