It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 21 years since the release of Definitely Maybe, Oasis’ debut album. Bloody hell on two counts. First, my, my how time flies and secondly, what an unbelievably cracking debut album. For anyone who was kicking about in the ‘90s, these songs are probably burnt into the viscera of your memory anyway, but you’ll be happy to know that they stand up today just as well as they ever did. Bullshit about being a Beatles rip-off aside, it still sounds good.
These lads knew how to put a sneer and some swagger into their rock’n’roll. They also knew how to enjoy themselves (albeit with little regard for niceties). It couldn’t be clearer than on Live Forever, with lyrics like “Maybe I don’t really want to know, how your garden grows, because I just want to fly.”
The lyrics are pretty facile, but it just makes it easier to sing along. It also doesn’t undermine the fact that they were talented and musically, there’s a lot going on. There’s certainly nothing miserable about this album – the whole thing is anthemic and celebratory (Supersonic anyone?). Don’t be expecting humility though, not with tracks like Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (“tonight I’m a rock ‘n’ roll star”) … but really, who gives a shit? It’s too arse-shakingly good to care.
BY MEG CRAWFORD
Best Track: Shakermaker
If You Like These, You’ll Love This: THE VERVE (Urban Hymns)
In A Word: Triumphant
