MIDNIGHT OIL BLUE SKY MINING

The 1990 follow-up to Midnight Oil's highly successful DIESEL AND DUST album, BLUE SKY MINING continues in the revered Australian band's tradition of politically charged rock, while expanding on the fuller, accessible sound of the earlier outing. The record features three international hits--the urgent "Blue Sky Mine" (one of many numbers that stays true to Midnight Oil's working-class empathy), the pensive "Forgotten Years," and the upbeat "King of the Mountain"--with the latter two songs proving to be some of the most melodic material of the group's career. Other highlights of the album include "Mountains of Burma," a track that exemplifies frontman Peter Garrett's brooding charisma, and "River Runs Red," which showcases Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey's distinctive and underrated guitar playing. Although BLUE SKY proved to be the ceiling of the ensemble's popularity, Midnight Oil soldiered on until its dissolution in 2002, leaving this record to stand as one of its finest moments.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Rock and Pop