Midnight Oil

[Powderworks] essence of oils

The Mattrix soberman_69@hotmail.com
Tue, 03 Dec 2002 01:02:42 -0500


Hey all,

     Well, I guess this was inevitable, sure, but I thought we were 
practically guaranteed one more CD, so I'm kinda disappointed.  Still, life 
goes on...
     Funny 'bout that...it does go on.  I walked out of school tonight, and 
snow flakes were gently wafting downwards, and I gazed upwards into the 
infinite sky, and I thought..."wow, the Oils were so small in comparison to 
whole world, as the world will go on without them, but it just doesn't feel 
right...we need to declare an international day of mourtnig or 
something...all flags at half-mast."  Well, I get all dippy like that 
sometimes when I'm being philsophical...
     I listened to a lot of Ghosties and Fuzzface today, and I'm worried.  I 
like them and all, but, well, I'm no even close to 100% convinced that any 
of the remaining guys possess the requisite dynamism and presence to match 
the intensity of the music.  Neil Finn?  Nah.  Rick Grossman?  Bah.  Steve 
Rowe?  OH, BEHAVE!
      Does anyone think the Oils are more of an ideology than a sound?  I 
do.  They were still the Oils to me throughout all the experimentation that 
was the latter nineties, and all other phases of their career.  Which is why 
P.G. B.C. still beats AC/DC.  Anyhow, in light of this fact, shouldn't they 
just find a dynamic new singer (with roots firmly implanted Judeo-Christian 
ethos- no mean feat, admittedly.) and continue under the Oils name?  Would 
that really be disrespectful of Peter?  Was Midnght Oil Peter Garrett's own 
personal vision?
     Well, there's no denying that the Lord broke the mold after he made 
Peter, BUT...  Look at the case of Fish from Marillion?  If Hermanator were 
here, he'd be the first to agree that Fish WAS Marillion's whole ideology.  
He was a riveting performer with a distinct vocal style.  More than Peter, 
he was Marillion...and after he left, the band became less cynical, biting, 
political, focused, and more soft, spiritual, and emotional.  The Oils were 
already heading in this direction, despite the Redneck detour, BEFORE Peter 
left.  In other words, Peter didn't write all the lyrics, nor did he make 
all the decisions.  He wasn't the essence of Oils personified, just the 
mouthpiece.
     When you cut off the head of a hydra, does it not grow a new one?  It 
doesn't change it's name to Basilisk, that's for sure.  I will miss Peter, 
don't get me wrong, but I'll miss "Midnight Oil" more.
     Maybe the "new" band that emerges from the ashes like a mythical 
phoenix can start fresh, we'll see.  At least we can pray for that 4 disc 
boxset with lush pictoral book and final performance video and double CD 
containing a setlist of songs voted on by the fans.   Far from a profiteer's 
excercise in crass commercialism, that would be a nice gift to us all.

'tis the season,

Matt Mesina

p.s. Matt W, I missed them in May due to school too, though I did get to see 
them twice...but only twice...sniff.

n.p. Pedro the Lion  "winners never quit"



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