Recently I took all of the Midnight Oil albums in MP3 format and removed all the tracks from their compilation 20,000 Watt RSL. I then put them in chronological and album order and listened to them.

I'm left with the general impression that all Midnight Oil albums are great, except for 1996's Breathe. I still, after many years of trying, can't like this album. Thankfully it is followed up (after the release of the 20,000 Watt compilation) by the fantastic Redneck Wonderland.

I listened to the Oil's non-"best" tracks this way in the hope of picking out tracks to make an alternative best-of. I was surprised to discover that "My Country" didn't make it on to 20,000 nor the later Flat Chat, but there are a large number of successful singles that didn't make it.

I'm also surprised at my inability to find any discussion of a similar nature amongst Oil's fans, or by the Oil's themselves. I'm sure I read an interview once that mentioned some tracks the band would have liked to have put on the album, but I cannot find it.

Either way... I'm hoping to not be swayed by Flat Chat, or fan opinion, or band opinion, or what were successful singles.

I will pick my tracks, then compare to those other sources and see how my opinion compares.

I don't care what our anthem is. It didn't become our official anthem until well after I was born.

I don't care what our flag looks like. It didn't become our official flag until well after my parents were born.

I don't think Australia has or needs a national dish or a national costume.

That's the whole point.

Happy Australia Day.