Oasis: Definitely Maybe
Celebrating it’s 20th anniversary release in August 2014, the story of Oasis’ debut album Definitely Maybe is worth revisiting in documentary form. Oasis: Definitely Maybe is a definitive making of one of the most important albums of the 1990s. Bringing the audience behind the scenes, integrating archival material and interviewing members of the band, a complete portrait of the album’s development comes together.
While the Gallagher brothers stand out as the big “personalities” of both the band and the film, it is the other band members who are interviewed about their experiences.The Gallagher’s exist at the forefront and the peripheries, living through their TV interviews, behind the scenes shooting and through the comments of their peers. This further adds to the rock and roll mystique, their image and personalities evasive to complete self-reflection, their interior experience remaining ultimately a mystery.
The specific environment that allowed the imaginations and talents grow emerges, while the strength of the album’s production team is also highlighted as an important element of success. Released at the height of the grunge era in 1994, Oasis’ sound offered a counterpoint to the fatalism and darkness of grunge. Their sound was a revitalized pop invention, an evocation of a new aged Beatles that offered optimism and hope to the masses. This album marked an important shift in music during the 90s and re-invigorated the UK pop scene. To this day, this album is routinely listed as among the greatest albums of all time, pitting Oasis alongside artists like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and The Smiths.
Part of the film’s interest also comes from how drastically the music industry has transformed in 20 short years. From CDs to digital, the musical scene is almost unrecognizable from the early 90s to what it is today. As much as the film is a celebration of Oasis and their talent, it is also a celebration of what can be seen as a simpler time for the music industry.
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