Customer Reviews

20 000 Watt Rsl (Best of Midnight O

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great compilation and theres not a bad track on it. To Heathcliff an earlier reviewer thers is a lot more to completing your Australian Triology than Midnight Oil, Men at Work and Inx have a look on Amazon at some of these other Australian acts-AC/DC,Little River Band,Air Supply,Cold Chisel,The Church,The Easybeats,Rose Tattoo,The Angels,Silverchair,Living End,Hoodo Gurus,Hunters And Collectors,Nick Cave.

What I mean by that is for some reason or another you have been exposed to Midnight Oil and would like to find out more. Other "Best Of" compilations, too many to count, don't provide the band's best work, just an arbitrary 3 songs from each album, or whatever they're inclusion system is, and this is no different.
For a 30+ guy who had his formative years thru the 80's, I had slim pickings, but here was a band that spoke about issues that whilst not the "issue of the day", they spoke from their experiences with everyday people. Three guitarists play wicked little riffs most of the way through, and an intelligent blend of straight out pop sensibilities, with a desire to test other boundaries (political & musical) has them shaking every muscle in your body, including your HEAD.
So while you may think you have to start here to find out about them, you're probably better off starting with one of their earlier albums. This captures a band (like a photograph) at an exact point in time, and therefore as an album has much more cohesion than a Best Of.
Virtually any of their early albums would be better than 20,000 RSL. Their self-titled debut might be a bit raw for some, but their second album Head Injuries is one of their best, as well as Place Without a Postcard or 10,9,8...
RECENT UPDATE: Peter Garret, lead singer from Midnight Oil has joined the Australian Labor Party! I'll tell you one thing. I'll vote for him before I vote for a 5foot2 idiot with shortman's syndrome, trying to pick a fight with someone bigger than them, knowing they have a big friend behind them to back them up! By the way I'm from Australia.

This compilation is a good summary of the Oil's career, nearly 20 years from the late-'70s and early-'80s punk/heavy-metal influences ("Best of both worlds", and my personal favourites "Back on the borderline" with its lively guitar riffs and "Don't wanna be the one" with its solid drumming), to fine and quieter ballads such as "Blue sky mine", "Truganini" or "Surf's up tonight".

The other highlights include "Power and the passion" as well as "Forgotten years". On some tracks, the harmonica intro sounds surprisingly like Supertramp, whereas Peter Garrett's cutting voice brings an awesome touch!
Inbetween, there are of course the "Diesel and dust" megahits.

Two regrets and a real disappointment yet.
Firstly, I think that some tracks such as "Put down that weapon" and "Sometimes" have been forgotten and should be added to this collection, and there's no live performances on the tracklist! This is a serious lack...
And well, the two songs from the new coming "Redneck Wonderland" are totally irrelevant... According to me, a compilation is supposed to offer some old great songs, not to promote new tracks! Don't you think so???

That's why I wouldn't grant more than 3 stars out of 5 to this album, although I really like it and recommend if you're a true Oil's fan!

Normally I don't like socially conscious music but Midnight Oil's is the exception as they combine great music, passion and a cause that is meaningfull yet not to overbearing. Many of their songs focus on the environment, destruction of world resources and pollution. Most will be familiar with Beds are Burning....the bands biggest hit from the late 80's. Many of the songs are excellent as they capture one band's plea for change in musical composition. The songs are pretty simliar to Beds are Burning but they have enough variety to keep most of the album interesting.

Bottom Line: I haven't listened to the any of Midnight Oil's actual albums so I can't say if this compilation is all you really need or not. I would imagine so but then again most of the songs are pretty good so there might be some more out there.

I thought I knew Midnight Oil. I first heard them on MTV in the 80's. I really liked the tune "Beds Are Burning." However, after listening to this album, I discover I hardly knew them or their music at all. I really wanted to enjoy this album, but I could not. Musically speaking, most of the tunes are devoid of harmony, balance and melody.

When I listen to songs, I listen for the music first and then the lyrics. If the music, the construction of the tune, doesn't grab me, then I reject it. I gave this album a fair shake. I did not just listen to it once and then reject it. I played it multiple times.

THE best thing for the non-fanatic "Midnight Oil" fan to have. Once I needed more than my copy of "Diesel and Dust" on vinyl, this totally satisfied. 18 great tracks spanning their whole career. Of course it has the obvious choices like "Beds are Burning", "Blue Sky Mine", and "Forgotten Years", but also the excellent tracks "Power and the Passion", "Hercules", and "Dead Heart". Of what I didn't know, I really liked "King of the Mountain" and "Truganini". All of this in enjoyable though. I would have liked "Bullroarer" on here, but I'm sure everybody misses something. Basically, you'll need this to complete your "Down Under" trilogy. You know, with "INXS" and "Men at Work".

...and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Here in Australia the Oils have been among the vanguard of Oz rock for more than 25 years. Most of the classics are here: the aformentioned "Beds" and "Mine", "US Forces", "Power And The Passion", "Dead Heart", "King Of The Mountain". It loses a star due to the absence of "Armistice Day", "Read About It" and "Short Memory" but otherwise, it's a decent purchase for the casual listener or the or the newcomer who has heard only "Beds Are Burning" or "Blue Sky Mine" and is not ready for the full albums yet. It's amazing how some of the numbers hold up after twenty years, particularly the timeless "Power And The Passion", still sounding fresher than 95% of "modern" rock these days.

If you already have every one of the Oil's CD's then you have all this already. If so I point you towards the DVD of the same name that is only slightly more money but gives some great interview clips as well as the video's to each song. This band is as much about the visual as the music to complete the experience. If you've seen them live you understand. If not - get the DVD and understand why they MUST be seen live. Otherwise this is just another collection of fantastic songs from the greatest band to come out of Australia!

I first got turned on to Midnight Oil with "Diesel and Dust" which was their first release to make it big in the U.S. I liked the music but didn't pay a whole lot of attention to them until I met some 'blokes' from Sydney at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans. We exchanged info over a few Hurricanes about each others' culture and when the topic of music came up, they all highly recommended buying this CD to get a great collection of the Oils' best work.

I now own every Midnight Oil CD ever produced. (I also own every AC/DC CD so that makes two Aussie bands at the top of my list.) These guys simply put out innovative, creative and compelling music. Peter Garrett will rant on about social injustices but he's authentic. The ability to effectively mix the message with the music is the genius of this band.

From top to bottom, this is a quality set. I wish 'Short Memory' and a few others were on here, but one can't have it all so no complaints from this 'Yank'. If you like anything you've heard from this band and are wondering if the rest of their music is good, grab this CD for sure.

This greatest hits album once again confirms for me that Midnight Oil are so much more than a rockband; they are the nation's collective social conscience!

From Power and the Passion (a meditation on activism amongst the complacency and political apathy of white middle-class Australia), progressing on to US Forces (decrying the rapacious greed of the US bureaucracy); from Truganini (concerning the injustice of Aboriginal land expropriation) to Hercules (appealing for Pacific nuclear testing to cease), the humanistic message of the Oils is never compromised. Garrett's chanting, thrusting voice unequivocally captures the urgency of their message.

Of course, not all of their songs concern politics. Many simply reflect the band's reverence towards the Australian landscape ("Surf's Up Tonight," "King of the Mountain").

My only possible complaint about this album are the new releases that have been included from Red Neck Wonderland (which i consider to be a large mistake). The woeful "What Goes On" and "Black Skin White Heart" are both examples of the band's unfortunate tendency to let the music take a backseat to politics. But this is only a minor quibble.

Otherwise, this is the real Australia!!!