This 2-CD celebration spanning 15 years is tinged with the knowledge that the band have now imploded. It does reiterate that Oasis owned the late 1990s and influenced a generation of independent bands at the forefront of Britpop. Here then are the singles - eight of them No.1s, and - with the CD booklet laced with specially solicited fan recollections - a glorious trip down (recent) memory lane.

Although billed as 'the complete Oasis singles collection' it does omit 'Whatever' (a non-album single in 1994) and might have included 'Morning Glory' ,'Champagne Supernova' and 'Don't Go Away' although these three songs weren't released as singles in the UK. 'Sunday Morning Call', a single in 2000, is - perhaps strangely - included as a 'hidden' track at the end of the second disc.

There is though a 3 disc and 4 disc (incl DVD) version of this release which restores the balance (and those tracks omitted).

Noel and Liam at each other's throats is unfortunately the sub-plot to much of this but that - some might say - is rock and roll. No matter that the band dipped somewhat after those first two albums (represented by eight tracks): it didn't stop them producing some definitive stadium rock and being voted the most successful band of all time during this period.

Even by 2009, and their last album 'Falling Down', Noel Gallagher was churning out some of his best material (and evidenced here with the title track).

For the moment, this 26+ track retrospective may be a fitting if, sadly, all too premature epitaph.

****

Review by David Randall