Two elements have always gravitated towards Midnight Oil’s musical favor – politics and hooks.
In their early days, they burst out with an energy to rival punk bands (although each member knew how to play their instruments). Frontman Peter Garrett’s spasmodic thrashing and the sight of a crash test dummy refusing to hit a wall would make for a unique viewing experience in the MTV era. But the word, which has always embodied one of Australia’s biggest bands, is urgent. They care a lot about how they convey their music, and Garrett cares a lot about his vocal performance – he tries to raise awareness for every socio-political issue he can think of.
Listeners may best remember their 1987-1990 heyday diesel and dust and Blue sky mining. Even their biggest global hit “Beds Are Burning” – catchy as it was – had climate change written all over it (“The western desert lives and breathes at 45 degrees. . ). With the release of their 13th and probably last studio album Resist, the Oils slow down the urgency just a little, but prove no less direct in their lyrical and instrumental delivery. This album proves that after 45 years this band is still one of the most underrated and one of the most dynamic in the world.
Brooding intensity is evident from the start on “Rising Seas”. What’s unique here is that Garrett’s faltering vocals haven’t aged a bit, and the band aren’t afraid to reach into their own catalog to make an impact. The first half of The Barka-Darling River is reminiscent of 1983’s Only the Strong 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; “Tarkine” is reminiscent of “Sell My Soul”; and “We Resist” is reminiscent of “River Runs Red”. But like a true Oils experience, you’ll be sucked in by tunes, depictions of real-world events (or in the case of Last Frontier, literal global newscasts); and lyrics designed to smack you in the face. case study:
- “Who left the idiots’ bag open? Who drank the bottle with the bad ideas?” (“The Barka Darling River”)
- “We’d better get together or we’ll end up on the roof with a shotgun.” (“At the time of writing”)
- “Heaven is a mirror of selfishness and greed.” (“Reef”)
Rumor has it that this will be the last album the Oils will make. If that’s true, I can’t help but think back to one of the band’s greatest tracks – the frantic 1983 “Somebody’s Trying to Tell Me Something.” The Oils have built their career on consistently conveying the things that should matter most and actually most important. And, like their previous albums, Resist deserves your full attention – please listen to what they have to say.
-Ira Kantor
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