Diesel And Dust

Diesel and Dust is the result of the Australian band Midnight Oil getting involved and inspired by the native people of Australia and concerns about us all f***ing up nature. This fact should be a reason to give still album an additional star. It is the home of one of the greatest rock hits of the 1980s ("Beds Are Burning"). The other songs (f.e. "The Dead Heart", "Bullroarer", "Sometimes") are also ok. Normally I hate the 1980s upfront drum sound, but in this case this just emphasizes the urgence and commitment of the lyrics and performance. All in all it's not the best album ever made, but a good and sincere one.

Tried to use this to pick up so many 90s alt-girls back in the day. Being a weedy insecure teen cancelled out vast majority of efforts. After I stopped using it to try and impress others, this album heavily shaped my perception of the world as a whole. To this day, it will still make me stop dead in my tracks and ruminate.

Bed are Burning is one of the great songs of the 80s but I’d kind of forgotten how great Dreamworld is! And then even more in the distant recesses of my mind was The Dead Heart which is terrific! Great album!

I only knew this band through the first song, Beds Are Burning, which is an incredible song and also foreshadows what this album is about: great pop hooks, jangly U2-esque alt rock, and very blunt commentary on aboriginal Australian civil rights. Talking about societal and political issues is tough, you have to tread a fine line between getting the point across and not making the song feel like a lecture. I think Midnight Oil do a great job of this, their style of lyricism is very confrontational on white Australia's treatment of the natives, but it's balanced out by the aforementioned pop hooks, to a point where you can listen to a song about civilians being nuked and jam along to it. You could argue that this dilutes the songs meanings a bit, but I think the combination highlights how serious the problems are without it feeling preachy. There's also some environmental issues in these songs that are generally tied to aboriginal rights, such as in The Dead Heart, and again they pull it off well. The U2 comparisons are hard to ignore, personally I preferred this to any U2 album in the main list, but U2 were so big that everyone tried to copy their homework. Midnight Oil are more pop oriented, and their social commentary does set them apart from the crowd. U2 (especially Bono) always seemed a pompous twat when talking about social issues, I don't feel like that towards Midnight Oil, these guys just seem genuinely passionate about their message. Should it be in the main list: Yes, it's a great example of early alt rock, Australian pop music, and civil rights messages that aren't based on UK/US issues. Top 3 songs: Beds Are Burning, Warakurna, The Dead Heart

Wow, forgot about this one. The Beds are Burning song was a big international hit for a while in the late 80s, enough of a phenomenon that I recall it provoking some media discussion in the U.S. about the issues of Australian aboriginal peoples, not much on our radar at the time. Solid rock throughout, I like how determinedly Australian it is. For its era a superior product.

One of my favorite albums in college and it holds up well today, even though the activism is certainly australian forward. This is peak Oils... though Beds are Burning was certainly the mainstream darling, The Dead Heart and Bullroarer are every bit as strong. Love this album.

Can't speak for classic rock radio stations everywhere, but my local classic rock station has kept Beds Are Burning in rotation for a while now. The easy comparison for Diesel And Dust would be to U2 circa the Joshua Tree, but I think it has more of the Tragically Hip's edge and songwriting quirks. Good songs! CONTENDER FOR THE LIST: Poor Australia deserves some extra love on the list. Throw it on there, why not.

This one’s for the strayans

Pretty cool politically charged alt rock album. "Beds are Burning" slaps and is the obvious standout, but it's surprisingly more consistent than I expected from a band I erroneously had mentally classified as a one-hit wonder beforehand. 3/5.

Shouldn't have started the album with that song!

Strong contender for all-time Aussie record. And holds up much better than one woudla guessed, the '80s production effects are overly cheesy and anyway are canceled out by the full political commitment. Cellos and horns are additive. Even if there's a bit of sameyness of structure and PG's vocals can strain one's patience, there are multiple bangers ("Warakurna," and "Sell My Soul" were lost to the mists of time in one's memory and really enjoyed the reacquaitance) and, basically, no filler. In these MAGA years, one is comforted to think how such an overtly leftist (by which one means humane, inclusive, environmentally aware) record once sold so many millions, though of course the lack of progress since might be read as depressing.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Beds are burning, The dead heat, Whoah

Absolutely solid share. Beds Are Burning is an iconic 80's song. A worthy project comprising more than competent rock and roll. I was surprised at how many of the songs I still recognize.

I know about this band only due to Todd in the Shadows' one hit wonderland. Could see this replace something else. My personal rating: 4/5 My rating relative to the list: 4/5 Should this have been included on the original list? Slight yes.

Diesel and Dust really shouldn't work, but it does. It's quite a dated 80s sound and it's a very earnest effort about being eco friendly, the musicianship is average if I'm kind, the vocals are poor but somehow it all just about comes together in the choruses and bridge sections to give it a sound and intensity that sort of sticks? Found myself keen to skip but unable to, all a bit weird but I think somehow gets a low 3?

Not bad

Only knew their hit song. The rest of this album is a bit more of the same

Rock alternativo. Un megahit. El resto de canciones, ni fu ni fa. Un 3.

One medium hit, plenty of filler

Simpa albumčić. Bed is Burning baš odskače

Fun new wavey post punk yelling at Australia about politics

Bog standard kinda new wave album. Reminded me of oingo Boingo without the fun or demented streak.

Beds are Burning is a classic, but the rest didn’t have the same oomph. I’m glad I listened though.

Just alright, enjoyed some of the more expansive instrumentals (especially the Cure-like guitar), but the overdone vocals made this one feel a bit campy.

You snooze you win

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