Quote: Black and white v2 "The only album that was 'leftovers' was be here now. The rest of the albums only got such a bad reception because they didn't live up to the first two but there still great albums'"
None of the post Morning Glory albums are particulary bad per se (even the overblown mess that is Be Here Now has its moments) although I would stop short of calling any of them great. Most of them are a decent enough listen, trotted out in the well established Oasis sound (even the two post split releases) with the odd cracking tune sprinkled here and there.
The problem with all of the Gallaghers post 1996 work (as you point out above) is that they are forever destined to live in the shadow of the first two Oasis albums which cut such a blaze of glory through British popular youth culture during 94-96 (the so called Britpop years) meaning it was virtually impossible for Noel Gallagher to maintain those standards whilst continuing to exert an influence over British rock/pop as a whole.
He certainly isn't the first rock star to be confronted with this dilemma (the second half of Led Zeppelin's career suffered in the same way for instance), but ultimately the Gallaghers post 1996 work is a pleasant enough listen without quite having the white knuckle ride feel of those first two iconic releases and I'm afraid they suffer accordingly.
I'm pretty sure you will heartily disagree with all of the above, as many others doubtless will
, but for what it's worth that's my opinion.