Rarely does something occur that is recognized in its time as a touchstone historical moment. Some things may be looked back on and granted such importance with hindsight, but when something happens that is considered groundbreaking and game-changing in its historical time and space, it is truly momentous. This was the case when Oasis released their second studio album “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”, a landmark album that defined Britpop, ran counter to grunge and shot Oasis into the stratosphere of worldwide rock stardom. “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” was an immediate commercial success that was perceived as incredibly important upon its release in 1995 and is still seen this way today, often being cited as one of the greatest and most influential albums of all time. 

Oasis emerged in 1994 with their debut album “Definitely Maybe,” a loud and optimistic album that established them as a popular act in England and as an opponent of the themes of grunge music coming out of the United States at the time. It wasn’t until a year later in 1995 that Oasis crossed over from a beloved local band in England to a certified world-famous group with “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” Unlike on their first album, Oasis turned down the guitars and tapped into their emotions to create a more widely accessible album that took the world by storm.  

The soon-to-be legendary song “Wonderwall” was the first Oasis song to gain real traction in the United States, and it opened the door for the rest of the album’s songs to take root and become radio staples and instant classics. From the crashing crescendos of “Champagne Supernova,” to the Beatles-inspired “Don’t Look Back In Anger” to the lightning–in–a–bottle energy of “Some Might Say” (a song that Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher claims he knew would be a smash hit as soon as it was written), “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” was an album that had something for everyone and displayed for the world to see all that made Oasis great. The channeling of the band’s tumultuous emotions into the music, the full embracing of influences like The Beatles and The Stone Roses and the signature shimmering sound of Oasis’ guitars let the world know that a new masterpiece had arrived. 

The immediate acclaim Oasis enjoyed for this album has not soured over time. Rather, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” has maintained its reputation as a seminal 1990s album and is even cited as one of the greatest albums ever made. This album put Oasis at the forefront of the Britpop scene in England and established them as the biggest British band since the years of “British Invasion.” music Moreover, in Rolling Stone’s newly updated list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” was awarded the spot of 157, establishing its lofty reputation among modern music industry professionals and writers. Only masterpiece albums establish and maintain such a legacy over 25 years, and “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” is rightfully held in that regard.