The birth of the most important band of the 90's

Review Score:

(8/10)
Up until 1994, mainstream music in Britain was boybands, nothingness pop and uninteresting dance music. Then five lads from the working-class area of Manchester came along will the most exciting debut album heard for a generation.

Along with their then arch-rivals Blur, they helped true English music return. Liam Gallagher gave us the the most exciting voice since Lennon and Noel Gallagher wrote the most meaningful melodic rock tunes since Lennon/McCartney.

With typical Manc arrogance they open the album with 'Rock'n'Roll Star' a statement that no-one could deny. 'Shakermaker' was a druggy psychedelic masterpiece with Liam on top form.

They then follow this with the best song of 1994 -if not the most important of the decade 'Live Forever'. It is the most perfect pop-song possible - expressive lyrics, great tune and Liam making a statement that a generation could hold on to " we're gonna live forever".

The pace continues with 'Up In The Sky' turning people everywhere to attempt to pronounce "fly" and "feel" in a way only Liam can. British music was top of the world.

Psychedelic rock anthem 'Columbia' was the first demo Oasis ever put out, and Creation boss Alan McGee heard it and new he had to sign "the best band since the Beatles" as he rightly put it.

The bands first ever single in Britain was 'Supersonic' and it got 'single of the week' in the three leading British music papers. Something big had arrived - you could feel it. Noel's arrogant rhyming of 'Supersonic/Gin and Tonic' and 'i know a girl called Elsa/ she's into Alkaseltser' typified there 'two-fingers' attitude.

'Bring it on Down' somehow manages to increase the pace and the rock doesn't let up. 'Cigarettes & Alcohol' became a song all of 1990's youth could identify with. The classic guitar riff was played by budding guitarists everywhere and North England became cool again with "imaginasheeeeunnn.." being sung throughout the land.

'Digsy's Dinner' lets the album down slightly. In this tongue-in-cheek song Noel writes about his mate Digsy, his life in Manchester and...lasagne!

Anthem 'Slide Away', completes an album full of unrelenting melodic rock tunes before Noel shows the other side to his songwriting prowess ending with the delicate 'Married with Children' (which if Noel had been more confident back then you feel that he would have taken up the vocals).

It can not be underrestimated how important this album was. It may have been bettered by there follow up but this was where it started and we couldn't wait.

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