Max from Powerpop.blog and Dave from soundday.wordpress.com have inspired me to pull out an album I haven’t listened to in quite awhile. Australian band Midnight Oil’s two better-known albums, “Diesel and Dust” and “Blue Sky Mining”, have a companion in my collection that also kicks butt: “Earth and Sun and Moon.”

Earth and Sun and Moon is their eighth studio album, released in April 1993 under the Columbia Records label. It peaked at No.2 on the ARIA Albums Chart, as well as top 20 in Sweden and Switzerland, Top 50 on Billboard 200, and top thirty in the UK albums chart.

The single “Truganini” referenced multiple issues, including the ‘last’ Tasmanian Aboriginal, the treatment of indigenous artist Albert Namatjira, the Australian flag debate, and republicanism. Liner notes for the single claimed “Truganini was the sole surviving Tasmanian Aborigine, the last of her race, when she died in 1876.” The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, representing over 7000 contemporary Tasmanians, called for the single to be boycotted as it perpetuated a ‘white’ myth about the extinction of Tasmanian Aborigines. Their Native Title claims hinged upon establishing links with ancestral lands. Gary Morris, their manager, responded with, “My suggestion to these people is to stop shooting themselves in the foot and let a band like Midnight Oil voice its appeal to White Australia on behalf of Black Australia“. Critics contended that Morris disparaged Indigenous Australians’ ability to represent themselves and overestimated Midnight Oil’s ambassadorial powers while diminishing their errors, while some indigenous activists saw benefit in Midnight Oil’s highlighting of the issues. Nevertheless, “Truganini” released in March peaked at No. 10 on the ARIA singles charts, No. 10 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and No. 4 on their Modern Rock Tracks charts, and top 30 for the UK charts.

I love the artwork on and in the liner notes booklet! Looking at the notes regarding it:
Front cover is a photograph by David Lavender, courtesy of Chloe Sayer from the Huichai Indigenous People of South Mexico. Folklore Earth and Sun and Moon Artwork compiled and designed by Kevin Wilkins, Patricia Ansell and Craig Simmons in co-operation with Midnight Oil.

It is difficult to pick a favorite from it, but I’m going to have to go with Renaissance Man.

Well I told you about the forest and trees and the chlorophyll green
Yes I told you the birds will endure flutter wings dance on leaves
Hold onto dreams, hold onto dreams tonight

Well I told you about the high pressure cell coming down on the breeze
And I know that the things you can’t see they are hard to believe
Hold onto dreams, hold onto dreams tonight

A new world order has been formed
Between the cheque book and the dawn
A new renaissance man is born

Renaissance man are you ready
Renaissance man
Renaissance man are you ready
See what a world that you can make

Well I heard about the spirit of life is it flickering still
Yes I heard that the dark bellied angel’s come running up the hill
Hold onto dreams, hold onto dreams tonight

Smash and grab the women and child
All the souls are growing wild
Stripped so bare well the universe stares
It’s so close to home that we got to share with you
So many genuine things surround you
Wild weather man well it still confounds you
Cast away the greed and death machine and bytes
And abacus and lights and hold onto your dreams tonight

So you found a hard won friend
To hold your hand and hold your head
A new renaissance to defend
Hold onto dreams, hold onto dreams tonight

Where are we going to be, in 3033
What’s spinning round your brain
Are you a renaissance man or are you a renaissance woman
If you jump out an angel will give you wings
Songwriters: James Moginie / Martin Rotsey / Peter Garrett / Robert Hirst / Wayne Stevens