Heathen Chemistry

Heathen Chemistry was recorded between 2001 and early 2002 and is the first Oasis album to have significant writing contributions from members other than chief songwriter Noel Gallagher. Front man Liam Gallagher contributed three songs, and new bassist Andy Bell and rhythm guitarist Gem Archer contributed one song each as well.Wiederhorn, Jon. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453242/20020403/oasis.jhtml "Oasis Turn to Heathens, Hedonism for Inspiration on New LP"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012141809/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453242/20020403/oasis.jhtml |date=12 October 2008 }}. MTV. 3 April 2002.

Although most of the song's instrumentation was complete by mid-to-late 2001, Noel indicated that the release date of the album was being needlessly delayed by Liam's apparent reluctance to lay down his vocal parts at recording sessions, and went on to state that he was "livid" at the lack of work being done:

::I was really happy with (the album) until recently, but I'm fucking livid now. I finished my bits three-and-a-half months ago, and then we handed it over to Liam, and in three-and-a-half months he's done nothing. Just concentrated on his drinking habit again. It's just drifting at the moment.

::All the backing tracks are done and it's a fantastic album of instrumentals. Hand it over to the singer and it just slows down and becomes this one really long, drawn-out, painful process. So, to be honest with you, I don't know when it'll come out now. It's down to him."Noel 'livid' as Liam delays new Oasis album", NME Online, 11 October 2001

Despite the setbacks during the recording process, when the album was finally complete Noel was confident that it was the group's second best album to date, behind their debut Definitely Maybe.Downey, Ryan J. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453989/20020515/oasis.jhtml?headlines=true "Oasis Set Up U.S. Tour Whether Liam Likes It Or Not"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804231129/https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.f88235f49a156f8b4cab34c7bc1a0acc.html?origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtv.com |date=4 August 2021 }}. MTV News. 16 May 2002.

The title of the album, according to Noel, came from a T-shirt he bought in Ibiza which featured a logo reading, "The Society of Heathen Chemists". Similarly, the name of the first single, "The Hindu Times", originated from a logo on a T-shirt that read the same thing, which Noel saw during a photo shoot for GQ's 100 Greatest Guitarists edition. The name was given to the track when it was just an instrumental and the name stuck once the track was finished.

The cover image was taken by photographer Andrew Macpherson,{{cite journal |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/simon-halfon-book |title=Meet the man behind the most iconic album covers of all time |journal=GQ |date=3 December 2020 |access-date=23 March 2025 |last=Burton |first=Charlie |url-status=live}} who was commissioned by Simon Halfon to spend a week in Paris with the band in February 2002. The photograph depicts an informal moment as the band members wait for a Métro train at the Gare de Lyon Métro station, on February 13th 2002.{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/oasis-new-album-artwork-revealed-1406483 |title=Oasis: new album artwork revealed

|journal=NME |date=14 July 2008}} The album's cover art has been compared to that of The Beatles' 1965 album Rubber Soul.

The release of the album was overshadowed by an Internet leak of all 11 songs almost three months prior to release, which was evident at a Las Vegas show the group performed where fans knew the words to several new songs before the album's release.Goldner, Jonathan. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453651/20020429/oasis.jhtml "Oasis Badger 'Thieving' Fans At Las Vegas Gig"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113184555/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453651/20020429/oasis.jhtml |date=13 January 2009 }}. MTV. 29 April 2002. However, listeners of the commercially released album heard slight differences to two tracks, "Little by Little" and "Better Man".

The length of track 11, "Better Man" is 38:03; this is because of a hidden track called "The Cage", which begins after 30 minutes of silence. In the Japanese and digital versions, "Better Man" and the hidden track "The Cage" were separated and the 30-minute silence was removed.

The album was certified four times platinum selling over 1.2 million in the UK,[http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=30757 Heathen Chemistry certification] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030052843/http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=30757 |date=30 October 2007 }}. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 January 2009. and 154,000 copies in the US.Cohen. Jonathan. [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/63828/oasis-pledges-new-truth-in-may "Oasis Pledges New 'Truth' In May"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611082419/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/63828/oasis-pledges-new-truth-in-may |date=11 June 2015 }}. billboard.com. 7 March 2005.Trust, Gary. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/thisday/ask-billboard-mariah-carey-abba-oasis-the-1003934063.story "Ask Billboard: "English Beat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207065222/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/thisday/ask-billboard-mariah-carey-abba-oasis-the-1003934063.story |date=7 February 2009 }}. Billboard. 23 January 2009. Upon release, Heathen Chemistry went straight to number one in the UK, though it fared rather poorly in the US, only entering at number 23.

It spawned four singles, each of which made the top three in the UK charts: "The Hindu Times", their sixth number one single in the UK; "Stop Crying Your Heart Out"; "Little By Little/She Is Love", the double A-side sung by Noel Gallagher; and "Songbird", the first single written by Liam.

{{Music ratings

| MC = 55/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/heathen-chemistry-mw0000219095 |title=Heathen Chemistry – Oasis |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=10 February 2013 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |archive-date=4 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804231127/https://www.allmusic.com/album/heathen-chemistry-mw0000219095 |url-status=live }}

| rev2 = Blender

| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/new/50539/heathen-chemistry.html |title=Oasis: Heathen Chemistry |journal=Blender |issue=8 |date=August 2002 |access-date=10 February 2013 |last=Collis |first=Clark |page=120 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928085733/http://www.blender.com/guide/new/50539/heathen-chemistry.html |archive-date=28 September 2010 |url-status=dead}}

| rev3 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|chapter=Oasis|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|edition=5th concise|year=2011|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4Score = B−{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/07/12/heathen-chemistry/ |title=Heathen Chemistry |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=12 July 2002 |access-date=14 June 2019 |last=Willman |first=Chris |page=84 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107091211/https://ew.com/article/2002/07/12/heathen-chemistry/ |archive-date=7 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/jun/21/popandrock.shopping |title=Yawning glory |work=The Guardian |date=21 June 2002 |access-date=27 January 2013 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |archive-date=9 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909152141/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/jun/21/popandrock.shopping |url-status=live }}

| rev6 = Los Angeles Times

| rev6Score = {{Rating|2|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-30-ca-rack30-story.html |title=Oasis, 'Heathen Chemistry' Epic |work=Los Angeles Times |date=30 June 2002 |access-date=14 June 2016 |last=Hilburn |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Hilburn}}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7Score = 8/10{{cite journal |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/oasis/6492 |title=Oasis : Heathen Chemistry |journal=NME |date=25 June 2002 |access-date=27 January 2013 |last=Fox |first=Jason |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093808/http://www.nme.com/reviews/oasis/6492 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8Score = 1.2/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5931-heathen-chemistry/ |title=Oasis: Heathen Chemistry |work=Pitchfork |date=10 July 2002 |access-date=27 January 2013 |last=Mitchum |first=Rob |archive-date=27 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127190041/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5931-heathen-chemistry/ |url-status=live }}

| rev9 = Q

| rev9Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite journal |title=Oasis: Heathen Chemistry |journal=Q |issue=192 |date=July 2002}}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com:80/artists/oasis/albums/album/94798/review/5942714/heathen_chemistry |title=Oasis: Heathen Chemistry |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=4 July 2002 |access-date=27 June 2017 |last=Moon |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Moon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216152610/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/oasis/albums/album/94798/review/5942714/heathen_chemistry |archive-date=16 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}

| rev11 = Spin

| rev11Score = 4/10{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6Vy26TGdauEC&pg=PA113 |title=Oasis: Heathen Chemistry |journal=Spin |volume=18 |issue=8 |date=August 2002 |access-date=10 February 2013 |last=Klosterman |first=Chuck |author-link=Chuck Klosterman |page=113 |archive-date=4 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804231127/https://books.google.com/books?id=6Vy26TGdauEC&pg=PA113 |url-status=live }}

| rev1score =

}}

Reception for the album varied wildly. On Metacritic, it has a score of 55 out of 100, based on reviews from 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/heathen-chemistry/oasis |title=Reviews for Heathen Chemistry by Oasis |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=1 November 2020 |archive-date=16 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216212948/https://www.metacritic.com/music/heathen-chemistry/oasis |url-status=live }} Some reviewers noted that it was better than the band's last effort, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, with Blender writing that Oasis was "a band back on track". However, a number of other reviewers offered scathing assessments of the album; notably, Drowned in Sound,{{cite web |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/2997/reviews/4316-oasis-heathen-chemistry |title=Album Review: Oasis – Heathen Chemistry |work=Drowned in Sound |date=11 July 2002 |access-date=10 February 2013 |last=Reed |first=Mark |archive-date=28 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928035613/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/2997/reviews/4316-oasis-heathen-chemistry |url-status=dead }} Pitchfork, and Stylus Magazine.{{Cite web |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/oasis/heathen-chemistry.htm |title=Oasis – Heathen Chemistry – Review |last=Chakroff |first=Evan |date=1 September 2003 |website=Stylus Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202051424/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/oasis/heathen-chemistry.htm |archive-date=2 February 2010 |access-date=27 January 2013}}

In 2017, Liam Gallagher ranked Heathen Chemistry as his least favourite Oasis album.{{cite web |last1=Beaumont |first1=Mark |title=Liam Gallagher ranks every Oasis, Beady Eye and solo album from worst to best |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/liam-gallagher-oasis-beady-eye-best-album-2147407 |website=NME |date=5 October 2017 |access-date=22 December 2021}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Heathen Chemistry track listing

| title1 = The Hindu Times

| writer1 = Noel Gallagher

| length1 = 3:46

| title2 = Force of Nature

| writer2 = N. Gallagher

| length2 = 4:51

| title3 = Hung in a Bad Place

| writer3 = Gem Archer

| length3 = 3:28

| title4 = Stop Crying Your Heart Out

| writer4 = N. Gallagher

| length4 = 5:03

| title5 = Songbird

| writer5 = Liam Gallagher

| length5 = 2:07

| title6 = Little by Little

| writer6 = N. Gallagher

| length6 = 4:52

| title7 = A Quick Peep

| note7 = Instrumental

| writer7 = Andy Bell

| length7 = 1:17

| title8 = (Probably) All in the Mind

| writer8 = N. Gallagher

| length8 = 4:02

| title9 = She Is Love

| writer9 = N. Gallagher

| length9 = 3:09

| title10 = Born on a Different Cloud

| writer10 = L. Gallagher

| length10 = 6:08

| title11 = Better Man

| note11 = song ends at 4:20, includes hidden track "The Cage", which begins at 33:13

| writer11 = L. Gallagher / N. Gallagher

| length11 = 38:02

| all_writing =

| total_length = 76:36

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese and digital version

| title11 = Better Man

| writer11 = L. Gallagher

| length11 = 4:20

| title12 = The Cage

| writer12 = N. Gallagher

| length12 = 4:50

| title13 = (You've Got) the Heart of a Star

| writer13 = N. Gallagher

| length13 = 5:24

| total_length = 53:18

}}

Notes

In the Japanese and digital versions, "Better Man" and the hidden track "The Cage" were separated and the 30-minute silence was removed.

• Liam Gallagher – vocals, tambourine, acoustic guitar
• Noel Gallagher – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocals (2, 6, 9, 13), drums (11){{Cite web |url=http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/noel-gallagher/825523/3 |title=Noel Gallagher - Page 3 of 4 |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221141347/http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/noel-gallagher/825523/3 |url-status=dead }}
• Gem Archer – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
• Andy Bell – bass guitar
• Alan White – drums, percussion

• Paul Stacey – Mellotron (track 1), piano (tracks 2, 3, 11), Hammond organ (track 6)
• Mike Rowe – piano (tracks 4, 10), pump organ (tracks 5, 9), Hammond organ (tracks 8–10)
• Johnny Marr – guitar solo (track 8), slide guitar (track 10), guitar and backing vocals (track 11)
• London Session Orchestra – strings (track 4)

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Heathen Chemistry}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|award=Gold|certref={{cite web | url = http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=oasis&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=0&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP | archive-url = https://archive.today/20110531185022/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=oasis&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=0&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP | publisher = Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas | language = es | access-date =14 January 2021| title = Disco de Oro y Platino – Oasis | archive-date = 31 May 2011}}|type=album|relyear=2002|artist=Oasis|title=Heathen Chemistry}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=Oasis|title=Heathen Chemistry|award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|access-date=14 January 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Oasis|title=Heathen Chemistry|award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|access-date=14 January 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hong Kong|artist=Oasis|title=Heathen Chemistry|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|access-date=21 July 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|artist=Oasis|title=Heathen Chemistry|award=Platinum|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|certmonth=6|access-date=14 January 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|artist=Oasis|title=Heathen Chemistry|award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2003|access-date=14 January 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|artist=Oasis|title=Heathen Chemistry|award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|access-date=14 January 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Oasis|title=Heathen Chemistry|award=Platinum|relyear=2002|certyear=2024|number=4|id=2814-1114-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Oasis|title=Heathen Chemistry|nocert=true|relyear=2002|salesamount=154,000|salesref={{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/thisday/ask-billboard-mariah-carey-abba-oasis-the-1003934063.story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207065222/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/thisday/ask-billboard-mariah-carey-abba-oasis-the-1003934063.story|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-02-07|title=Ask Billboard: Mariah Carey, Abba, Oasis, The Verve|magazine=Billboard |date=7 February 2009|access-date=14 January 2021}}}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMpM3Z0118S5RPvvTaQSxCYnLaUG7HFxz Heathen Chemistry] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
• {{Discogs master|type=album|52277|name=Heathen Chemistry}}

{{Oasis}}

{{EngvarB|date=June 2022}}

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