Oasis - Definitely Maybe Album Art

Conventions

• The album cover is quite conventional in terms of adhering to the cultural features expected
• The band themselves are featured
• The band's name appears at the top of the album.
• The albums name also appears at the top

Codes

Numerous codes at work within this album art:

• Used in order to establish the bands importance, confidence, ambition and identity.

This was a highly respected album cover of its time and was the bands first album so it sought to establish their image and identities predominantly.

Codes/conventions of this album art

• Manchester city footballer is framed in the fireplace. This may highlight their manchester heritage and is perhaps someone they idiolise and who they wish to be as successful as. This associates them with other Mancunian famous musicians/bands such as The Happy Mondays, The Verve, Joy division, The Smiths etc.
• The red wine placed on the floor could reflect their rock-star attitudes to indulgence, but however has connotations of sophistication too as it is often a drink of the middle class and isn't very cheap.
• To juxtapose the previous point, on the other side of the room there is a cigarette packet on the floor. It is the B&H gold type which is often thought to be the 'working class cigarette' and is very strong. This could represent how Oasis recognise where they came from/their roots and haven't lost their heritage. It could also suggest they're strong people.
• Liam Gallagher is at the forefront of the album. His positioning could reflect his importance in the band and the fact that he is the lead singer so therefore closer to the audience.
• Liam may be laying down to represent how he is pensive and a deep thinker or even a little bit different to the other who are upright. Segregated perhaps or maybe even a little arrogant. Could even represent that his has been taking drugs and is overwhelmed so is laying down.
• Noel is second in the image in terms of positioning. He seems to have a relaxed persona as he is sitting down. The fact that he has a guitar may represent his musicality and the fact that he is the song writer. The other members in the band are placed in the background, almost suggesting that they're are insignificant.
• The nice, quaint setting that the band are in suggest sophistication. It is in a town house with sanded wooden floors/a bay window and a posh fireplace. This may suggest how they are gradually obtaining a celebrity lifestyle but still recognise their roots (what with the props like man city footballer photo and the cigarettes)
• The blow up globe could depict how Oasis believe the world is their oyster. A code for ambition.
• The fact that they are watching TV together shows that they are ordinary and down to earth, as well as that they're like a family and a tight unit.
• The Oasis logo has many features. It it is Big,Bold,Black/White and simple with tabloid like font. Oasis could be suggesting that they are all of these things (big and bold=confident) Black and white could represent how they are logical thinkers and their ideologies reflect this and also tabloid font could relate to their target audience as they read these kind of newspapers. This displays their down to earth personalities.
• The italic font of the actual album name may = poetry/personal/sophisticated and reflects the album content itself.
• Noel and Liam are smartly dressed than the others with Beatles like hair and glasses. Shows they are heavily influenced.
• The lighting is sunny. Maybe suggesting that the music is enjoyable.

Be Here Now - Oasis 2nd album

• Anti authority connotations = destruction car driven into pool.
• Expensive car (rolls royce) in the pool = out with the old. They can afford to be destructive now that they are earning big money.
• Many expensive goods = wealth/arrogance 
• Globe featured again but on a grander scale. Depicts perhaps accomplishing some of their ambitions. On a podium = showing off achievements. Band member looks through a telescope to depict how hard they were to accomplish.
• Calendar= date of album release. Highlighted because of its importance.
• Mansion Setting = money.
• Sunny day = positive connotations = happy with their achievements.
• A band member in the background playing a large 'key' as if its a guitar = doors have opened to them.
• Guitar/globe/tv all a reference back to definitely maybe album. May suggest their music has a new twist to it but is still similar to the music everyone loves. These objects are all more expensive and could represent how the music is on a bigger scale than the previous album.
• Blue sky = freedom
• Clock with no hands = Time has stopped because of them? Their moment in time or they are portraying themselves to be timeless.
• Only the name of the band featured - feel they don't have to state the album name as they are so well known. Moped may reflect the 'mod' era and how that style of music may be reflected in their music.
• Destruction could mean they don't care about material goods or money even.
• Liam is in iconic attire - shades and khaki green jacket - head cocked to one side may reflect cockiness and arrogance.
• Gramophone/antique grandfather clock = classic - could reflect how their band is a classic example of the brit-pop genre