Unrelated to the 2018 documentary Midnight Oil 1984, this collection of mid-’80s interview excerpts with Peter Garrett offers insight into what was a crucial year for the group. As the singer and activist eloquently lays out across the first half-dozen tracks, 1984 is when pop success and global politics first converged on the band in a big way. In addition to the apocalypse-themed Red Sails in the Sunset becoming the first Oils album to top the Australian charts, Garrett had launched a campaign for parliament that, although unsuccessful, ultimately helped to push the Nuclear Disarmament Party platform into mainstream politics. The second half of the album finds Garrett reflecting on stardom, the power of live performance, and artistic integrity, all with equal thoughtfulness. By the end of 1984, it’s impossible not to have a deep respect for the Oils’ unwavering principles. Garrett and his mates have walked the walk, proving that rock music can be a powerful vehicle for both political change and philosophical inquiry.