Album Review: Midnight Oil - Essential Oils

There's not much left to say about Midnight Oil that hasn't already been said many times over before. One of Australia's most popular and enduring acts, Essential Oils is the first overview of their spectacular career that covers the entire gamut, from their early days in Sydney's northern beaches in the mid-to-late-'70s through to their final recording stint in the early-noughties, and gives some interesting perspectives on this amazing band.

With 36 tracks listed chronologically over two discs, it's possible to follow the evolution of the Oils from their early post-punk days to their commercial zenith and then on through their equally interesting final stanza. While everybody's aware of the thought-provoking and diverse societal messages inherent in such tracks as Don't Wanna Be The One, Armistice Day, Short Memory, Power And The Passion, The Dead Heart, Forgotten Years and Truganini (to literally list but a few), what's often overlooked is the brilliant songwriting and musicianship that characterised the band from the outset, and it's captivating listening to these skill sets growing and then being refined over the journey. It's also fascinating following the evolution of their message as their career took flight, switching from more personal treatises in the early era through to global enunciations at their commercial peak and then the almost haranguing nature of some of their later work – for instance, it's incredible to think how they moved from galvanising songs such as My Country to the more judgemental tone of tracks like Redneck Wonderland in a few short years.

So whether you're a newcomer or a tried-and-true fan (who'll undoubtedly love the remastering work), there's literally something here for everybody. Truly essential.