Workers Online
Workers Online
Workers Online
  Issue No 1 Official Organ of LaborNet 19 February 1999  

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Review

Powderfinger's Political Power Pop

Peter Zangari

We look at a band who still reckon they can mix music with a bit social commentary.

Arguably one of THE CDs to have in your collection, Internationalist,the third album by five piece band Powderfinger is an Australian masterpiece.

Most of the album was written in between extensive touring in 1996/97 and inspired by the challenges of life on the road in a country that had seen the election of a new conservative government.

These five guys out of Brisbane dont just write lyrics for lyrics sake. Their songs are full of powerful messages which in turn are matched by equally powerful music.

The choruses are catchy but not pretentious, the melodies are exquisitely sung by vocalist Bernard Fanning and the finished product has been well worth the wait.

There are a hell of a lot of political undertones in this album. Take for instance "The Day You Come". It was written about the rise of the Hanson phenomena (and I am not talking about some teeny bopper American pop group) in the past few years and its effect on the fair go Australian society we thought we lived in: "the system is collapsing, conscience is relapsing, the damage has been done".

With a haunting chorus that grows on you, this track has to go down as one of last year's greatest singles.

But let's move on, the reason why Powderfinger is so digestable to the ear is that the subject matter of the album is so Australian.

There's an ode to our favourite current affairs presenter in the song " Good Day Ray" : because we love you and we respect you. There is also a tribute to the 1990's aussie work ethic in the sweet sounding "Already Gone".

The opening line basically sums up the new world of work"you've been working all your life, all weekends and overtime-while you're trying to unwind you can't relate to the leisured life".

Sweeping aside the sarcasm, Internationalist is an album that rocks from start to finish. You will be caught up by the fuzzed guitars, the solid drumming and by Fanning's vocal style.

If they play a live venue near you make sure you catch them or else you'll probably have to wait a long time to see them again. Like any other great band that Australia has exported, they'll go where the money is and Powderfinger deserve the success they've waited so long for


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In this issue
Features
*  Interview: Michael Costa
The new Labor Council secretary explains factions, frictions and how to save the union movement.
*
*  Unions: Getting Under The Skin
The cash-in-transit industry - known for it's vulnerability to violence and theft - comes under scrutiny as the industry moves to a new "soft skin" operation
*
*  History: Remembering the Labor Press
Workers Online is just the latest in a long tradition of publishing by working people and their organisations.
*
*  Review: Powderfinger's Political Power Pop
We look at a band who still reckon they can mix music with a bit social commentary.
*
*  Campaign Diary: Hartcher Chokes On His Own Uglies
No-one would have been more surprised by last week�s announcement of the Coalition industrial relations policy than its spokesman on the issue, Chris Hartcher.
*

News
»  The Overworked - We're Sick, Anti-Social and Sexually Frustrated
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»  Geeks Blow Up
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»  The Greatest Act on Earth
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»  Museum of Contemporary Art calls time
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»  MEAA Goes Country!
*

Columns
»  Guest Report
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»  Sport
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»  Trades Hall
*
»  Piers Watch
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