Spotify, Magic Whip, Station Eleven, Star Trek: TNG

I'm listening to... Spotify

After a few weeks of premium Spotify I can't believe I waited so long to commit. So much more music at my fingertips, and significantly cheaper than my usual buying methods ($12/mth). My constant hunger for newness now has a provider :)

 

I'm listening to... The Magic Whip by Blur

A distinctly Blur album, not diminished by the time since the last studio release. Veers from mournful to playful, with lots of unusual instrumental flourishes. Fave tracks: Go Out, I Broadcast

I'm reading... Station Eleven

A different take on post-apocalyptic fiction, with a non-linear, heavily character focused tale. Some tense moments finely balanced with a mostly positive view of people despite their weaknesses.

 

I'm watching... Star Trek: The Next Generation

Other than the first season, I don't think I've seen these since they originally aired, back when I was in my teens. A JB sale last week was sufficient for me to bite the bullet and buy the full set on Blu Ray, and 10 eps in it both looks great and stands up well.

Wait But Why, Young Love and The Prodigy

I'm reading... Wait But Why

Interesting, in-depth and humorous blog posts on all sorts of topics from US Presidents, to artificial intelligence (scary), to the latest on Elon Musk's various ventures (which left me feeling more optimistic about the future).

I'm watching... Young Love

YouTube series in mockumentary style, showcasing a bunch of young Aussie talent. If you enjoyed People Like Us or Small Tales and True, then this will hit the spot.

I'm listening to... The Prodigy

Their latest, The Day Is My Enemy, doesn't have too many surprises if you've listened to their last couple of albums, but there are enough driving, crunchy beats to keep me happy. Standout tracks for me are Destroy and Get Your Fight On.

This week

I'm reading... Stephen King's "The Stand"

After reading "The Talisman" back in the mid-80s, this is only the second King book I've read (gasp!). I watched the mini-series back in the 90s, but thankfully my memory leaves plenty of gaps to be filled.

I'm watching... Orphan Black S3

A rare show which is broadcasting on free-to-air TV in sync with the rest of the world, so I don't have to dodge spoilers. After watching the first 2 seasons on DVD in under a week last year, waiting so long between eps is hard! Enjoying this third season just as much as I'd hoped, still springing plenty of surprises.

I'm listening to... American Pinup

I've been enjoying their rockabilly since the debut 2011 album "Strange Creatures" and through 2013's "Change Machine" and the promise of an upcoming new EP has me refreshing my memory. For a sample of their tunes, check out this recent live studio session.

Hopefully this will be the start of more regular posts on my consumption of pop culture :)

Excursion

A lovely stroll around Palmerville Heritage Park (known in my family simply as Landcare) on Sunday resulted in a handful of suitably autumnal pics. For more, check out my photostream.

iTunes Radio

If I only listen to the "1984" station, it's pretty good. A little sample below, with "Together In Electric Dreams" playing right now :)

Zoo

Well it's taken me a long time, but I finally post-processed my favourite photos from my trip to Mogo Zoo while down the coast last December.

Springtime

My coast garden coming to life during last weekend's visit.

Amazing how only a couple of days away can feel like a week when you really need it :)

Lucky

Phew! Without that leadership spill, the mainstream media might have had to ask some tough questions of themselves, and whether they provide any value to society. Now they get to engage in a round of self-congratulatory "I told you so!"s, and re-focus their trivia detectors on something else, to avoid at all costs actually educating the broader public, or helping to raise the level of political discourse. I'd love to think that tomorrow will begin with tough questions being asked about the lack of policy detail in key areas from the LNP, or any kind of considered analysis of party positions really, but that seems far too much to hope for...