In the 1960s, the big English rock ’n’ roll rivalry was The Beatles and the Rolling Stones — but in the 1990s, it was all about pledging allegiance either to Blur or Oasis.
The two Britpop titans dominated the era. Oasis were the brash, swaggering, working-class heroes; Blur came from more comfortable backgrounds, and had a more refined and introverted approach to their music.
To add to the drama, the two bands were often at each other’s throats, with both Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis especially keen at taking potshots at their counterparts in the press. Noel, in particular, famously expressed a wish that Blur bassist Alex James and singer Damon Albarn would “catch AIDS and die” (although in later years, he took back the comment).
At the peak of the rivalry in the mid-1990s, Oasis were undoubtedly on top. Their excellent second album, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” (1995), was a runaway success in the UK, they played to a quarter of a million people over two nights at Knebworth in 1996, and the band even made it to No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart that year with “Wonderwall.”
But in the time since, it’s Blur who have proven themselves to be the braver and more enduring band. Their new album, “The Magic Whip” (their first since 2003), was released this week to widespread acclaim.
Meanwhile, the Gallagher brothers have gone their separate ways since Oasis split in 2009. Noel Gallagher is currently on tour with his undistinguished new group, High Flying Birds (who play Webster Hall next Thursday), and Liam’s currently taking a break from music altogether following the dissolution of his band Beady Eye.
Ahead of Blur’s free show Friday night at Music Hall of Williamsburg (presented by Converse Rubber Tracks), here are five reasons why Blur have almost always been better than Oasis.
‘Beetlebum’ (1997) vs. ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’
The Britpop hangover began in 1997 with “Beetlebum” — Blur’s intense ode to heroin, which showed a seedier side to their music.
Just a few months later, Oasis’ bloated comeback “D’You Know What I Mean?” emerged and underwhelmed everyone with a seven-minute song peppered with Morse code, meaningless lyrics and backward guitars.
‘No Distance Left to Run’ (1999) vs. ‘Go Let It Out’ (2000)
The experimental nature of Blur’s 1999 album “13” confused many longtime fans, but even among the missteps, there were moments of undeniable beauty, such as “No Distance Left to Run,” which captured Albarn’s heartbreak over his breakup with Justine Frischmann (singer of British band Elastica).
A year later, Oasis came back into view with the glorified campfire singalong that was “Go Let It Out,” which was followed by the similarly turgid album “Standing on the Shoulder of Giants.”
‘Out of Time’ (2003) vs. ‘Songbird’ (2003)
Blur’s ballads often win more praise than their upbeat songs, due in part to Albarn’s lilting croon — and on “Out of Time” (from the album “Think Tank”), it’s captivating enough to stop you dead.
Compare that to Oasis’ Liam Gallagher and his nasal, cocaine-addled tones on the saccharine “Heathen Chemistry” track “Songbird.”
‘Feel Good Inc’ by Gorillaz (2005) vs. ‘Lyla’ (2005)
One of the few latter-day glimpses of Oasis at their best was the stomping “Lyla,” but even that fell short of what their old rivals were up to.
By this time, Blur were on hiatus; Albarn was conquering the world with his animated hip-hop group Gorillaz, while guitarist Graham Coxon was churning out excellent power-pop solo albums like 2004’s “Happiness in Magazines.” Even when working separately, the members of Blur put Oasis in the shade.
‘Fool’s Day’ (2010) vs. ‘Falling Down’ (2008)
Oasis tried getting psychedelic for their last single before splitting up, but “Falling Down” was far from interesting — and even further from being convincing.
Not long after, Blur reconvened in their original lineup for the first time since 2000 for this quietly brilliant Record Store Day release filled with evocative, Kinks-esque references to everyday English life.