[Patrick Donovan] June 27, 2008 The Age, EG
"THESE days, Peter Garrett spends his time making consequential decisions about the arts and the environment as a federal minister. But an album released by his band Midnight Oil 26 years ago has been judged the greatest-ever Australian album by an Age EG poll.
Its uncompromising and passionate 1982 album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 ,1 came in ahead of classic albums by AC/DC, Skyhooks, Radio Birdman, Paul Kelly, You Am I, INXS, Triffids and the Easybeats.
Midnight Oil also polled the most amount of votes.
There is no more uniquely Australian band than Midnight Oil. From Garrett's impassioned lyrics and jerky dancing to the band's driving rhythm, they couldn't have come from any other country. And this album was so fiercely passionate, with important messages hidden in singalong pop anthems.
With catchy, edgy political anthems that defended land rights and Aborigines and attacked Australia's foreign policy, such as US Forces and Power and the Passion, and the catchcry "Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees", the album galvanised politically minded rockers around the country.
"With the spectre of the Cold War hanging over us, it was full of brooding and minor chords, but it worked because we played so hard and we didn't let it ever get preachy," said Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst, who described the album yesterday as career defining and the band's creative peak.
"We were hugely in debt at the time. If we didn't have the success and support with it, I don't know if we would have managed to go on."
It reached No. 3 on the charts and stayed there for more than three years, selling more than a quarter of a million copies. It was also its first album to be released around the world, making the world stand up and take notice.
The poll, generated by a panel of critics, musicians, broadcasters, record store owners and industry folk, featured albums from the Easybeats' 1965 Easy (13) to the Drones' snarling 2006 classic Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of your Enemies Will Float By (No. 20).
The EG poll inspired many hard decisions and thought-provoking debate. Author Clinton Walker wondered why acronymically named sibling acts the Bee Gees, AC/DC and INXS have been Australia's most successful music exports.
The most nominations went to AC/DC with four, followed by two for Midnight Oil, the Saints, You Am I, Paul Kelly, Cold Chisel, Crowded House, the Go-Betweens and the Easybeats.
Powderfinger, the Living End, the Vines, Wolfmother, Missy Higgins, Savage Garden, Kasey Chambers and Kylie Minogue missed the cut."
"THESE days, Peter Garrett spends his time making consequential decisions about the arts and the environment as a federal minister. But an album released by his band Midnight Oil 26 years ago has been judged the greatest-ever Australian album by an Age EG poll.
Its uncompromising and passionate 1982 album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 ,1 came in ahead of classic albums by AC/DC, Skyhooks, Radio Birdman, Paul Kelly, You Am I, INXS, Triffids and the Easybeats.
Midnight Oil also polled the most amount of votes.
There is no more uniquely Australian band than Midnight Oil. From Garrett's impassioned lyrics and jerky dancing to the band's driving rhythm, they couldn't have come from any other country. And this album was so fiercely passionate, with important messages hidden in singalong pop anthems.
With catchy, edgy political anthems that defended land rights and Aborigines and attacked Australia's foreign policy, such as US Forces and Power and the Passion, and the catchcry "Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees", the album galvanised politically minded rockers around the country.
"With the spectre of the Cold War hanging over us, it was full of brooding and minor chords, but it worked because we played so hard and we didn't let it ever get preachy," said Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst, who described the album yesterday as career defining and the band's creative peak.
"We were hugely in debt at the time. If we didn't have the success and support with it, I don't know if we would have managed to go on."
It reached No. 3 on the charts and stayed there for more than three years, selling more than a quarter of a million copies. It was also its first album to be released around the world, making the world stand up and take notice.
The poll, generated by a panel of critics, musicians, broadcasters, record store owners and industry folk, featured albums from the Easybeats' 1965 Easy (13) to the Drones' snarling 2006 classic Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of your Enemies Will Float By (No. 20).
The EG poll inspired many hard decisions and thought-provoking debate. Author Clinton Walker wondered why acronymically named sibling acts the Bee Gees, AC/DC and INXS have been Australia's most successful music exports.
The most nominations went to AC/DC with four, followed by two for Midnight Oil, the Saints, You Am I, Paul Kelly, Cold Chisel, Crowded House, the Go-Betweens and the Easybeats.
Powderfinger, the Living End, the Vines, Wolfmother, Missy Higgins, Savage Garden, Kasey Chambers and Kylie Minogue missed the cut."
Need I say more.... check out the 'Rolling Stone' review.
:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-10386543-1497206124-4134.jpeg.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment