Oasis vs. The Stone Roses: The Showdown—Ranking Each of Their First Two Albums
Ranking and words by Jack Rowley
4. Second Coming - The Stone Roses (1994)
After their game-changing debut, The Stone Roses had everyone waiting for Second Coming. It finally dropped five years later with a whole new vibe—more bluesy, more rock-heavy jams. Tracks like Love Spreads and Ten Storey Love Song are top-tier, but it didn’t quite capture the debut’s magic. Critics were split, and the drawn-out production didn’t help its cause. Objectively, the best track on the album is probably Love Spreads. However, it has been somewhat ruined for me after realising it sounds just like the Breaking Bad theme. Now, every listen just makes me want to go watch "Ozymandias." Rest in peace, Steve Gomez.
My Favourite Track: Ten Storey Love Song
3. (What's the Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis (1995)
Oasis hit us with (What's the Story) Morning Glory? and the world was never the same. With bangers like Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger, and Champagne Supernova, this album solidified Oasis as Britpop gods. It was a hit factory, no doubt, but ‘some might say’ it didn't have the same raw gritty guitars, amps and busted snares punch as their debut. For me personally, What's the Story Morning Glory? has suffered from being overplayed a little bit. That being said, even if tracks from it hadn't appeared in every Channel 4 drama since time began, I still think it would have fallen into the third spot.
My Favourite Track: Champagne Supernova
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2. Definitely Maybe - Oasis (1994)
Oasis burst onto the scene with their debut album Definitely Maybe. From the raw energy of Rock 'n' Roll Star to the poignant simplicity of "Married with Children," every track shines. The gritty production, infectious hooks, and soaring choruses anchored this album as perhaps THE '90s rock staple, especially in hindsight. It was the ideal launchpad for their meteoric rise. The album's imperfect structure adds to its allure, capturing the unpolished brilliance of the Gallagher brothers discovering their musical gift.
My Favourite Track: Married with Children
1. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)
And taking the top spot, we have The Stone Roses' self-titled debut. For me, this is a 10/10 perfect album. With its jangly guitars, danceable rhythms, and Ian Brown's mesmerising vocals, it was a game-changer. Tracks like I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs the Drums, and I Am the Resurrection blended rock and dance like no other. Many think that "Fools Gold" belongs to this album. A great track, but to me that will always be a standalone single, and for me it is a perfect album without it, despite being a great song. Perhaps it's because I've listened to the album hundreds of times without it, but that’s how I recognise the album.
I was obsessed with this album in my mid-20s, during that time I worked at a marketing agency with an ex-record producer called Scott. I hung on Scott’s opinions about music and he once described The Stone Roses and Ian Brown as "Manc rap." He said, "Yeah, it might not sound like it but he's just rapping," and I haven't been able to listen to Ian Brown or The Stone Roses the same way again—not in a negative or positive way, but in a way that has cut The Stone Roses adrift from other bands at the time.
My Favourite Track: Shoot You Down
