Oasis - Definitely Maybe

I want to preface this by saying that I love this album as much as anyone. It’s good-time rock ‘n roll, and it’s impossible to hate in my opinion. Keep that in mind as we explore this album - I do love it, but it raises questions for me about why we love Oasis so much, and I’m not sure that’s due to the band’s talents alone.

I think this album, while great, has become insanely overrated in our collective memories. There’s a rule known as the rule of 20 which states that pop culture trends are cyclical, coming back around into the mainstream every 20-ish years. (or 15 years, or 40 years, depending on the area of pop culture we’re talking about). Any Millennial who’s watched Gen Z embrace the horrific calf-length socks of our parents’ generation knows what I’m talking about - high socks are making their 20 year cycle return. As was foretold.

I think this is one big reason for the 90’s revival we’re seeing in 2024. True, the 90’s were 30 years ago (holy crap) but the 20 year rule is loose. 90’s culture is everywhere in 2024 - half of Gen Z’s lingo is from early 90’s hip hop, from what I can tell - and it seems like Oasis’ popularity is benefiting from that trend as much as anybody. Their alleged reunion is well timed in 2024 - it’s caused mass hysteria among alt rock fans and nostalgia-seeking elder Millennials.

But in Oasis’ case, the 20/30 year rule runs even deeper. In 1994, Oasis was essentially an early Beatles/Stones revival band. Their sound in the 90’s was catnip for the nostalgic 70’s kids entering their 30’s and 40’s. So in 2024, we’re actually experiencing a form of inception - a revival within a revival. We’re harking all the way back to the 60’s and 70’s when we go nuts for Oasis’ reunion tour. Add that to the fact that this reunion was said to be completely impossible, and I can’t even tell if people are excited about the music at all, or if it’s simply the legend of Oasis (and by extension, the Beatles/Stones) that’s causing all this enthusiasm.

Musically, this album is about as straightforward as music can be, just wistful enough to get your feelings going, but not in ways that are too difficult to sort through. It’s the perfect guitar pop formula - nothing invented, nothing destroyed. Liam Gallagher sounds like an enthusiastic kid doing John Lennon karaoke, with just a touch of grit and more than a touch of teenager in the sound, and mostly relegated to just a few notes above and below center. It’s unhateable and fun, and even though I can’t see that it broke any new ground, it’s such a huge part of 90’s culture and my musical upbringing that it’ll always have a place in my playlists.

From the roundup Jamwise #46 - Best Albums of 1994.