Diesel and Dust

Midnight Oil

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: January 25, 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000026DJ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55,824 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Beds Are Burning

2. Put Down That Weapon

3. Dreamworld

4. Arctic World

5. Warakurna

6. Dead Heart

7. Whoah

8. Bullroarer

9. Sell My Soul

10. Sometimes

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Few would claim that Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett is the world's greatest rock vocalist, but he clearly means what he sings. On Diesel and Dust, Garrett and company serve up a collection of solid pop-rock songs that follow the groundwork laid by their early albums. Intrinsic to their sound is a guitars-bass-drums attack spiced occasionally with horns and keyboards and capped with Garrett's throaty vocals. Garrett's lyrics on Deisel and Dust are noteworthy because they are not about love or personal relationships but instead address larger issues. "Beds Are Burning" is a call to return the land expropriated from Australia's aboriginal peoples, while "The Dead Heart" and "Bullroarer" celebrate their rich cultural heritage. Many bands and artists have made some sort of political or social concern apparent in their work, but few have done so as consistently, dedicatedly, and tunefully as Midnight Oil. --Al Massa

Product Description

Digipak reissue of 1987 album. 2001. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How can we sleep when our beds are burning?, June 2, 2003

By	Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Even though they had been known in their native Australia for years, it wasn't until 1987 and their hit "Beds Are Burning" that the politically conscious Midnight Oil, led by gangling seven foot tall bald lead singer Peter Garrett garnered attention on the other side of the Pacific--i.e. the USA. It hit Billboard's Top 20 on the Hot 100. The constant theme of this album is the return of the aborigines' land to the rightful owners and the criticism of companies that exploit the land for its resources.

The anthemic "Beds Are Burning" is about returning the aborigines land to them: "The time has come/to say fair's fair/to pay the rent/to pay our share." The song says, the Australian desert can go up to 45 degrees C (113 F). Hot! I wonder if many Native Americans found this song popular, as they too suffer the same plight, especially the Navajo people in the area I live in.

The mid-paced "Put Down That Weapon," which has a throbbing bass, seems to be a thematic holdover from their bomb album, the countdown-titled 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Key lyric: "Put down that weapon or we'll all be gone/You must be crazy if you think you're strong."

"Dreamworld" has a quicker pace than "Beds Are Burning" and sadly tells the aborigines that "your dreamworld is about to end." As for Garrett, he says, "Take me to a place where the dreaming never ends/open wide drive that mystery road." In other words, somewhere that has been left untouched by whites.

The elegiac "Arctic World" describes the soulessness of the exploiter company man, but it's also the despair of the activist who is frustrated from what looks like a losing battle.

The rocking "Warakurna" challenges white land occupation and laws in favour of aboriginal tradition: "This land must change or land must burn" and "White law could be wrong/black law must be strong."

The equally engaging second single, "The Dead Heart," spoken from the aborigines' point of view, is another number that pulls no punches from the outset: "We don't serve your country/don't serve your king/know your custom don't speak your tongue/white man came took everyone." Like the Native Americans of old, they have had to put up with their land being taken and exploited. In Australia, it's "mining companies, pastoral companies, uranium companies, collected companies," with the mentality that they have more say than people.

For those wondering what a "Bullroarer" is, it's a wooden slat attached to a string that makes a roaring sound when spun around quickly. There's the sound of one at the beginning of the track. Its use is varied, from curing sickness, warning women and children away from sacred ceremonies, or to symbolize totemic ancestors.

"Sell My Soul" describes hardships and the conflicts of not selling one's traditional ways in favour of white ways, and the quick-paced "Sometimes" describes the overpowering industrial concrete and steel jungle, and tells the aborigine not to give in.

This album got me turned on to Midnight Oil and I have four of their other albums as a result. Question: if you copy one of their CDs to a CD-R, would that be known as burning the Midnight Oil? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Midnight Oil Albums released, February 21, 2005

By	Petar Vodogaz "Commissioner" (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Whilst not always agreeing with the messages in Midnight Oil's songs I do love the music. Few can disagree that this band has talent that is raw, wonderfully smooth and refreshing from this Australian long time band that has just recently separated after a marathon time together. This album shows the rich culture and attitude of MO and 'Deisel and Dust' is the best that Australiana has to offer.

This CD has messages in each of the song from the plea to return land to the dispossessed native inhabitance of Australia to a celebration of the rich coastal and inland culture of the Australian landscape and culture. Looking at reviews it is nice to see that many Americans have taken to this band and makes me proud in some ways to witness a band like MO have such an impact on other people's from across the oceans.

This is a deserved album of all praise it has recieved. MO effort in validating their stamp on the Australian music scene for some generations to come is apparent. Listen and heed the message of Peter Garrett and those rascals from Down Under!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eleven years later, it STILL gives me goose bumps!, November 5, 1999

By A Customer

This is one of the best CD's ever made. Looking back, it's amazing that a song like "Beds Are Burning" actually made it to the top 20 of the US charts. This CD is so full of passion and energy and genuine emotion, yet it never becomes preachy or forced. This is the perfect CD to take along on a long trip.