Midnight Oil

[Powderworks] Capricornia review in the Hartford Courant

Luke Blackbourn lblackbourn@hotmail.com
Fri, 05 Apr 2002 19:26:20 +1000


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<P>If there is one thing we can all unite on, perhaps it could be to urinate on Mr Danton if he should show up at any Oils-related event, as I think his ignorance is permanently ingrained. I look forward to numerous emails from Hartford confirming the deed has been done.</P>
<P>PS they're not a quintet, they're a band. Maybe he is a frustrated high-brow composer.<BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;From: "Chris Nelson" <SPORTO219@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;To: <POWDERWORKS@CS.COLORADO.EDU>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Subject: [Powderworks] Capricornia review in the Hartford Courant 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 23:22:45 -0500 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;The following review appeared in the Hartford Courant on 4/4/02. It doesn't 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;even sound like this guy even really listened to the CD or made an effort to 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;understand the meanings behind some of the songs. Arghhhh... frustrating... 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;If anyone would like to provide Mr. Danton some feedback on his critique, 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;his e-mail address is: 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;danton@courant.com 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;------------------------------------------- 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;CAPRICORNIA 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Midnight Oil 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Liquid 8 Records 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;With "Diesel and Dust," Midnight Oil struck a balance between catchy 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;pop-rock and political awareness. The album sold reasonably well and spawned 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;two singles, "Beds Are Burning" and "Deadheart." 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;But that was 15 years ago. Since the Australian band's 1987 breakthrough in 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;this country, eight subsequent albums have gone nowhere on the American 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;charts or, for that matter, in the American musical consciousness. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;"Capricornia," the quintet's latest release, is destined for similar 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;obscurity. The fundamental flaw with the album is its tone. Midnight Oil's 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;political screeds have become increasingly humorless and shrill, and the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;band's musical creativity is a nonentity throughout the dozen songs on 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;"Capricornia." 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Lead vocalist Peter Garrett still sings passionately with a Down Under 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;twang, but the lyrics consistently lack the urgency of his voice. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;The uptempo songs, like "Too Much Sunshine," aren't over quickly enough, and 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;the slower, ballad-style songs are strained. As a whole, "Capricornia" feels 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;like an album even the musicians didn't put their hearts into. 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
<DIV></DIV>&gt;-ERIC R. DANTON 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 
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