Customer Reviews

20,000 Watts R.S.L.: Greatest Hits

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this is the australian band's greatest hits collection, and while i like listening to the actual LPs a bit more--because their generally very cohesive albums with steady thematic undertones--this gives a satisfactory view of their career on the charts, including all the hits and cult-favorites. there are some positively scorching numbers on here...songs so full of passion that even their biggest hit, "beds are burning," pales in comparison and seems almost flakey. great liner notes tell the inspiring true story of the band's rise to fame and influence.

This Midnight Oil compilation cover their music over 20 years from 1979's "Head Injuries" till "Redneck Wonderland" from 1998. The only early album not represented is their first from 1978.

Their commercially most succesfull period around "Blue Sky Mining" is logically covered the broadest with 3 tracks from "Diesel and Dust" and 4 from "Blue Sky Mining". All tracks well chosen; actually these albums are so great that almost any tracks would be.

The greatly overlooked 1993 album "Earth and Sun and Moon" is only represented by "Truganini" which is a shame - "In the Valley" should have been here!

From "Breathe" a great song called "Surf's Up Tonight" has been included. I have never yet heard "Breathe" as a whole; but this song really stirs my curiosity to do so. It's a song of raw simple beauty, unlike any other track I have heard from the band; and I would never have guessed who it was if I had heard it on the radio - a little like Alex Chilton/Big Star.


Among the early songs "Kosciuszko" is my favourite.

The booklet includes an interesting band story written by Tim Winton. Makes you want more. Recommended!

I don't want to offend any Midnight Oil fans by saying that I think this is a great cd. I don't own any individual cds, but as far as greatest hits compiliations are concerned, this one is solid. In America, only Beds Are Burning, The Dead Heart, Blue Sky Mine, Forgotten Years and Truganini were hits...and they're all here plus great songs I hadn't heard before. I do think that Midnight Oil is one of Australia's finest exports. This is a must have for any serious music fan.

i've always enjoyed music by Midnight Oil. their brand of rootsy working class hard rock always seemed spot on and the distinct vocals added a nice sinister touch. this collection gathers their well known hits and offers a glimpse into both their back catalogue and their recent efforts (as in the weak and misguided electro rock of two new tracks on here). but thankfully, those two tracks don't put a big dent into Midnight Oil's permanent record. this is a great cd and a fine place for those late to the game to do a little bit of catching up on one of modern rock's finest exports.

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!!!

I was still young when Midnight Oil reached the peak of their popularity. Just as I became interested in music, they released 'Blue Sky Mining' in 1990. If only I had been a few years older I might have been a much bigger fan. It is safe to say that there has never been an Australian band like Midnight Oil who have boldly aired it's political sentiments for over 20 years. They wrote songs about the Australian Indigenous peoples' fight for Land rights as well as the red-hot issue of Uranium mining. But these weren't tired and turgid rock songs; these were tunes you caught yourself singing while in the shower, or while driving or walking your dog.

This best of collection is a great way of getting introduced to the group. If you don't want other discs, this is the only one you'll need. However, the 'best of' tag is a slight misnomer because two of the songs featured here are found on the LP 'Redneck Wonderland', which was released 12 months later. When you buy this CD you aren't just getting the great classics like 'The Dead Heart, or 'Beds Are Burning'. 'US Forces' and 'The Power and The Passion' are songs that give us a glimpse of why this band would go on to be one of Australia's most influential groups in the 1980's. Also on here is 'Hercules' a great and sadly under-rated rock track that was featured on the 'Species Deceases' EP. Another reason why you should buy this.

**** 1/2 stars

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.

Great Aussie Music from a few years back with political
overtunes. Simply the best.

I strongly believe that this album is a great collection of Oil's best. It has a tremendous sound. The songs included are all well-selected and arranged. The album is quite long, about seventy-five minutes but it doesn't grow old on you. Can't go wrong by owning it.