Sixth Oasis Album Due in May


NEW YORK (Billboard) - Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher (news) revealed Friday his band's sixth studio set will be released internationally May 16, almost three years after its previous set, "Heathen Chemistry."

In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Gallagher said the Epic album is finished and has a title, but he declined to unveil it.

The album will feature 12 songs credited to all four current members -- Noel, singer Liam Gallagher (news), bassist Andy Bell and guitarist Gem Archer. In the past, Noel Gallagher has served as the band's primary songwriter.

"It's my favorite one of the last four," he said of the album, "Because we're all contributing to the songwriting now, there's a different feel to it. The only songs that actually sound like Oasis are Andy Bell's."

Among the tracks he said will appear on the album are "The Importance of Being Idle," "Guess God Thinks I'm Able" and "Part of the Queue."

Gallagher added that the group hasn't yet decided on an initial single. "There was an obvious first single," he said, "but I was singing it. After 12 years of Oasis, Liam thought that might sound a bit odd; people might think he'd have left the band."

Oasis has already confirmed three outdoor stadium shows for this summer in the United Kingdom: June 29 in Glasgow, July 2 in Manchester, England, and July 9 in London. Additional tour plans have yet to be announced.