(What's The Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis (1995)

Ideated from: Happy New Year, even though I’m writing this on December 9. I’m starting my second year of this blog with some famous second albums

There’s been a lot of ink and pixels spilled about Oasis over the years, so I’m not sure what I’d add to it, other than my own experience.

As important as music was in my life, my future wife and I actually had relatively little music that we both loved when we first were getting to know each other. Prince, Beck, and Morphine were about it. She politely put up with my U2 hyperfixation, and I did the same with her love of Madonna.

Then there was this record. Edgy iconoclast that I was, I partly got her attention by being able to play Wonderwall on guitar (a distinction that only about 63% of cis-het males in my age cohort can claim). This record was something we could agree on loving together.

Musically, Oasis was nothing new; kind of a roll-up of Anglo pop since the British Invasion. But they were exciting and fun, and the media couldn’t get enough of the fighting brothers act, and holy shit could they write a rock n roll banger.

But the band that stormed out of nowhere with a fun but simplistic first record followed it with a gigantic, stadium-ready, monster of an album that was still full of nuance and introspection along with that brash attitude. It was a mighty achievement.

Tracks I Liked

Wonderwall - I mean… it’s the song of my particular micro-generation. And we can’t agree on freaking anything.

Cast No Shadow - a dark but whimsical lyric and a wide open arrangement

She’s Electric - The most conventional Brit Pop song on here, and it’s great.

Champagne Supernova - the sligthly less elegant, slightly more explosive companion piece to Wonderwall. I’d say it’s the Noel to Liam’s Wonderwall, but I’m not sure if i have that backwards.