fade away

Album: The Masterplan
Year: 1995

While I’m sure that many of you are all, “what? Oasis sucks, man!” there are at least a few of you who are wondering just how deep I’m going on Oasis. And the answer is “pretty fucking deep,” as I think there are great songs on even their duffest albums, and a bunch of amazing b-sides that remain totally underheard, at least here in the colonies.

Today’s case in point is “Fade Away,” which was originally one of the b-sides of “Cigarettes and Alcohol,” and ended up being a key track on The Masterplan, a 1998 compilation of some — not all — of the ace b-sides they stuck on their singles.

EP: Fade Away.

Year: 2013.

Bethany Cosentino got slagged on Best Coast’s great 2010 debut, Crazy For You, because “all of the songs sounded the same.” Which was true, to a point, but what the haters didn’t catch was – like, say the Ramones and Neil Young – it was a great the same. Fuzzy guitars, heartfelt words, deep pop hooks, what’s not to like?

So naturally, on the follow up, they went out of her comfort zone, and the results were less than stellar. And you might think, well, that’s that: the pattern of great debut album, less than great follow-up and several releases that never even come close is an established cliche.

Except that Best Coast’s 2013 EP, Fade Away, blew that cliche to smithereens, as she went right back to her strength, but with a new fullness and maturity. And with its time changes and plaintive chorus "Who Have I Become?“ is easily the best example of a band balancing that fullness & maturity with the sunny pop that made them great in the first place.

And, naturally, "Who Have I Become?” features one of the typically strong guitar hooks of Bobb Bruno, who’s been Cosentino’s under-the-radar James Honeyman-Scott: laying down the guitar parts that actually make each of those “all sound the same” songs completely distinctive.

“Who Have I Become?” performed live at KEXP in 2013

My Certain Songs Spotify Playlist:

Every “Certain Song” Ever

Certain Songs #1362: Oasis – “Fade Away”

Certain Songs #42: Best Coast – “Who Have I Become?”