Re: [powderworks] Re: Oils special

On Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 9:29 AM, The Oilman <TheOilman@new.rr.com> wrote:

I can see this, but I also can see that outside of Truganini, ESM was a weak followup to 2 power house records, and then when they followed that with Breathe, that turned the label off for their overseas markets. Although I remain a die-hard, my college roommates really got into them but ESM turned them off.

I think ESM cops more flack than it deserves in that respect - go and chuck it on, there's not a weak moment in the first 5 tracks.

The second half of the record is a little more wobbly - Bushfire is a little limited in it's appeal, Outbreak of Love is tied with One Too Many Times for the Oily Wooden Spoon award, and the album versions of In The Valley and Tell Me The Truth are nothing like as good as the live performances that would follow. Nonetheless, Drums of Heaven, In The Valley and Now or Never Land are still strong tracks...

There were plenty of tracks that I loved, some others that were much better when played live, but not the commercial appeal as the previous two and then Breathe made all my friends that were losing interest into non-fans. To this day I do not like to ever listen to Surf's Up Tonight and One Too Many Times.

Totally don't understand the attitude of your friends....I'd much rather watch a band experiment and "fail" than push out a bland rerun of what came before, and it's not like they stopped playing the other material.

I've learnt to like Surf's Up Tonight (overrated, but OK), but when I load up my MP3 player, I leave Underwater and One Too Many Times off the album, and find it immensely improved.

When the college market was getting heavier music and grunge, the Oils put out tracks like Drums of Heaven, Renaissance Man, Outbreak of Love and that is not what the market was looking for and I'm sure the label was hoping for the Oils to deliver something with much more angst. If Redneck Wonderland would have been delivered at that point, they would have been U2 which Rolling Stone consistently said they were on pace to become.

Funny thing is, bands don't produce angst on cue.

But I know that live, these songs still all held up, or didn't terribly take away from their powerhouse of a show. So I totally know what you mean, and its a shame they didn't continue their upward arc but it makes sense that their families were a concern for all members which is understandable and since these are guys I respect, it only speaks more of them that they maintained their priorities and family was more important to stay closer to home until the 2001/2002 tours which led up to the end.

But would they have wanted to be U2? The stories in Beds are Burning and Willie's Bar and Grill, as well as comments made by band members more recently, lead me to believe they might have been happier with less touring, less pressure, less stadiums...

- Chris

----- Original Message -----

From: James Warren

To: powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au

Sent: Friday, October 12, 2012 5:14 PM

Subject: Re: [powderworks] Re: Oils special

The "Beds Are Burning" book tells some bummer stories about that 1993 period for the band in the US, when they were just so awesome but getting no love from the record company. I saw them 3 times in '93 and '94. They were great.

The guys were also trying to raise families and meanwhile busting their asses touring the US and getting weak record company support that in no way matched the quality of their music. I remember wondering in '93 why they were not taking off in popularity. It bummed me out at the time. Then after '94, they barely came back again until 2001. Who can blame them if it would take such a toll on family life and not yield what they deserved professionally?

-----Original Message-----
From: Stefan Hurzeler9
Sent: Oct 12, 2012 1:17 PM
To: "powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au"
Subject: Re: [powderworks] Re: Oils special

But in the "Beds Are Burning" book, it said the band felt like that vid with the fans dancing (as much as I hate to say it, they looked to be all white people) and the band performing, was inappropriate, since it's people dancing, but there's nothing in it that refers to the actual story of "Truganini"-what the song was about. MTV had them shoot that one, if memory serves, because some big shot didn't like the one they made before.

But hey, I liked the dancing one, with its atmosphere, and it never would occurred to me until I read that.

I wish I could record that upcoming documentary on a DVR......am dying to see it!

From: The Oilman <TheOilman@new.rr.com>
To: powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2012 2:38 PM
Subject: Re: [powderworks] Re: Oils special

Yes, the US version with dancing around the bonfires under the bridge is far better than the cheesy video they made in Australia.

----- Original Message -----

From: matty2e

To: powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au

Sent: Friday, October 12, 2012 12:21 PM

Subject: [powderworks] Re: Oils special

At the end of the clip, they are filming a Truganini video that I'd never seen until today. I found it on youtube.

I have to say that I think I prefer the Brooklyn Bridge video better (even if the band did not). Anyhow, just another reason for the box set so we can have a (nearly) complete collection.

--- In powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au, "forbsforsco" <forbsforsco@...> wrote:
>
> There is. short interview with Martin Rotsey on the Making of Earth And Sun And Moon
>
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH4bta3SZls&sns=em
>
>
> --- In powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au, Kate <pouncetastic@> wrote:
> >
> > Ha - if there really was an interview with rotsey, I would subscribe immediately just to see it! Have a good weekend....
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
> >
> > On 11/10/2012, at 5:56 PM, Kevin Yates <kyates@> wrote:
> >
> > > Spotted this on Twitter this evening…
> > >
> > > http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/10/airdate-max-the-artists-story-midnight-oil.html
> > >
> > > Kev
> > >
> > > -- Disclaimer: The content of this e-mail is the view of the sender or stated author and does not necessarily reflect the view of Brisbane Catholic Education. The content, including attachments, is a confidential communication between the sender or stated author and the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, interference with, disclosure or copying of this e-mail, including attachments, is unauthorised and expressly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please contact the sender immediately and delete the e-mail and any attachments from your system. Brisbane Catholic Education does not warrant or represent that this email is free from viruses, malicious software or defects. ��
> > >
> >
>