Search - Oasis :: Definitely Maybe

A cd for the extremist

lazy_sarcastic_git | Oxford, Oxon United Kingdom | 07/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"well, this is the same as the UK version of definitely maybe apart from the fact that it has two extra tracks. the second is cloudburst which orginally appeared as a b-side to live forever. the first is sad song, a track currently only available on LP (bar this import). this one song (a must-have) is worth the price tag alone..."

Super Debut Album!

S.D. | USA | 06/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Oasis' first album release (jap.) and it's a real rock and roll CD. It starts off big with "Rock & Roll Star" and it travels on a big road of rock through "Shakermaker", "Live Forever", and then it mellows out for a while with "Sad Song" a bonus track, and finally, some "Supersonic", "Slide Away", and finally the classic "Married With Children". It show how Oasis has been a great band from the beginning."

A triumphant, exhilarating debut album from Oasis [this Japa

Dave | United States | 07/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oasis finally released their debut album "Definitely Maybe" in August of 1994, and what a triumphant debut it is. Oasis had already been kicking around for a quite a while before this album came out--terrific early songs such as the scorching "Take Me" and the hauntingly desperate "Colour My Life" remain officially unreleased although they've been much bootlegged. Noel Gallagher worked painstakingly to get "Definitely Maybe" just right, reportedly having the band record the whole album three times due to dissatisfaction. Looking beyond all the hype, tabloid coverage, and so forth, "Definitely Maybe" is truly a superb and timeless album that deserved to be a smash hit, which it was. Much has been made of the derivative nature of Oasis' music--'borrowing' the T. Rex "Bang A Gong" riff for "Cigarettes & Alcohol"; ripping off that Coca-Cola jingle for "Shakermaker"--but the thing is, this truly sounds like an album that should take the world by storm. The production here is phenomenal--with crisp and booming drums, rich guitar tones, and Liam Gallagher's frequently sneering vocals, song after song jumps out at you and captivates with a uniquely huge and bracing sound. Noel seems to be tapping into a variety of British influences, from the Beatles, Stones, Who, and Kinks, all the way through the likes of the Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Spacemen 3, and My Bloody Valentine. The music hall-flavored "Digsy's Diner" and the album-closing acoustic ballad "Married With Children" are fun and enjoyable songs that mix things up a bit. As for the rest of the songs, each and every one is a gem. The contemplative "Live Forever" and the passionately yearning "Slide Away" are soaring rock 'ballads'. "Supersonic" and the uptempo "Bring It On Down" are edgy rockers. "Up In The Sky" is a blissful, psychedelic-tinged feel-good song. "Columbia" is an infectious, relentlessly rocking groove-tune. "Rock 'n' Roll Star" and "Cigarettes & Alcohol" are enthusiastic, celebratory rockers. "Shakermaker", which does bear resemblance to the Beatles instrumental "Flying", uncannily incorporates that Coca-Cola melody into a 12-bar blues format and adds a soaring bridge. Noel's lead guitar work is terrific--although his playing isn't technically virtuosic by any means, Noel is a master of 'serving the songs' and knowing just what notes to play for maximum impact, plus having such great guitar tone doesn't hurt--just check out the extended song-ending solo on "Bring It On Down", the blazing leads on "Columbia", or the long fade on "Slide Away" for proof. Granted, there's not a whole heck of a lot of variety here in terms of arrangement--it's pretty much guitars-cranked-up-to-11 on song after song--but what a great sound.



This Japanese release additionally sweetens the pot by adding two additional gems not on the standard UK & US releases--"Cloudburst" blatantly rips off "Standing Here" by the Stone Roses, but it's a great rocker anyway; and "Sad Song" is a moving acoustic ballad sung by Noel. True, "Cloudburst" is also on the "Live Forever" UK CD single; however, the version of "Sad Song" on the Japanese CD single of "Don't Go Away", although otherwise identical, has an unfortunate 'sudden ending'--the version here has a more proper and fitting ending making it preferrable.



I think most serious music listeners have a handful or so of albums that had that 'life changing' impact that marks a turning point of sorts in their lives--"Definitely Maybe" definitely had that impact on me when I first bought and played it back in March of '95, and it still sounds great all these years later. No doubt about it, "Definitely Maybe" is a must-have album."