For this, its 12th full-length album, Midnight Oil re-hired producer Warne Livesey, who had worked with them on their biggest international successes, Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining. He helped them to achieve a sound that was a virtual compendium of familiar late-'60s rock styles -- Led Zeppelin on the title track, the Beatles on "Safety Chain Blues," the Who on "Blot," the Beach Boys on "Drop in the Ocean." At least, that was true musically; the vocals were sometimes so compressed they sounded like they were coming out of a bullhorn. Given the lyrics, that was appropriate, since the album was, as the band's press bio put it, "written and recorded in response to the rise of anti-Asia MP Pauline Hanson and her far-right One Nation Party." Outside of Australia, that could make the songs difficult to understand completely, although, for example, the environmentalist sense of "Concrete" and "Seeing Is Believing" were unmistakable, and the group's anger fueled its performances. Still, lines like "triumphalism gotta be a curse or even worse" probably sent more fans to the dictionary than the barricades. In Australia, the album went Top Ten, though it failed to chart in the U.S., which is less an indication of its local focus than of the group and/or its record company's diminished interest in the international market. ~ William Ruhlmann
Recorded at Sing Sing Studios, Melbourne, Australia and Electric Avenue, Sydney, Australia.
Personnel: Jim Moginie (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer); Hope Csutoros (vocals, violin); Rob Hirst (vocals, drums); Dwayne "Bones" Hillman, Peter Garrett (vocals); Martin Rotsey (guitar); Helen Mountford (cello); Jeremy Smith (French horn).
Audio Mixers: Alex Clark; James Wagstaff; Warne Livesey; Brent Clark.
Recording information: Electric Avenue, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sing ing Studios, Melbourne, Australia; Sing sing Studios, Melbourne, Australia.
Photographer: Paul Blackmore.
Midnight Oil: Jim Moginie (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer); Bones Hillman (vocals, bass); Rob Hirst (vocals, drums); Peter Garrett (vocals); Martin Rotsey (guitar).
Additional personnel: Hope Csutoros (violin); Helen Mountford (cello); Jeremy Smith (French horn).
Entertainment Weekly (11/13/98, p.76) - "Ex-barrister Peter Garrett is angry 24-7, and he uses his frontman position with the guitar-burning Oil to denounce sociopolitical ills down under. His latest target--xenophobic Aussie politician Pauline Hanson--has Garrett and crew firing on all cylinders..." - Rating: B
Raw and loud Oil To quote Peter Garrett, this is a "p*ssed off album" ("The Real Thing" interview bonus CD, 2000). It sounds like it. Very raw, very edgy and energetic. The Oils meet grunge, almost, but many years later. Overall, not one of The Oils' better albums. If you are looking to feel energised and upbeat by The Oils, and want it coming hard, fast, and loud, buy "Scream in Blue Live". Submitted by a reviewer (Toronto, Ontario) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
A different Midnight Oil Well, it seems that a lot of Oil fans donīt like this record, but I find it interesting...songs like "Redneck Wonderland", "Concrete", "Blot" or "White Skin Black Heart" are a sample of modern rock while the usual "message" from Midnight Oil pervades...more great rock from the Oils, but with a twist...I recommend it. Submitted by Rafael (Sevilla, Spain) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
Raw and loud Oil
A different Midnight Oil
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