Midnight Oil has produced 13 studio albums to date over their long career. Six of them made the best 1,000 albums ever.
Each is stunning in its own way and well worth checking out, especially if you have a notion to dig a band that maps post-punk aggression and hard rock with sublime musicianship, pop sensibilities, and a steadfast and decades-long devotion to political causes ranging from climate change (casual fans will best know the band from “Beds Are Burning,” their best known in the U.S.) to social justice for oppressed peoples.
In this rundown of the best six Midnight Oil albums ever, I’ve provided a pull quote from each.
Let’s do it.
1) Blue Sky Mining (#31 of best 1,000 albums ever)
Blue Sky Mining entered my life at a crucial age, 16 or so, when albums became friends, life rafts, pillars, priests. And indeed, look at me now, right? Decades later I’ve dedicated a chunk of my life to honoring, cataloging, and ranking 1,000 of them in loving and painstaking order.
2) 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 (#55)
So in some (strange?) small way, Midnight Oil had a profound impact in my life by way of one song they produced back in 1982. And I’ll also add that I am sure the band had a subtle but important influence on my overall political education as well.
3) Red Sails in the Sunset (#71)
I love that Red Sails in the Sunset kicks off with the striking, angular-yet-grooving “When The Generals Talk.” And I always dig the hell out of the moment when Peter Garrett steps out of singing mode for a moment to say the general’s really pleased in a withering tone.
4) Diesel and Dust (#170)
Midnight Oil was passionate about politics and the environment and the plight of oppressed peoples before it was “cool.” That passion ripples through every moment of their songs, transforming their message into something that’s rousing and emotional and special.
5) Earth and Sun and Moon (#346)
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.
6) Midnight Oil (#483)
I’m a Midnight Oil superfan who grew up on the band’s 1980s and early 1990s output, so their 1978 self-titled debut can’t help but sound to me like a rawer, punkier version, revved up on late-’70s guitar-rock levels.