2 weeks Ago
It’s hard now, in a world where ’s name has become a synonym for predictable, stodgy dad rock, to recall the impact the band had when they first loped into view in the mid-90s. The indie charts had become a horrible place, full of vaguely new-wavey pop, the odd emo act and whiney, prepubescent-leaning jangle. Nothing much seemed to have any life to it.
Then came , a track that contained every single element of Oasis’s defining elements: a deafening swagger, loud guitars, Liam Gallagher’s absurdly over-Lennoned vocals (‘ ’), lyrics that made no sense at all, and a tune you’d definitely heard somewhere else already. Oasis were, in many ways, the Sex Beatles, melodic in a classic 60s fashion with epic power chord guitars. Noel Gallagher wrote songs you’d heard before, but recast them for imaginary terraces, while Liam sang in a manner redolent of both and John Lydon.
And the confidence was marvellous, a cockiness and verve that made you think Oasis were good just looking at them. Their debut album didn’t disappoint. From opening mission statement , whose lyrics were entirely aspirational to the sardonic Kinksery of , this was an album with its head in the clouds and its foot in your groin.
Every track on it either was a single – – or just acted like it was. Greater glories were to follow, but this remains a fantastic debut. The anniversary edition includes songs in early versions that weren’t considered good enough to release at the time.
David Quantick is an English novelist, comedy writer and critic, who has worked as a journalist and screenwriter. A former staff writer for the music magazine , his writing credits have included , , and ; for the latter of these he won an Emmy in 2015. "A joyous anthem for an era of self-hatred": Manic Street Preachers launch celebratory new single Decline & Fall New six-disc reissue for Porcupine Tree's Fear Of A Blank Planet “Iggy Pop told me he got a speeding ticket while pumping out the demo!” Asian Dub Foundation's Steve Chandrasonic on his band's collaborations with Iggy Pop, Sinéad O’Connor, Public Enemy's Chuck D, Stewart Lee, Primal Scream and more.
