Search - Midnight Oil :: Place Without a Post

My favorite

H. Costa | Rio de Janeiro, Brasil | 08/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The best Oil record for me is the Scream in Blue. The second is this one. For me it is the record that comes closer to what they sound live. I've read a couple of review that complain about the production. I have to disagree. This is the most powerfull Oil record when it comes to sound production. It is raw indeed, but Johns made a very good job by convincing the Oils to forget about synths and to focus on the guitars. And what guitars! There are a couple of songs with harmonica but I can forget it. The five piece (drums,bass,guitars and vocals)is mixed evenlly and every single bit of music is brought up to your face, no post production to mess around with the songs! For me it is like 10,9,8... without synths! Great songs, great sound."

One of their best

Mr. Marcus J. Hayward | Melbourne, VIC Australia | 01/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Admittedly, I only discovered "The Oils" when they hit radio airplay success in the early-mid eighties with the release of the 10 to 1 album, but I grew to become a huge fan as a teenager. This album, simply put, is brilliant. The semi-poetic lyrics of Brave Faces, the 'brave' sounds and instrumentation on all the tracks right to the end and the truly moving climax of the album that is 'Lucky Country' make this stand out as one of Midnight Oils best. It's more coherent than what had come before but still has that rawness and low-fi cred that got a little lost in later offerings (not that I don't love them as well, but . . . ) The guitars really howl and the drums are as forceful and primal as ever. It makes you wish you were sweaty and slightly inebriated in a pub somewhere rockin'out. As a sociology major these days, I still find their music relevant and this album is a great example. Stand out tracks for me are "Basement Flat" for the solo (very moving) "Loves on Sale" for the anti-consumerist sentiments and the great rapping Peter does in it "Armistice Day" and "Lucky Country." Ultimately people always seem to dismiss Midnight Oil as simply a "band with a message" but they made GREAT music as well and had/have very warm and clear musical instincts. Get it, you'll love it or grow to."

The Oils Refine . . .

Jack Baker | LeRoy,IL | 01/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I tend to see this as somewhat of a transitional album for Midnight Oil. Their previous albums, Head Injuries and Midnight Oil, were faster, owing more to punk rock. Bird Noises, a four song EP, preceded this full length album and offered some preview of the changes to come. The lyrics and arrangements are still knife edge sharp, but the tempo has slowed somewhat on Place Without a Postcard. The songs that stand as the best examples of the direction the band would take in the future are"Brave Faces" and "Lucky Country". "Brave Faces" has a wonderfully catchy guitar hook, plus makes a few key changes along the way. Laced with political and social lyrics, the song builds to it's climax, a wonderful guitar and bass interplay. "Lucky Country" blends acoustic and electric guitars in a style the Oils would continue to experiment with until they disbanded. No other band seems quite as adapt at fusing the two instruments as Midnight Oil. The song also features the stream of consciousness lyrical rampage Peter Garrett would perfect as time went on. This album also introduces horns and keyboards, widening the tonal palette at the band's disposal. Jim Moginie stands out as a multi-instrumentalist of the finest caliber and I think that all begins here."