DEFINITELY MAYBE TOP 5 – IS IT STILL THE BEST INDIE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ALBUM 30 YEARS ON?

Rachel Brown Published: May 2024 | Updated: June 2024 4 minutes read

With Liam Gallagher’s sold out, anniversary tour set to kick off this Saturday in Sheffield – we ask the question – is Oasis’ Definitely Maybe still one of the best indie rock albums ever released?

Off the back of success from singles Live Forever, Supersonic and Shakermaker, Oasis released their debut album in August 1994 after spending just 12 days recording at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales. Despite the fast-paced recording process, the band captured their passion and energy in every song on the album.

Characterised by its energetic guitar riffs, catchy melodies, and working-class lyrical themes, their efforts did not go unnoticed. Definitely Maybe quickly became the fastest-selling debut album in the UK, entering the charts at number one and selling over 86,000 copies in its first week. The album received widespread critical acclaim with many music critics branding it as one of the greatest debut albums of all time.

There’s no doubt that picking our favourites from this album was an absolute headache, but we gave it a go anyway; so here are our top 5 picks from Definitely Maybe:

Rock ’n’ Roll Star – Energy. Passion. Sunshyineee. An opening track that encapsulates everything Oasis are about. In the album’s documentary, Liam described that “you’ve gotta sing it like that’s what you are, and that’s what anyone can be if they wanna”, and it’s his ardent vocals that lead you half-way to believing that you are indeed a ‘Rock n Roll Star’.

Live Forever – Arguably one of the band’s best tracks, it became a staple in both Britpop and Oasis’ history. Noel has often cited that Live Forever is his favourite song produced by the band. We can’t forget, the song also gave us Liam’s interview rant about Blur’s Girls & Boys with Noel’s beautiful rendition of All That She Wants over the top.

Up In The Sky – For me, the most under-rated song on the album; Liam is truly at his best with this track. His powerful vocals twinned with Noel’s catchy lead guitar riff makes for a song that showcases the bands early musical style perfectly.

Supersonic – A debut single for the history books. Synonymous with Oasis, Supersonic has bucket-loads of that attitude we’ve all grown to adore. Its success set the stage for the massive popularity Oasis achieved with subsequent releases.

Slide Away – Receiving positive reviews from critics upon release, Slide Away displayed Noel’s ability to write with emotional depth and is often regarded as one of the stand-out tracks on the album. A timeless classic that showcased the band’s ability to deliver more than just their energy filled anthems.

Definitely Maybe was the beginning of something these Manchester lads could only dream of. There’s no denying that this album revitalised the British rock scene in the 1990’s. But further than just the 90’s, bands we are seeing beginning to write their stories today are often crediting Oasis as their inspiration; it’s rare an album finds a place with a whole new generation. They changed the course of British rock, and this album was the one that set the foundation for it all.

Since the album’s release, Definitely Maybe has spent a total of 529 weeks in the Top 100 Official Album Charts, peaking at no.45 in the last few months. This is undeniable proof that what Oasis produced 30 years ago still has a grip on British music and has resonated with 2/3 generations over the years.

Definitely Maybe has stood the test of time, leaving a legacy behind it as one of the greatest indie rock albums ever released.

DYLAN KEARSLEY