Best of Both Worlds cover

Best of Both Worlds

Midnight Oil · 2004

192 min · 60 tracks · alternative rock · new wave · punk

A powerful blend of alternative rock and punk energy, layered with politically charged lyrics and anthemic choruses.

Why this album works

'Best of Both Worlds' showcases the band's extensive catalog and reflects their impact on both music and social issues, particularly environmentalism and Indigenous rights. The album served as a reminder of Midnight Oil’s influential role in the Australian music scene, achieving commercial success and critical acclaim upon release.
Best for
dynamic exploration with peaks an energetic backdrop for activism cathartic sing-along moments
Context
Released in 2004, 'Best of Both Worlds' is a compilation album that encapsulates Midnight Oil's career during their hiatus after the 2002 album 'Capricornia'. At this point, the band had garnered a reputation for their activism and poignant lyrics, solidifying their status in Australian rock history.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Introduction
  • 2 Best of Both Worlds 4:13
  • 3 When the Generals Talk Standout 4:45
  • 4 Minutes to Midnight 3:52
  • 5 Sleep 5:30
  • 6 Only the Strong 5:53
  • 7 Short Memory 5:39
  • 8 Kosciuszko
  • 9 US Forces
  • 10 Jimmy Sharman’s Boxers 6:52
  • 11 Back on the Borderline 3:03
  • 12 Tin Legs & Tin Mines 4:41
  • 13 Don’t Wanna Be the One 3:17
  • 14 Power & The Passion Standout 6:26
  • 15 Read About It 4:49
  • 16 Harrisburg 3:00
  • 17 Stand in Line 5:30
  • 18 End Credits
  • 19 Only the Strong 5:53
  • 20 Brave Faces 4:14
  • 21 Short Memory 3:45
  • 22 Knife’s Edge 2:47
  • 23 Power & The Passion Standout
  • 24 Armistice Day 4:29
  • 25 No Time for Games 5:13
  • 26 Quinella Holiday 3:08
  • 27 Lucky Country
  • 28 Don’t Wanna Be the One
  • 29 Burnie 3:25
  • 30 Powderworks 2:56
  • 31 End Credits
  • 32 Jimmy Sharman’s Boxers
  • 33 Lucky Country 4:04
  • 34 Tin Legs and Tin Mines
  • 35 Don’t Wanna Be the One 3:02
  • 36 Power & The Passion Standout 4:49
  • 37 Read About It
  • 38 Harrisburg
  • 39 Stand in Line
  • 40 No Reaction
  • 41 Section 5 (Bus to Bondi)
  • 42 Somebody’s Trying to Tell Me Something
  • 43 Run by Night
  • 44 US Forces 4:16

Disc 2

  • 1 Best of Both Worlds 4:05
  • 2 When the Generals Talk Standout 3:35
  • 3 Minutes to Midnight 3:48
  • 4 Sleep 5:06
  • 5 Only the Strong 5:41
  • 6 Short Memory 4:51
  • 7 Kosciuszko 4:25
  • 8 US Forces 4:08
  • 9 Jimmy Sharman’s Boxers 6:28
  • 10 Back on the Borderline 3:05
  • 11 Tin Legs and Tin Mines 4:57
  • 12 Don’t Wanna Be the One 2:59
  • 13 Power and the Passion 6:25
  • 14 Read About It 4:10
  • 15 Harrisburg 3:00
  • 16 Stand in Line 5:59

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata