Records: Midnight Oil's Redneck Wonderland

Check out Redneck Wonderland sound clips at
The Planet of Sound.

Most people remember Midnight Oil, and their lanky, bald lead singer, Peter Garrett, as the one-hit wonders who recorded 1988's "Beds Are Burning." But this Aussie band has been steadily churning out albums since 1978--longevity which suggests that these guys must have a pretty loyal fan base and a few other things going for them.

In fact, they seem to have maintained quite a following in both Australia and America among the 20- and 30-something crowd. Despite their minimal commercial success, I was intrigued enough to check out their 14th effort: Redneck Wonderland.

The CD case is bright red, with a drawing of a kangaroo holding a rifle on the cover and a photograph of a guy looking at a bullet on the back. I guess they were going for the redneck theme--but this album really isn't about red-necks and their guns.

Midnight Oil has always been a band with a social conscience, mostly directed toward issues in their native Australia, such as the abuse of the Aboriginal peoples and the environment. This album continues in that tradition with protest songs like "White Skin, Black Heart" and "Concrete." But what sets Midnight Oil apart from Tibetan Aid-type bands like Soul Asylum is that Midnight Oil are truly angry and involved in their cause--they display a genuine rather than token investment in the issues. These guys live in this shit and have been singing about it forever, but they're not tired of it--they're just more pissed than ever.

That anger is what fuels this album. Midnight Oil takes aim at a society that only wants to "consume, embellish, discard, and expire." Garrett's snarl, accompanied by fierce guitars and vicious drums, screams Clash-like punk rock, but the band also pays tribute to a wide range of influences, from funk to mariachi.

Ballads (of which there are only two) like "Cemetery in My Mind" are calm, sad commentaries on modern urban society, with piano and synthesizers creating a brooding atmosphere.

Redneck Wonderland is the work of well-worn, talented musicians, and I recommend it for anyone looking for some spirited rock 'n' roll music doing what it does best--fighting the establishment. (Columbia)

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