tdh Opinions Reviews Breathe

Breathe

Reviewed by Allstar

Midnight Oil has always maintained a healthy symbiosis between the personal and the political, though in recent years they've adopted an increasingly diffuse musical approach; rather than hitting hard, the songs tend to seep in. Their tenth album has moments ("Underwater," "Sins of Omission") that are driven by the lean grooves, crisp edge and brisk melodicism that characterize the quintet's best work; there's also a lot of experimentation that incorporates elements of country, beach music, even acoustic-y folk. "Surf's Up Tonight" is infused with a lilting melodicism, breezy backing vocals and a dreamy spiritual/sexual undercurrent; "One Too Many Times" is the tragic tale of a woman trapped in a treacherous web of abuse; Emmylou Harris contributes vocals to a gentle track called "Home." Less successful is "In the Rain," a strained attempt at a soulful ballad. But even when Midnight Oil stretch themselves thin, there's still enough substance to keep the music interesting.

Reviewer: Sandy Masuo