I remember the terrific 1987 hit "Beds Are Burning", but until I heard this album, that was the extent of my exposure to Australia's Midnight Oil. I knew that "Beds Are Burning" was a very political track, a protest song about returning Australian land to the indigenous desert-dwelling Pintupi. The lyrics leave no doubt about it: "The time has come/A fact's a fact/It belongs to them/Let's give it back." But I had no idea that the entire album would deal with ecological and political issues. Believe me, it does. The 11 tracks are all about themes such as mistreatment of indigenous peoples, progess and civilization versus nature and beauty, and nostalgia for the primitive desert life.
As far as the band's sound is concerned, "Beds Are Burning" pretty much sets the standard for the entire album, and the end product is what I would call "danceable rock". Most of the tracks have several or all of these attributes: constant thumping bass, melodic guitar, moody synths to provide atmosphere, and steady drumming. Those that stray from this don't wander very far. "Beds Are Burning" makes excellent use of horns. "Arctic World" is a slower track, complete with piano and strings to complement the synths. "Whoah" is very solemn; acoustic guitar provides the main background for vocals which include some lines that are chant-like. "Sometimes" is probably the most upbeat track; a brisk pace and brighter mood are apparent from the word "GO".
The themes I mentioned above are presented in some pretty obscure lyrics which turn out to be rather fine pop poetry. The album's title comes from "Warakurna": "Diesel and dust is what we breathe/This land don't change and we don't leave/Some people live, some never die/This land don't change, this land must lie...Some people laugh, some never learn/This land must change or land must burn." Nuclear holocaust is the fear in "Put Down That Weapon": "And if the skies go dark with rain/Can you tell me does our freedom remain...And if the sea goes boiling black/Can you tell me what you'll do about that...Put down that weapon or we'll all be gone." Cultures clash in "Gunbarrel Highway": "We burnt all the trees to keep us alive/Sat 'round the fire, sang like a choir/With the ashes of a civilization in our eyes...I come alive, I read the signs on the Gunbarrel Highway/I hear the sound, it's the wheels as they drive/And the cultures collide on that highway." Nostalgia for the loss of the primitive life is expressed in "Bullroarer": "It's a knock 'em down storm/See the tin roof shake/Wild dog howls and the long grass whistles and the tall trees break/I've seen the wild horses/I've heard the bullroarers...Shifting sands and broken plans/Lead me on to my homeland."
One thing that surprised me is that the album is not as "hard rock" as I expected. "Beds Are Burning" leaned toward rock rather than pop, and the band's appearance, as seen in the video, was that of a rock band. But the line between rock and pop is frequently ill-defined, and I believe this was particularly true in the 80's. Also, I should add that I have not listened to any of Midnight Oil's other albums, even though there have been many.
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Editorial Reviews
REMASTERED edition of mighty 1987 album featuring "Beds Are Burning" & "Dead Heart"
Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Language : English
- Product Dimensions : 5.59 x 4.96 x 0.39 inches; 3.6 Ounces
- Manufacturer : Sony Music Canada Inc.
- Original Release Date : 2013
- Run time : 47 minutes
- SPARS Code : DDD
- Date First Available : March 29, 2007
- Label : Sony Music Canada Inc.
- ASIN : B0000265SW
- Number of discs : 1
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Best Sellers Rank:
#15,686 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #845 in Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) (CDs & Vinyl)
- #1,414 in Alternative Rock (CDs & Vinyl)
- #7,987 in Rock (CDs & Vinyl)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
414 global ratings
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2016
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13 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2021
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"All rights of the producer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved. Unauthorised copying, public performance, broadcasting, hiring or rental of this recording prohibited." And: "The Copyright In This Sound Recording Is Owned By Midnight Oil".
So says the writing on the CD. It looks excessive, but I didn't really notice it at first. Then I tried to copy it to my computer via iTunes so that I could upload it to my phone. It took me a few tries before I realized the problem wasn't iTunes or the optical drive. It's the CD itself. It's copy-protected. It plays on a CD player without issue. But it will not play on any computer drive whatsoever.
I get why artists try to protect their work. But this is too much. Midnight Oil has over-reached and denied me what in the U.S. is defined as "fair use" -- the right for me to enjoy the product on my personal equipment for my personal enjoyment. One of the reasons I paid $10.07 to Midnight Oil, and Sony Music, and Sprint, and all of the accountants and suits was to use the CD fairly. But their over-zealous approach has infringed upon my rights as a consumer and killed my interest in being a fan of the group.
I paid my share. The time has come to say fair's fair.
So says the writing on the CD. It looks excessive, but I didn't really notice it at first. Then I tried to copy it to my computer via iTunes so that I could upload it to my phone. It took me a few tries before I realized the problem wasn't iTunes or the optical drive. It's the CD itself. It's copy-protected. It plays on a CD player without issue. But it will not play on any computer drive whatsoever.
I get why artists try to protect their work. But this is too much. Midnight Oil has over-reached and denied me what in the U.S. is defined as "fair use" -- the right for me to enjoy the product on my personal equipment for my personal enjoyment. One of the reasons I paid $10.07 to Midnight Oil, and Sony Music, and Sprint, and all of the accountants and suits was to use the CD fairly. But their over-zealous approach has infringed upon my rights as a consumer and killed my interest in being a fan of the group.
I paid my share. The time has come to say fair's fair.
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2019
Verified Purchase
I really like the music, in particular the great dance beats, but I'm not crazy about their message. Very anti-everything.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2007
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Diesel and Dust is the perfect merger of rock and social progressivism. Never has a record compelled me to feel as moved as this one, particularly on songs like 'Warakurna', 'Beds are Burning', 'The Dead Heart', or 'Dreamworld'. Never has anyone described with such power and poignancy the plight of the underclass or displaced minorities (in this case the Aboriginal peoples of Australia) in a manner that anyone can relate to. The evocative words ("The western desert lives and breathes at 45 degrees"), the tones used on Rob Hirst's drums, Jim Moginie's and Martin Rotsey's dueling acoustic guitars on the 'Dead Heart', and Peter Garrett's gravel like edge to his singing on tracks like 'Put Down that Weapon', 'Arctic World' or 'Sell My Soul' evoke the imagery of a band that traveled for miles through sandy hot desert lands in pickup trucks and tried to make sense of their experiences upon returning to Sydney. The music intimates the myriad of emotions that the band experienced after meeting and living among simple people, witnessing their stories of hardship and difficulties and the uplifting hope and dignity they found among them.
The record, despite its serious themes, is life affirming, as the defiantly rocking closer "Sometimes" appropriately underscores. Midnight Oil believes in the redemptive power of the human spirit in spite of the injustice and inequities in our world today.
From a musical standpoint, each song is flawlessly crafted and produced. Warne Livesey does an oustanding job of integrating the sounds of the earth and of the band, with the sounds of electronic beats and synthesizers. This is a modern rock record to be sure, in spite of its folksy songs and socially conscious subject matter. This record and "10,9,8..." were Midnight Oil's finest hours. However, this record has a power all its own, as any time we see hardship, suffering and inequality in this world, all we in the west need to do is listen to this record to understand how it tastes, smells and feels to be in that condition. A remarkable record. One for the ages. Get it if you don't have it.
The record, despite its serious themes, is life affirming, as the defiantly rocking closer "Sometimes" appropriately underscores. Midnight Oil believes in the redemptive power of the human spirit in spite of the injustice and inequities in our world today.
From a musical standpoint, each song is flawlessly crafted and produced. Warne Livesey does an oustanding job of integrating the sounds of the earth and of the band, with the sounds of electronic beats and synthesizers. This is a modern rock record to be sure, in spite of its folksy songs and socially conscious subject matter. This record and "10,9,8..." were Midnight Oil's finest hours. However, this record has a power all its own, as any time we see hardship, suffering and inequality in this world, all we in the west need to do is listen to this record to understand how it tastes, smells and feels to be in that condition. A remarkable record. One for the ages. Get it if you don't have it.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries
Crazy For Music
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great album...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2016Verified Purchase
I bought the 12" single of "Beds are Burning" when it was first released. However I did not explore Midnight Oil any further. Based on this album I now wish I had. Yes, their lyrics are political but not in your face. You can easily listen to the songs possibly unware, and just enjoy as good rock songs. The album is a good mix of tempo's and the music is very catchy. Make a great driving cd. Would happily recommend
2 people found this helpful
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Carla Delacourt
5.0 out of 5 stars
1 great track
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2018Verified Purchase
Beds are burning is why you buy this
2 people found this helpful
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Rabb
4.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome to Oz
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 21, 2017Verified Purchase
First heard this almost 30 years ago, political, non-apologetic, musicially different but real good.
3 people found this helpful
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Simon
4.0 out of 5 stars
The songs you remember of the band
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2019Verified Purchase
Their best and classic songs from the best music of the band.
Other Lp's went a different direction from this one
This was a shame IMO.
Other Lp's went a different direction from this one
This was a shame IMO.
DAVID CAMPBELL
2.0 out of 5 stars
Aussies
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2021Verified Purchase
Very overrated I'm afraid.
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