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Oz music (old post)

This message was part of the "otr? -- bad kitty, no" thread of last October. 
  I reply to Eric S. (are you still here, dude?), Kelvo, and Rhonda 
Hunt-Conklin, who was asking for political music suggestions.  (Did you 
meanies scare her off?)  I also rant about the radio at work, which I've 
since done in other posts, but this time I name pop songs I actually like!  
Strange, I never knew there were so many.

I send this now to further the discussion on Oz music.  Also, the list is 
kinda slow now, so why not?  Anyone wishing to learn more about Oz rock, 
artists like Spiderbait, Hunters and Collectors, You Am I, Wedding Parties 
Anything, Killing Heidi, Frenzal Rhomb, Something for Kate, the SuperJesus, 
etc, can investigate the whole text of the encyclopedia of Oz rock at 
whammo.

Eric Schumacher wrote:
> >>
> >> np | midnight oil - blue sky mining
> >
I replied:
> > You rule dude!  Will you be at any of the shows next month?
>
>aww.. shucks. thanks, pal. :)

'Yer welcome.

Me: > Did you get
> > "The Real Thing"?  'Tis totally, absolutely, undoubtedly, the greatest
> > unplugged CD ever, though I'm a bit biased...
>
Eric:
>again, unfortunately not... i haven't gotten out for any music purchases
>lateley either.

Well, most record stores charge WAY too much for imports anyway, which is 
what the Real Thing is to us unfortunate Americans.  However, the band 
ditched Sony, and are coming back to America.

With the currency conversion rates favoring the US dollar so highly, Aussie 
imports can be ordered directly from Austrailian internet stores such as 
whammo.com.au or noizenet.com.au or Chaos music for around $15.  Heck, I 
once ordered a $4 Robbie Williams CD direct from Oz for a girl, and it 
arrived weeks before the local shops had it for $11!  So, you don't have to 
"get out" to get it!

Also, if you go to http://www.ghostwriters.com.au you can get some EXCELLENT 
CDs direct from OZ.  Ghostwriters is Robert Hirst's side project.  (Oils 
drummer and core member of songwriting team.)  The Ghosties lyrics are 
accessible from the site, and are very political and spiritual.  (Some of 
the tunes on "Second Skin" are modern psalms.)  You can also hear samples.  
Well worth everyone's time, even if you don't like the Oils.

Other political Oz artists to check out include:

The Living End- really political punk that is (so far) not offensive to 
Christians.  Available in America.

Kev Carmody- Aboriginal Folk artist featured by the Oils on the "White Skin 
Black Heart" single with his tune "Thou shall not steal".

Vika and Linda-  Gospel/folk duo.  Not necessarily political.

Regurgitator- only if you are NOT Christian or easily offended.  Since a 
cursory glance at their website didn't exactly agree with me, I've never 
heard 'em, but the Oils guitarist, Jim Mogine, dug their sound so much he 
hired their producer (Magoo) to help create the Oils noisy masterpiece 
"Redneck Wonderland".

Neil Murray-  Another folk rock artist, author, and playwriter, Neil is a 
WASP who actually played an integral part in the Oz aboriginal "Warumpi 
band".  Ppl who've seen the Oils "Blackfella/Whitefella" tour documentary, 
available here for the fifteen minutes during which MTV decided Oz rock wwas 
cool, will recognize his lovely tune "My Island Home."

Yothu Yindi-  Yet another great Oz aboriginal band.  Perhaps you saw them, 
along with the Oils, sing the Peter Garrett co-written "Treaty" at the 
Olympics closing cermonies?

Powderfinger can be sorta political too, and have many CDs not available 
stateside.  Really good "wuss rock."

>busy is not a bad thing,
>eric.
>
Wish I had a family, you lucky so and so!

>np | violet burning - demonstrates plastic & elastic
>
Moreover, I wish I knew more ppl with such exquisite taste as yours!! I work 
with a bunch of "musical barbarians".  All day long I have to listen to the 
"greatest hits of the 80s,90s, and today".  Okay, as a Christian AND a 
Christian alt. music fan AND a hater of much about pop culture AND a person 
of taste AND a person who grew up during these musical eras who wants to 
forget or repress the whole experience, this is annoying, to say the least.  
No, I don't hate whatever is popular just because I think that makes me 
cool.  Yes, there are some good songs I hear, such as: (my life story) 
"Goody Two-shoes" by Adam Ant, "Dance Hall Days" by Wang Chung, "In your 
Eyes" by Peter Gabriel, One of Us" by Joan Osbourne, U2's hits, or even 
"Counting Blue Cars" by Dishwalla, but there are so many more great songs 
that never get played: "Suddenly Last Summer" by the Motels, "In A Big 
Country" by Big Country, "Ready to Go" by Republica, "Beds are Burning" by 
Midnight Oil, "Graceland" by Paul Simon, "Kayleigh" by Marillion,  "Silent 
Lucidity" by Queensryche, "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes, or, if you must 
play Cougar-Mellencamp every two hours, that "Scarecrow" tune?!?

It just makes me wish I'd met Gene Eugene, just once, so as to tell him, 
"there's nothing you've forgotten, nothing here that you've forgotten."  
That man was no corporate whore.  More like a "slut with a mission".

Sigh, just venting...  Thanks for reading.  I swear, somedays that damn 
radio gives me a headache.  And my co-workers would never understand.  
They'd probably think I was being childish or silly.

Peace, you beautiful, musical people,

Matt

P.S.  Kelvin, the same comment that kicked off the above extends to you- the 
unplugged version of "Livin' Onn A Prayer", like most of the telethon, cast 
old songs in a new, more somber and pensive light befitting the occasion, 
and finally made the song palatable, among others.  (That Durst guy is no 
poet, however.)




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