Stop the Clocks

Curated by Noel Gallagher in 2006, the greatest hits compilation Stop the Clocks offers newcomers a solid gold compendium of a classic rock group. More than that, it gives longtime fans an opportunity to see how Noel judges his career. Stop the Clocks isn’t all about the hits, as it gives equal space to b-sides (“Acquiesce,” “The Masterplan”, “Talk Tonight”) and album tracks (“Lyla,” “Slide Away”). Listeners can make what they will of the fact that the collection disproportionally favors the band’s first two albums over the four they released between 1997 and 2005. However, recent tracks like “Lyla” and “Importance of Being Idle” are perfectly positioned in the pitch of the compilation, and Noel even credits eternal rival/brother Liam by including his song “Songbird.” Ultimately, Stop the Clocks is designed to resemble one of Oasis’ emotional live shows, and the subtle organization and blazing energy of that experience provide this anthology with its guiding principles.