Review by Doug Cornell

I was a young man when I first heard Midnight Oil.  At the time, the music scene was reeling from the social impact of early 80's punk, MTV, new-wave, and Ronald Reagan.  The term "grunge" wouldn't be until 10 years into the future, and rock music stll sold on 12" slabs of vinyl.

The new "reissue" of the 1985 live Midnight Oil concert in Sydney is a must have for fans of modern music.  This is big music, full of powerful political anthems that challenge issues such as global warming, genocide, big business in the pre-Wal-Mart era, and military intelligence.  The album's 16 songs were recorded before the Oil's had their first hit, "Beds are Burning," but don't let that stop you.  This a recording that combines two of the most elusive components in rock and roll: intelligence and melody.

It's interesting that the political rhetoric on Oils On the Water is still valid, 20 years after its recording.  "You say times are tough...things are rough...we've got the best of both worlds here," opens the concert, with guitars blasting and the giant front man Peter Garrett taking control of the passionate vocals.  The addition of a horn section to the live performance was an excellent decision too.  

In "When the Generals Talk" Garrett takes on the military/industrial complex ("The fat cats still push the thin cats around'), then reminds us that a nuclear holocaust is always possible ("Minutes to Midnight").  This album contains many defining moments, but when Garrett yells, "When I'm locked in my room... I just want to scream!"  in "Only the Strong," you are treated to a desert island song that endures the decades.

"Short Memory" replaces the guitar intro on the studio album with piano, a beautiful and smart move.  This song about many historical instances of genocide is strangely melodic.  It may feel odd signing along to a song about genocide, but that's Midnight Oil's forte.  The guitars are given full throttle in the incendiary track, "Kosciusko," and the band takes on the American Superpower in "US Forces." 

Oils on the Water is packed with solid material, as such important tunes as "Jimmy Sharman's Boxers," "Tin Legs and Tin Mines," "Power and the Passion," and "Read About It' are included.

In 40 years, Midnight Oil will be remembered as one of the few bands that attempted to be a conscience for a generation.  If you are a younger music fan, this album will serve as a primer to political modern rock.  For everyone else, Oils On the Water is a must-have for any rock record collection.