So why is Midnight Oil’s Earth and Sun and Moon on this best 1,000 albums ever thing?
Earth and Sun and Moon is the second Midnight Oil album I’m featuring on this here best 1,000 albums ever project, and spoiler alert that there are more coming. It’s may not be my favorite Midnight Oil album, but it’s one that I adore and holds a rare and special place in my mind and memory.
Some songs and some albums open up a weird, trippy time portal to a specific moment in my life. Way back when I wrote about Steppenwolf’s The Second (#999 of best 1,000 albums ever), I noted how that album – and “Magic Carpet Ride” specifically – ties to a significant day during my freshman year of college.
With Earth and Sun and Moon, it’s one of those things where I can recall the specifics without knowing why this particular day sticks out. In any event, this time it’s the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college, and I’m home living with my parents on Long Island.
I recall bringing my portable stereo outside to the backyard, as it was a spectacular day. I popped in a CD of this very same album you’re reading about here, and I think there was something about the gorgeous sounds of these Australian rockers singing about the importance of protecting our beautiful earth that makes me recall the moment to this day.
While the full of Earth and Sun and Moon is really good, it’s the first six tracks that are particularly great and stand up with the best of Midnight Oil’s output.
“Feeding Frenzy” jumps out with a striking bass line, and then we get classic growly Australian-accented vocals from Peter Garrett. But then it’s the incredible harmony from the band on the chorus that makes this song among Midnight Oil’s very best. Also noteworthy is an ever so slightly psychedelic tinge during the bridge that’s a nice changeup.
I don’t want to run and hide
I’ve seen it all from either side
Truth and fiction must collide someday
The soaring and energetic “My Country” is my favorite song on Earth and Sun and Moon. The piano, vocals, and guitar create the perfect blend of pretty melody and edgy-ish rock music. And the repeated line of my country right or wrong can be interpreted in different ways, but I really like this commenter’s take on it on SongMeanings: “I think the lyrics are about using patriotism as a tool to blind the public to all the political skullduggery that goes on.”
Midnight Oil was a politically and especially environmentally conscious band way before it was hip or trendy to do so. There’s something about the title track, “Earth and Sun and Moon,” that I find beautiful and even hopeful. My feelings about it tie to the cover art somehow, with its bright and cheerful colors. All told, it’s as good a thesis for what this band is about as any.
And how could you not dig this?
I wish you could see this great mystery
Earth and sun and moon, human tribe, thin blue line
Earth and sun and moon will survive
Personal stuff that has something to do with Midnight Oil’s Earth and Sun and Moon
I also have a vague memory of Midnight Oil playing live on a morning news show, Today or something like that, during this era. I do recall that they played “Truganini” at an outdoor concert stage, and I’m pretty sure there was the Triborough Bridge (or another New York City bridge) in the background.
The memory is slightly odd only from the perspective that Midnight Oil at their absolute peak of popularity in the U.S. weren’t that popular; they were hardly a household name.
Some stats & info about Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon
- What kind of musical stylings does this album represent? Australian Bands, Rock Music, Alternative Rock
- Rolling Stone’s greatest 500 albums ranking – not ranked!
- All Music’s rating – 4.5 out of 5 stars
- When was Earth and Sun and Moon released? 1993
- My ranking, the one you’re reading right now – #346 out of 1,000
Midnight Oil’s Earth and Sun and Moon on Spotify
A lyrical snippet from Midnight Oil’s Earth and Sun and Moon that’s evocative of the album in some way, maybe
Now who can stop the hail when human senses fail – there was never any warning, no escape.
What does the “best 1,000 albums ever” mean and why are you doing this?
Yeah, I know it’s audacious, a little crazy (okay, maybe a lot cray cray), bordering on criminal nerdery.
But here’s what it’s NOT: a definitive list of the Greatest Albums of All-Time. This is 100% my own personal super biased, incredibly subjective review of what my top 1,000 albums are, ranked in painstaking order over the course of doing research for nearly a year, Rob from High Fidelity style. Find out more about why I embarked on a best 1,000 albums ever project.