Following their mega-successful debut double shot of 1994’s Definitely Maybe and 1995’s (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis were poised to rule the rock game. But 1997’s underwhelming Be Here Now put an end to that.

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Ever since, the band has been stuck in rock'n'roll Triple-A. Not quite major leaguers on par with Coldplay, the Chili Peppers, or Radiohead, but able to fill arenas nonetheless. And even though the new Dig Out Your Soul is a welcome return to the supersonic guitars and straightforward songwriting of those early albums, Oasis’s cultural moment has passed. The brothers Gallagher won’t be getting called back to the bigs anytime soon.

But for sheer entertainment value, they deserve better. It doesn’t matter that Noel has no longer got a multiplatinum platform, he still talks like everyone’s listening, whether that means beefing with Jay-Z or ragging on Radiohead.

I love it.

And Liam is no quote slouch either. Take, for example, the following Wildean zinger, leveled at the fool who tackled Noel in Toronto: “If it were up to me, I’d have cut his dick off and made him eat it.” Not exactly something Chris Martin would say. Come to think of it, what is something Chris Martin would say? Only Gwyneth knows for sure.

And that’s why we need Oasis. Slagging people in the press, public intra-band squabbling, releasing albums of tunefully kickass guitar rock, speaking in a British accent -- this is what rock stars are supposed to do! Now, it just so happens that rock stars are a little like dinosaurs these days, but guess what? Dinosaurs are awesome.

From the release of their sophomore effort, Pretty. Odd, to a visit to London's Abbey Road studios, to their exhaustive North American tour, Panic at the Disco have had a very busy year -- and according to frontman Brendon Urie, the band doesn't plan to let up.

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In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Urie said the quartet have been "writing non-stop" since the completion of Odd, and that their yet-to-be titled third full-length could arrive in spring 2009. According to Urie, the new material's sound is similar to Odd's classic-rock revivalism: "There's so much music we haven't discovered from 30 years ago or more. We're still trying to pick up on that stuff."

Until then, fans can hear Urie on Fall Out Boy's forthcoming full-length, Folie A Deux, along with many other diverse collaborators.

As Election Day approaches, many musicians are stepping up efforts to rally voters to the polls come November 4. The latest to vote with their instruments? Hip-hop luminaries the Beastie Boys, staunch Obama supporters who just unveiled a handful of "Get Out and Vote" shows.

"This election is too important to stay at home," the rap trio told Billboard.com. "We hope that you can come out, have a nice night, dance, sing, get your freak on, and then wake up the next morning and get everyone that you possibly can to get out and vote."

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The mini-tour -- set to hit three swing states decisive to the election -- kicks off October 28 in Richmond, VA, and is followed by shows in St. Paul, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, Nov. 1-2, respectively. The shows will also feature performances by such artists as Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Santogold, Ben Harper, and Tenacious D.

Beastie Boys' "Get Out and Vote" dates:
10/28, Richmond, VA (Richmond Coliseum) (w/ Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, and Santogold)
11/1, St. Paul, MN (Roy Wilkins Auditorium) (w/ Ben Harper and Tenacious D)
11/2, Milwaukee, WI (U.S. Cellular Arena) (w/ Ben Harper, Crosby & Nash and Tenacious D)