Powderfinger -Fingerprints &Footprints: The UltimateCollection

Thu 9th Feb, 2012 in Music Reviews

It has certainly been a long year since one of Australia’s finest ever rock groups Powderfinger hung up their boots and called it a day after a career spanning over 20 years. Like many popular bands wishing to seal off a career, the Brisbane quintet have released a comprehensive anthology of some of their finest songs, many of which became unofficial Australian anthems across the country.

Fingerprints & Footprints is a combination of the compilations Fingerprints: Best of 1994-2000 as well as the recent Footprints: Best of 2001-2011, each spanning a decade of the ‘Fingers recording life. As with a lot of compilations, the difficulty in choosing which songs are ‘the best’ proves to be ever-present, especially with a group who essentially could write anything and receive acclaim from critics as well as the public, however a comprehensive mix of tracks were selected from each one of their seven studio recordings, including classics Sunsets, My Happiness, (Baby I’ve Got You) On My Mind and These Days.

In the entire 35-song release, there is only one exclusively new track Empty Space, a fairly stereotypical Powderfinger acoustic rock song and certainly isn’t their final #1 hit, but it was never meant to be. Empty Space is a fairly quaint ending to a career with lyrics filled with reflection and perhaps justification for the band’s departure “Everybody saying, it’s such a shame… Was it all a waste, was it all in vain?” and as the final acoustic guitar fade out acts as a farewell to their audiences, but certainly not a goodbye.

However, as is the case with most ‘Best-Of’ collections, there is nothing really exclusive nor special that would be of use to those already familiar with the ‘Finger’s music, but as far as a singles compilation goes, it certainly isn’t bad and the selection of tracks is a justified and fairly respectable mix.

Powderfinger’s impact upon Australia’s local music scene is perhaps one of the most evident and appreciated and whether you like them or not, they are without doubt, one of the most successful and enjoyable Australian bands ever to grace our airwaves and our stages across the nation. Fingerprints & Footprints: The Ultimate Collection serves as a perfect final retrospect on what was a truly stellar musical career spanning over three separate musical decades.