What with nice-guy bands such as Wilco, fun kiddy-pop from bands such as Hanson, and rock stars uniting for good causes at events like the Tibetan Freedom concert, it would seem that a disturbingly happy and friendly vibe is descending upon the world of r

ock 'n' roll. Luckily, all is not lost as Oasis return with their new single, "D'you Know What I Mean?" and jolt us back into reality as the band that really is, well, an oasis of self-absorbed rock stardom of the kind that we'd almost begun to forget.

The song begins with some psychedelic guitar swirlings and then switches smoothly into the derivative rock for which Oasis are so well known. In fact, and correct me if I'm wrong, but at some points in the song, it even sounds like Oasis snag guitar lines

from their own super-hit "Wonderwall."

There are plenty of snazzy guitar solos from Noel Gallagher, the band's songwriter/guitarist, and the sing-songy chorus rings out "All my people right here, right now/ D'you Know What I Mean? Yeah, Yeah." Other lyrics include the intriguing line, "I met m

y maker/ I made him cry/ And on my shoulder/ He asked me why"-- only in singer Liam Gallagher's world. Nevertheless, "D'you Know What I Mean" is a damn catchy bit of brit-brat "I think I'm God" rock that keeps you humming, even if it's against your better

judgment.

Amid the Beatlesesque "yeah-yeahs" and through the pissed-off-sounding English accent , Liam even gets in a few extra good lines, the most notable of which is, "Going out in style/ I ain't good looking/ But I'm someone's child." Ain't that the truth.

As expected, the video for the new single is already on heavy rotation on MTV, and features Liam, in a furry parka that seems a little excessive for the weather (it must have been a stylistic call) and the band performing on a rooftop while helicopters bu

zz overhead.

The two versions of the song on this promotional single (not for sale in the U. S. yet), the radio edit and the album version, each clock in at more than six minutes, with the album version being the longer at seven minutes and 22 seconds. "D'you Know Wha

t I Mean" is from Oasis' upcoming release, Be Here Now due in stores Aug. 21 in the U.K. and Aug. 26 in the U.S.

It'll be a welcome relief, if just to have the brothers Gallagher back in top obnoxious form.