Artist bio

A late ‘90s critic remarked that “one day we might look back, possibly in anger,” and wonder why Oasis were once among the most popular rock bands in the world. Indeed, it’s easy to forget that the Beatles-loving U.K. combo, led by warring brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, sneered its way to superstardom with its 1994 debut, Definitely Maybe, led by the glorious single “Live Forever.” Oasis was a full-scale phenomenon of ego and excess by the following year’s (What’s The Story) Morning Glory, which backed up the boasting with such classics as “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova.” And while 1997’s Be Here Now was a mixed bag of big ideas, baffling guest appearances (Johnny Depp on guitar?), and bad lyrics, Oasis seemed suddenly devoid of inspiration on its lackluster successors, 2000’s Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants and 2002’s Heathen Chemistry. Its antics no longer funny and its music consistent but rarely exciting, Oasis has become the very thing it mercilessly mocked in the first place: just an ordinary band.

Albums by this artist

Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants (2000)

The Masterplan (1998)

Be Here Now (1997)

(What's The Story) Morning Glory (1996)

Definitely Maybe (1994)

Concerts

June 7, 2001
Radio City Music Hall, New York

Oasis

Definitely Maybe

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» TROY CARPENTER | CO-DIRECTOR

Oasis Definitely Maybe Creation/Sony, 1994 RiYL: Beatles, Blur, Rolling Stones, Stone Roses, Teenage Fanclub

This brash blast of defiant British rock sprang forth from Manchester in 1994, reaffirming rock and roll's identification with the common man, and the salvation at the heart of a pop melody. Though Definitely Maybe's 11 songs don't add any new colors to the rock and roll pallette, they do paint some pretty pictures with the ones already kickin' around.

Noel Gallagher cut his teeth as a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets, while he studied the rock guitar a la Stones, Stone Roses, Nirvana and Beatles. When he returned home from a U.S. tour, and found his kid brother Liam had a powerful set of pipes and a passable backing band already assembled, Noel agreed to join the band as long as he could write all the songs and have complete control: Oasis was born.

Their debut's opening track, "Rock And Roll Star", is all that is righteous about being in a band -- a swirling wall of guitars (rhythm guitarist Paul Bonehead Arthurs keeps the simple progression in place, Noel leads the brash melody) behind Liam's exalted sneering: "In my mind my dreams are real / I know you're concerned about the way I feel / Tonight, I'm a rock and roll star!!" It's not all that original, but it sure feels good.

Song after song keeps that classic feel, with simple but memorable tunefulness (in some cases, because Noel would rather nick an already-proven-to-rock riff than come up with his own) and a fistful of U.K. attitude. The raucous "Cigarettes & Alcohol" is a T.Rex rave-up about the Gallagher brothers' dearest chemical pastimes (you could wait for a lifetime / to spend your days in the sunshine / might as well do the white line"). But "Live Forever" is a luminscent example of Noel's irresistably melodic songwriting and Liam's knack for singing that can turn vapid, idealist lyrics into an inspiring celebration of life's possibilities.

"Slide Away" is the album's hidden gem, a six-minute-plus opus whose melancholy progression makes it seem like the band is playing from the top of a high hill in England, singing into the overcast skies. Liam's choral couplet is one of his best: "Now that you're mine, we'll find a way of chasing the sun / let me be the one who shines with you, and we can slide away". Noel's guitar line slides off into the distance in the song's fade-out, giving way to the album's last track, the acoustic toss-off "Married With Children".

But the true beauty of Definitely Maybe is in its innocence -- the music hadn't worn itself out yet, and there was still room in an Oasis-less world for the concept of melody and attitude winning over originality.

The band's immense popularity in England has spawned legions of copy-cats, and since Oasis itself was already swimming in imitation, there is a tendency to resent the Gallaghers for their permeation of pop culture. But on Definitely Maybe, the presentation is fresh, honest, and slightly dirty -- pure rock and roll.

TROY CARPENTER | Troy Carpenter founded NATN from a Chicago apartment during the ambitious winter of 1998 with co-conspirators Ben French and Jonathan Cohen. After a five-year stint in New York, he and wife Lourdes have recently relocated to Indianapolis, where he spends days listening to music and nights in the kitchen at Elements restaurant. Musical heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Super Furry Animals. What else makes life worth living: Sushi, Phucty, runs in the park, and the Atlanta Braves.