It is far too difficult to reduce sixty years of popular music, and a myriad of sub-genres, to one defining album but, in terms of being able to empathise with the feelings that it stirred, I have to say that this is mine: Definitely Maybe by Oasis was first released in 1994. Even now ‘Rock and Roll Star’ still has the power to induce the same euphoric feelings it did the first time I heard it – aged nine.

There are many albums that have a special place in my heart, but this album represented a cultural paradigm shift, just as I was reaching the age where popular culture began to really mean something to me.

Although it may be romanticising the period, 1994 and beyond was a wonderful time for music and a generation of young music listeners; I may have been too young to fully appreciate the impact of Britpop on the social experiences of young adults, but there was definitely a tangible sense that this band, and their music, was leading a revolution amongst a new generation. In hindsight it was as if it was a precursor to New Labour’s far-reaching reforms of this country. The Britpop movement empowered so many young people with a new sense of purpose that they had been lacking for the first half of the decade; sometimes it’s difficult to signify one album that triggered such emotions, but Definitely Maybe was – unequivocally – that album.

I challenge anyone to identify an album that has come since that contains so many anthemic songs: ‘Supersonic’ stirs primeval feelings in any male between the ages of fourteen and forty, ‘Live Forever’ will unite any crowd in chorus, and ‘Up in the Sky’ can still induce hysteria amongst the masses.

 


The band has produced many epic songs since, but the importance of this album – and its impact – puts it head and shoulders above their later works. It is somewhat of a shame that the band weren’t slightly more humbled and accepting of the legacy that their debut work would leave. Regardless of this though, they can be safe in the knowledge that their first album brought together fans of every genre, united by the common theme of music, parties and taking back control from the establishment.

Thanks to this album, I believe that Oasis can be credited with the widespread adoption of the term “indie.” Their music helped inspire so many bands to produce guitar music of supreme quality. The following years saw the emergence [in the public eye at least] of great bands such as Ocean Colour Scene, Suede, Kula Shaker, the Libertines, the Charlatans, the Doves, Garbage and Republica, just to name a few. They also helped bring out the best in the decade’s other great band, Blur. That particular rivalry was one of the greatest in British music history.

As a passing thought, almost as cherished as my ‘Oasis at Knebworth’ T shirt, is my DVD version of this album. To see each song performed live, brings to life what it felt like when Definitely Maybe was first released.

I will be the first to acknowledge the difficulty involved in singling out an individual album to be classified as ‘the greatest of all time.’ We are very privileged in this country, to have been provided with some of the most groundbreaking music ever made. For me personally though, Definitely Maybe, by Oasis, is it.

Posted In Classic Albums, Jul 29 2009. Words - Will