Definitely Maybe (1994) - Oasis

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of this album and, with the recent announcement of their return next year, it feels appropriate to revisit this classic. 

It's easy to forget this album in the deluge of success that followed it, particularly the follow-up which became one of the biggest selling rock records of all time. "What's The Story (Morning Glory)" is one of those albums that simply everyone owns. At least 25% of the proceeds likely went up the nostrils of one or the other of the Gallagher brothers, but before that there was this. 

Although it might not have become as ubiquitous as "What's The Story..." the release of this record in 1994 still made a massive impact and made 5 ordinary blokes, from a council estate in Manchester, megastars. Great albums have that timeless touch, wherein they sound like they could've been recorded yesterday - such is the quality of the songs - and this is no exception. There's really no other way to feel when a monster anthem such as 'Rock N' Roll Star' opens proceedings. It's a belter. It's always been a belter. It always will be. Liam's vocals instantly grab you by the scruff of the neck and as soon as you hear "toniiiiiiiight, I'm a rock n roll staaaar" it's hard not to feel twenty eight feet tall. 

Next is 'Shakermaker' which, after 30 years, I still find a very weird song. It's the exact same tune as Coca-Cola's 'I'd Like To Teach the World to Sing' and features mostly absurd lyrics about nothing. However, the thunderous drums and wall of sound guitars give it so much swagger you instantly feel the uncontrollable urge to start monkey-walking and calling your wife "rkid". Follow that with one of Oasis' best ever songs, "Live Forever", and you quite quickly start to realise you are in the presence of greatness. 

"Up in the Sky" is the only minor dip in form. This could be because the strength of the rest of the songs, but this one feels a bit thin on the bone. It's still good though. What does not feel thin in any way is the next track, "Columbia". It is a mid-tempo Oasis special, similar to 'Shakermaker' in pace and tone, going  even deeper into rumbling drums and guitars cranked to 11. Liam's vocals sounds menacing, like he's leaning directly into your ear and offering you out for a fight. You can almost feel the can of Stella in his hand. It is for this reason that he quickly became the front man of his generation and I think I'll love his voice until the end of time. The groove of it is relentless and, yet again, I defy anyone not to start peacocking around their living room when this is playing loud. 

In fact this whole album, to be enjoy fully, should be played loud. There's no other way to listen to it. This is no more apparent than on their first ever single "Supersonic". You know it. You love it. When the beat drops to the sounds of Liam sneering "I need to be myseeellllff, I can't be no-one else. I'm feeling supersonic, give me gin n' tonic" you just want to go out, drink nineteen pints of lager, and smash up a bus stop - which many of us coincidentally did in the 90s.

"Bring it on Down" is the most punk track on the album and a massively underrated banger. This was a time when the working class angry music of the early 80s was dead in the water and this song almost single-handedly revives the genre. Apparently this is also the song Alan McGhee first heard them play in Glasgow and was immediately compelled to sign them, so there you go. 

"Cigarettes & Alcohol" is a complete rip-off of Marc Bolan & T-Rex but, yet again, turns into another absolute classic. "Digsy's Dinner" is another upbeat rock anthem and "Slide Away" is the most epic song on the album. It's Paul McCartney's favorite Oasis number and is yet another sweeping broadside that somehow floats you off from the humdrum into a dreamscape where everything feels alive and vital. Sort of like that bit in Dumbo where he starts tripping.

Album closer "Married with Children" is the only acoustic number on the album and serves as a cautionary reminder that if you don't choose the rock n' roll life you've been battered with for the last 10 tracks, this might be your alternative. It's funny, somewhat scathing, and something of a ballad for dysfunctional families all over the world. The lyrics "your music's shite, it keeps me up all night" are immortal. 

Overall this album, apart from the last track, is pure rock n' roll. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Listening to it now, 30 years later, it still feels like a celebration of life. It's the sort of album you know they had an amazing time creating and you can feel it on every track. Few bands have matched it before or since. It was a slap round the chops of the music industry when it was released and still sounds great today. And yes, it represents the beginnings of a massive career for this band but, more importantly, contains many timeless classic songs and still sounds absolutely as relevant, as attitude-filled, and as life-affirming as the day it came out. It is a must for any record collection and continues to be Oasis' all-time best album. 

★★★★★

JB.