Oysterband Great Hits III

Last time(s) we saw tunes like "The Deserter" and "Rise Above" champion their ways into the Oysters' top 20 hits. This time, however, it's not so cut-and-dry. The competition picks up in the top 10, as expected, and these are the greatest songs ever recorded and written by the epic british folk rock band.

The #11-20 list:

20. Put Out The Lights (Shouting End of Life)

19. No Reason To Cry (Deep Dark Ocean)

18. All That Way For This (Deserters)

17. The Road To Santiago (Holy Bandits)

16. Street Of Dreams (Here I Stand)

15. The Deserter (Deserters)

14. Another Quiet Night In England (Wide Blue Yonder)

13. Bury Me Standing (Meet You There)

12. Rise Above (Rise Above)

11. By Northern Light (Shouting End Of Life)

And now, the featured presentation:

#10:

Everywhere I Go

This is quite easily the loudest and most poignant stage song they have ever written. It mesmerizes crowds, puts Jon Jones into a daze on stage, and hits home to every anti-capitalist out there (including myself). It reminds us that no matter how far away we are, globalisation is always present (which is why the word 'global' is included therein). Featured on the racous "Shouting End of Life" album.

#9:

Blood Wedding

This song is sheer fun, in brutal honesty. No politics, no bull$%!&#, just plain old drinking song fun about family matters you can't help but love to hate. It captured what my wife and I were fearing our wedding would end up like (brothers pissing on floors, grandfathers on drugs, etc.). The sad truth is that it's not too far from what I imagine most American weddings to be like anymore.

#8:

Granite Years

I thought about moving this up to the top five, but I feel that that is reserved for the most difficult pieces they've written (mostly lyrically). Granite Years is great fun wrapped up ina celtic rollick, but it pales to some of the Oysters less than joyful tunes (along with Blood Wedding and When I'm Up). Needless to say, this gem highlights the early '90s album "Deserters" and remains a mainstay in live shows to this day.

#7

Uncommercial Song

This is the green party's theme (if it really isn't, it ought to be). Maybe we really don't know right from wrong, but in the meantime we'll speculate to the guitar riffs and introspective chorus of this number, which also is a very popular live number of theirs. It breaks in at track number two on "Rise Above" (2001) and never looks back, heralding possibly the best rock-based album they've ever produced.

#6

This Is The Voice

Featured as the second song on "Here I Stand", this song no doubt reminds listeners of someone who influenced them so greatly that their voice is still heard in their mind. My grandfather was this person to me...controversial, coal mining/farming background, hard working yet conservative. His influence to me has allowed me to find solace in this song and therefore, I dedicate it to his life.

NOW THE TOP 5:

#5

On The Edge

Another anti-globalisation tune (seems to be a trend) and being featured on "Here I Stand" (as an album, rather mediocre for the band to be honest) makes this song truly stand out as an opening number. Majestic drumming in the chorus, tight vocal harmonies, strong political message we can believe in (come on, is McDonald's really that great anyway?). The Oysterband experimented with loud, unabrsive, unintrusive rock in this song, backed by joyful banjo harmonies, and it worked.

#4

When I'm Up

I debated making this #3, but it slid down a tad when I looked seriously at the possible top 3. I love this song, no doubt in my mind, and Great Big Sea introduced me to the Oysterband while covering this number, but I still feel that the top 3 will be most surprising to avid fans, especially when this number is not included. They recorded a new version on their upcoming "Drifter" and you can give an ear here. This is a remake version in acoustic style. Very, very good reworking and therefore this song is definitely the best choice for the fourth slot.

#3:

Shouting End Of Life

This is a bar tune, but it's the only Oysterband song with the f-word in it. Does this merit a third place? Sure, I don't suppose you'd like to find a song about dying with your boots strapped on and your fists waving that will actually inspire you to follow thru on the promise like this song does. The title track to the 1995 album makes this a truly great tune.

#2:

Native Son

This is possibly my favourite, to be brutally honest, mostly because of the cello introduction and the almost ethereal sea-shanty melody backed by a rumbling world beat (Lee does not miss a mark in this song). Some are born to plow the fields at home, but I'm with Jones on this song, I was born to tell the truth and run. And this song does not help me return home anytime soon.

AND THE NUMBER ONE OYSTERBAND SONG EVER:

Where the World Divides

Being a very new song for the band, it still doesn't change the fact that it is not only a great live piece, but alos thought provoking and unique. It is folk-based (as is the entire 'Meet You There' album) and therefore is less heavy on the noise and more intelligible in the overlaying of multiple instruments. They featured a video on youtube with this song, and I suggest hitting it up sometime soon. I've found this song to have universal appeal among pretty much everyone, so this deserves the top rating in its own right. Also it's proof that this band only gets better with age...

This is it, the greatest hits list. Once again, as a resfresher:

20. Put Out The Lights (Shouting End of Life)

19. No Reason To Cry (Deep Dark Ocean)

18. All That Way For This (Deserters)

17. The Road To Santiago (Holy Bandits)

16. Street Of Dreams (Here I Stand)

15. The Deserter (Deserters)

14. Another Quiet Night In England (Wide Blue Yonder)

13. Bury Me Standing (Meet You There)

12. Rise Above (Rise Above)

11. By Northern Light (Shouting End Of Life)

10. Everywhere I Go (Shouting End Of Life)

9. Blood Wedding (Holy Bandits)

8. Granite Years (Deserters)

7. Uncommercial Song (Rise Above)

6. This Is The Voice (Here I Stand)

5. I'm On The Edge (Here I Stand)

4. When I'm Up [I Can't Get Down] (Holy Bandits)

3. Shouting End Of Life (Shouting End Of Life)

2. Native Son (Deep Dark Ocean)

1. Where The World Divides (Meet You There)

Special thanks to the Oysterband for making a great career in music for those of us who truly appreciate something that has more depth than radio friendly rock. For more information about the Oysters, check their site out at http://oysterband.co.uk. Also try them on youtube, I think I've favourite something like 40 videos of theirs.

--TK