Internationalist (album)
Internationalist | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Polydor | ||||
Producer | Nick DiDia | |||
Powderfinger chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Internationalist | ||||
|
Internationalist is the third
Internationalist followed in the success of its predecessor, poll in two consecutive years.
Internationalist received fairly positive reviews in the Australian press, and cemented Powderfinger's position on the local music scene; however, the album failed to launch the band in the overseas market.
Background
Powderfinger spent much of early 1997 touring, after the success of Double Allergic. Songwriter Bernard Fanning then spent much of 1997 writing songs for Internationalist in Brisbane, drawing on inspiration from a mid-1997 band trip to the United States.[1]
The album's title refers to escapism—namely, the ability that an "internationalist" has to escape from racial and social tension. When asked in a Juice interview, Bernard Fanning summarised the title of the album by stating;
It's about the idea of all this tension that is around at the moment, all this racial and political tension ... The idea is that an 'internationalist' has an escape from all that. Music can be a vehicle for that escape.[2]
Recording and production
Internationalist was recorded at Melbourne's Sing Sing Studios, with Powderfinger accompanied by American producer Nick DiDia for the first time. As the band had already prepared "about 30 or 40" songs when they entered the studio, DiDia's task was relatively minor. Bassist John Collins said of DiDia; "Nick was really good. The way Nick based the record was that he wanted to record the band how we were at that particular moment, he didn't want to play around too much."[2] As a result of this attitude, the band spent only one month in the studio, and the album was mixed by DiDia soon after.[2] Powderfinger used the extra time to play table tennis, which was the band's recreation of choice during the Internationalist and Odyssey Number Five recording sessions.[3]
Collins described the album as not being as easy listening as their previous work,[2] and that it contained numerous experiments in songwriting that they had not put into previous albums.[2] Fanning later said Internationalist was "a better record" than Double Allergic, but acknowledged that it was not as easily likeable—it was just an improvement in songwriting.[4] Collins and Fanning acknowledged that the album's experimental nature could lose them some old fans, but the pair drew parallels with bands such as U2, who Collins said had "constantly re-invented themselves, and with success".[2] He said Powderfinger's reinvention was as much for the band's own interest as it was for the "public's perception".[2] Meanwhile, guitarist Ian Haug described the album as a "moderation" between Parables for Wooden Ears ("the complicated beast") and Double Allergic ("totally simplified"), Powderfinger's two previous albums.[5] He also agreed that the album was much more experimental, and described the album as the band's "most successful", as well as saying the album that best replicated "the sound we have live".[6]
Numerous songs on Internationalist were
I wouldn't certainly say that we've written any protest songs – "The Day You Come" is the closest to that kind of song, and that typically, like most of our songs can be construed in many ways. And it was particularly about the way Australian electorate I suppose is moving, and thinking.[8]
Singles
The first single from the album was "The Day You Come", a politically and socially influenced song. The band did not intend for it to be the first single, and released it only when they could not decide on anything else. Haug said it being "a pretty inoffensive song musically" helped Powderfinger make that decision.[5] "The Day You Come" spent nine weeks on the ARIA Charts, peaking at #25.[11]
The second single was the double
Internationalist's third single was "
Tour and promotion
Powderfinger went on a nationwide tour after the release of Internationalist, performing with British band
With Internationalist, Powderfinger first set their sights overseas, appearing at numerous music festivals in the U.S., including South by Southwest in Texas.[18] While in the U.S., Powderfinger played several showcase performances to record-label representatives in Los Angeles and New York City. In a later interview in Australia, Fanning said these shows were difficult due to the lack of any homegrown fan support. He also said the band were not focused at the shows, and thus they did not go as well as he had hoped.[19] Coghill, however, described the showcases, and the performances in Austin, as "worthwhile" and "fun".[14] After performing in the United States, Powderfinger completed a tour of Canada. Fanning described the band's overseas outlook as a necessity for an Australian-based band, as "people [in Australia] are going to get sick of you pretty quickly if you're going to do five tours a year, so that you can sustain yourself financially."[18]
Reception
Internationalist debuted at the top of the
Haug said he was amazed with the highly positive critical response the album had received, surprised that "even Molly [
Internationalist's critical reception was positive, following in its chart success.
"The Day You Come" was not the only single to draw praise; "Don't Wanna Be Left Out" was described as "surf guitar-fuelled",[18] "Good Day Ray" as "thrashy", and HIT's Teresa Bolster wrote that the released of the two as an A-side displayed the album's true scope to the public.[19] AllMusic approved of the "rocking" "Don't Wanna Be Left Out", but said Powderfinger sacrificed their uniqueness on "Good Day Ray", which Lewis argued was heavily Foo Fighters influenced.[24] Lewis approved of the "melodic" "Already Gone",[24] while Juice's Simon Wooldridge said it and "Passenger" demonstrated Powderfinger's "flair for the big hook".[26]
Beat's Neala Johnson compared the album's political motifs to the Manic Street Preachers—"an earnest, sometimes cynical, social and personal conscience displayed in the lyrics".[7] Noel Mangel of The Courier-Mail said it had "a lightness of touch and boisterous spirit", especially compared to the distorted guitars on debut album Parables for Wooden Ears.[27] MS Queensland's Lauren McKay said the album ranked up there with the best of Bon Jovi and Robbie Williams. Time Off's Geoff Nicholson said Internationalist was "a blend of shimmering pop songs and thought-provoking probing".[28]
In December of 2021, the album was listed at no. 18 in Rolling Stone Australia’s ‘200 Greatest Albums of All Time’ countdown.[29]
Track listing
Tracks on the album are as follows:[30]
- "Hindley Street" (Fanning, Powderfinger) – 3:41
- "Belter" (Fanning, Powderfinger) – 4:13
- "The Day You Come" (Fanning, Powderfinger) – 4:00
- "Already Gone" (Fanning, Powderfinger) – 3:28
- "Passenger" (Fanning, Powderfinger) – 4:20
- "Don't Wanna Be Left Out" (Fanning, Middleton, Powderfinger) – 2:12
- "Good-Day Ray" (Coghill, Fanning, Powderfinger) – 1:58
- "Trading Places" (Fanning, Powderfinger) – 4:27
- "Private Man" (Fanning, Powderfinger) – 3:40
- "Celebrity Head" (Fanning, Powderfinger) – 2:20
- "Over My Head" (Middleton) – 1:36
- "Capoicity" (Fanning, Powderfinger) – 5:44
- "Lemon Sunrise" (Fanning, Middleton, Powderfinger) – 3:34
P2K bonus disc
The second release of pressings of the album were released in late November 1998 which included a bonus disc featuring a live recording of Powderfinger's performance at the Sydney Opera House 25th birthday celebration on 11 October 1998.
- "Passenger" – 4:42
- "Private Man" – 4:01
- "Don't Wanna Be Left Out" – 2:55
- "Pick You Up" – 5:51
- "The Day You Come" – 4:36
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1998–2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[31] | 1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1998) | Position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) Albums [32] | 66 |
Australian Artist Albums Chart | 14 |
Chart (1999) | Position |
Australia (ARIA) Albums [33] | 17 |
Australian Artist Albums Chart | 4 |
Chart (2000) | Position |
Australia (ARIA) Albums [34] | 48 |
Australian Artist Albums Chart | 15 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[35] | 5× Platinum | 350,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Personnel
- Darren Middleton – backing vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, lead vocal on Over My Head
- Ian Haug – guitar, handclaps, backing vocals
- bass and organpedals, backing vocals
- percussion, handclaps, backing vocals
- Tiddas – backing vocals
- mixing
- Lachlan "Magoo" Goold, Mark McElligott – additional engineering
- Craig Kamber – A&R
- Michael Mucci – artwork
- Sophie Howarth – photography
Accolades
ARIA Awards
Internationalist and singles from it have been nominated to win ARIA Music Awards from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) in two consecutive years.[23]
Year | Work | Award | Result[23] |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Internationalist | Best Cover Art | Won |
Best Rock Album | Won | ||
Album of the Year | Won | ||
Best Group | Nominated | ||
"The Day You Come" | Single of the Year | Won | |
2000 | "Passenger" | Best Cover Art | Nominated |
Best Group | Nominated | ||
Single of the Year | Nominated |
Other awards
In 1999, "The Day You Come" was nominated to win the "Song of the Year"
See also
References
- ^ Fountaine, Angus (2 November 1997). "Hot Ticket". The Sunday Telegraph.
- ^ a b c d e f g Clode, Samantha (October 1998). "Taking Flight". Juice.
- ^ "Mission Impossible". Rolling Stone. August 2000.
- ^ a b Mathieson, Craig (23 July 1999). "Powder and the Glory". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3.
- ^ a b c d e f Watts, Benedict (November 1998). "The Beckoning Finger". Juice.
- ^ "Allergic Internationalists". hEARd Online Music Magazine. 1999.
- ^ a b c d e f Johnson, Neala (December 1998). "Talkin' Politics?". Beat.
- ^ "Day You Come (The)". Hindley Site. Archived from the original on 16 December 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Yorke, Ritchie (15 November 1998). "Fingers feted at home". The Sunday Mail.
- ^ a b Yates, Rod (September 2000). "Trusty Old Jackets". Massive.
- ^ "Powderfinger – The Day You Come". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 17 December 2007.
- ^ Australian Musician. Archived from the originalon 21 July 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
- ^ a b Powderfinger (2004). Fingerprints: The Best of Powderfinger, 1994–2000 companion booklet.
- ^ a b c Pascuzzi, Carmine. "Primed for P2K Tour". Media Search.
- ^ "Powderfinger – Passenger". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 17 December 2007.
- MAX. 2 August 2007. Archived from the originalon 30 August 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
- ^ a b c Clode, Samantha (December 1998). "Fish Tales". Juice.
- ^ a b c d Six, Nicola (19 November 1998). "Day Dream Believers". The Courier-Mail.
- ^ a b c Bolster, Teresa (December 1998). "Finger on the Pulse". HIT.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Albums". ARIA. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums". ARIA. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
- ^ a b c "Powderfinger ARIA awards history". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
- ^ a b c Lewis, Jonathan. "Internationalist > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
- The Weekend Australian.
- ^ Wooldridge, Simon (September 2000). "This Sporting Life". Juice.
- ^ Mangel, Noel (16 November 1999). "Budding Internationalists". The Courier-Mail.
- ^ Nicholson, Geoof (17 November 1999). "Keeping An Even Keel". Time Off.
- ^ Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Australian Albums of All Time. Rolling Stone Australia, Rolling Stone Australia, 06 December 2021. Retrieved 06 December 2021.
- ^ "Internationalist – 1998". Powderfinger. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Powderfinger – Internationalist". Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "End of Year Charts – ARIA Top 100 Albums 1998". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ "End of Year Charts – ARIA Top 100 Albums 1999". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ "End of Year Charts – ARIA Top 100 Albums 2000". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "APRA Music Awards 1999". Nominations. Australasian Performing Right Association. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
- Australasian Performing Right Association. Archived from the originalon 6 September 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
- ^ "Hottest 100 History 1999". History. Triple J. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
- ^ "Hottest 100 History 1998". History. Triple J. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
- ^ "JUICE 100 Greatest Albums of the '90s". Juice. Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2007.
- ^ "The 50 Best Australian Albums of the 90s". Double J. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.