Powderfinger - Internationalist

When Powderfinger played their farewell tour, I was sure that I’d know the entire setlist.  They were such a big part of the Australian music scene in the late 90s/early 2000s that I felt I would know their entire catalogue.  It turns out that, at some point, I had disengaged with the band and only knew half their songs.  No matter.  This album was probably the high point of their catalogue.  Pick You Up (witten in Canberra no less!) was on the preceding album.  My Happiness was on the album that followed (and probably the point where I started to check out) but this was where it all came together.  Catchy, intelligent songs.  Great hooks.  Raw and dirty.   

This album is great from start to finish.  High points are The Day You Come - about the rise of the political right in Australia (sadly a song still relevant today), Don’t Want To Be Left Out and Hindley Street.  Although, probably the best song from this period in Powderfinger’s history was a song that doesn’t feature on the album.  These Days was from the Two Hands soundtrack (it does feature as a B-Side to the single Passenger on this album) and it is a true Australian classic.