Four star

Oasis' seventh album represents their best attempt to recapture the magic of 1994-95 after a series of cliches which died with the rising of Blur and The Verve.

But with Don't Believe the Truth, the arrogance of the Madchester scene has also died, leaving in its place a series of sensitive and tuneful melodies that shine with fresh talent.

Gone are the blundering lyrics and grand gestures, leaving a refreshing collection where each tune is different from the last.

Noel's impassioned vocals are more powerful than ever in Mucky Fingers and Liam's stabs at song-writing result in a brilliant acoustic number, Love Like a Bomb.

First single Lyla is hard-edged acoustic rock that blatantly pilfers phrasing from The Rolling Stones' Street Fighting Man and Part of the Queue bears a striking resemblance to Badly Drawn Boy.

The Beatles are also prevalent throughout but Oasis draw on their inspirations to create a new, fresh sound.

The climactic Let There Be Love, which is one of Noel's strongest ballads, opts for a more understated tone instead of the musical excess we've come to expect.

Oasis have ditched the bad-boy attitude, paradoxically - and successfully - revealing their true colours.

CS