Midnight Oil - 20,000 Watts R.S.L.: Greatest Hits

Like the Violent Femmes and Concrete Blonde, Midnight Oil has released a few all-around terrific albums and several others with just a couple great songs. Collecting the familiar radio hits ("Blue Sky Mine," "Forgotten Years," "Beds Are Burning") and standout tracks from less worthy CDs ("Surf's Up Tonight," from 1996's otherwise forgettable Breathe the Australian rock band's highly political first career retrospective is a good starting point for new fans. This collection could have delved more into the classic albums, such as 1988's Diesel and Dust, but then every working band has to maintain the illusion that its later work is also vital. --Steve Knopper Amazon.com

Midnight Oil - Dusting Off Down Under

Aussies Midnight Oil had a career run of twenty five years, which kicked into high gear when they had their first surprise hit off of a concept album written about the plight of native Aboriginals. The band split in 2002 when charismatic front-man Peter Garrett left the band to run for political office, where he still serves today as part of Australia's center-left government. The other members, for the most part, have kept their hands in the music business, and guitarist Jim Moginie is now heading up a reissue project of the group's recordings, beginning with the CD "Diesel and Dust" which includes the hit "Beds Are Burning." The new reissue will include a bonus track called "Gunbarrel Highway."

A follow up documentary is also in the works for release on DVD that will retrace the band's journey through Kintore East and Yuendemu, which were both immortalized on "Beds Are Burning." The original members still get together and play music, with the exception as noted of Peter Garrett, and original bassist Peter Gifford, who left the group after the extensive touring done by the band to promote Diesel and Dust. He is now the Lamborghini-driving owner of a company that makes micro bikinis and lingerie, called Wicked Weasel.

In their day, Midnight Oil was one of the most explosive acts to grace a stage. I saw them many times during the late 80's-early 90's, and they never put on a bad performance. It's thrilling to know some of their work is being remastered. If you somehow missed this band when they were together, this is a great opportunity to get to know one of the best rock acts to come from that era. If you can find a copy, "Midnight Oil:20,000 Watts R.S.L." is a DVD that captures the band live in concert - an experience that will change your concept of this remarkable band by showing first hand what an "Oils" concert was like - a powerful, unforgettable experience by a truly unique group of artists. May 28, 2008

Solid Collection for First Time Fans

This collection would serve as a great introduction to any music fan who hasn't purchased a Midnight Oil album. Most of their albums are well represented here, giving the casual listener a broad overview of the history of the group. The liner notes by author Tim Winton are very well done, deftly illustrating the impact Midnight Oil's music and political interests have had on Australians at home and abroad. My one complaint with this collection would be that there are no songs from the first album presented here, nor any tracks from the incredible live album Scream in Blue Live. Rather than include the two cuts from the then upcoming Redneck Wonderland album, I would have liked to have seen selections from those two albums, in particular the song "Powderworks". This song should have had priority over "What Goes On" or "White Skin Black Heart". It's not that those aren't good songs, it's just that "Powderworks" is a much more vital part of the group's history. I suspect it was more of the record company's doing then the band's. Still, my whiny fan-boy complaint aside, this really is a great collection of songs. Hopefully, anyone who purchases it will be moved to obtain the actual releases and thus experience more than just the "hits". February 12, 2008

Australia's best ever rock band

If anyone doubts how good Oils were as a Live band, get a copy of Sydney Radio 2JJJ's Filmed Concert of Midnight Oil Live at Goat Island,Sydney Harbour in 1985. Astonishing,with incredible and muscular musical interplay between the band and the audience.

They kicked proverbial A**E, I do not think there was another rock band with the political will and vigour of this band during the 1980's.These guys have a perpetual place in Australian and world musical history and I think the future will treat them with great respect.So many of the things they sang about and warned us all against have come to reality, and most Australians love 'em all and regard them with great personal respect here in Australia.They all have moved on with their own personal musical stories, except for singer Peter Garrett who is now in Government as the Australian Minister for the Environment. January 20, 2008

Awesome Aussies

Midnight Oil was a great political/social commentary band, and this album collects their best stuff from the 80s. If fellow Aussies Men at Work were playing for your ear, Midnight Oil was definitely playing for your mind as well. The songs on her have great messages, delivered in straightforward, no nonsense, rock. This stuff actually makes the listener think about things like justice and fairness. The really good tunes:

Dream World
Kosciusko
Dead Heart
Blue Sky Mine - great tune about mine workers used up by the mines
Beds are Burning
Forgetten Years - excellent song yearning for the end of war's waste July 17, 2007

Power and the Passion of one of Australia's Greatest Bands

I highly recommend this collection of some of Midnight Oil's finest. If you are not overly familiar with arguably one of the worlds greatest ever alternative rock bands this is a great place to start. The songs, many from the 80's still fire with passion carrying the bands strong and outspoken views on the social injustices of their native Australia, in particular the plight of the indigenous people and environmental issues which struck a chord with many people. A dynamic force without peer as a live band in their day the Oil's released at least 4 classic albums and found some international success.



1. What Goes On
2. Power And The Passion
3. Dreamworld
4. White Skin Black Heart
5. Koscluszko
6. The Dead Heart
7. Blue Sky Mine
8. US Forces
9. Beds Are Burning
10. One Country
11. Best Of Both Worlds
12. Truganini
13. King Of The Mountain
14. Hercules
15. Surf's Up Tonight
16. Back On The Borderline
17. Don't Wanna Be The One
18. Forgotten Years

Please give this set a good listen it is one of Aussie rocks finest and most informed collection of songs.
July 7, 2007

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