In the past few weeks I have gotten into a lot of R & B and Hip Hop.

I find Lupe Fiasco so cool. When I drive and have Kick Push on eleven and the window open … I feel so … “white” … but in a good way I guess. I really like his music cause he gives so much attention to his lyrics and they aren’t all about how great he is – he let me be the judge of that which is nice … turned out in his favour as well.

Corinne Bailey Rae is really soothing. Each song has got groove and she just plays with the space. Really nice and mellow.

Baher got me onto D’Angelo and lent me Voodoo. Pino Palladino is on bass and really works the beats. D’Angelo has so much vision – the songs are so intricate and well constructed. I have still got a heap of listening to do with it.

Back to Uni next week. Long car trips provide heaps of listening time.

Two weeks ago I went to see The Weather play and who do I find there but Dave Powys. Dave is playing in a new band called San Salvador who are ‘the funk’.

We were outside after the gig and their tour photographer Simon took this photo. That is my ‘out and about rock star’ face.

Brooke Fraser‘s new album Albertine is great. Her voice is so … definite. Such amazing tone and well thought through lines. I have listened to it too much already but still love it. Maybe cause I have also needed relaxing during the crazy last few weeks.

I am really impressed with Powderfinger‘s new album. I thought the single Lost and Running was alright, but the album is worth checking out. I would compare it to Odyssey Number Five which I really dug.

I am still processing Young Modern. I haven’t stopped listening to Diorama – Daniel Johns has amazing ideas of what to do with songs. With Young Modern, there are some amazing ideas and some great songs, but gee … some of the songs are hard to take – really tense in their construction. Still, Silverchair are extraordinary.

I have got a whole bunch of albums lately. I am going to try and tackle one new one each day of my holidays.

Today is my birthday … don’t worry there is still time to buy me a present. I will accept gifts up till September but after that they just become early Christmas presents.

I got rid of the Tele (long story) and was able, with a little help from others, to buy this gem in time for my music exams and my birthday. It is fantastic – I won’t go on. You will have to come and see it in action one time.

On Friday night Luke and I went to see the funkiest keys player in town – Baher Shenouda. Baher is part of ‘Seduisant’ that play at Moretons Hotel every week. Baher makes UNSW a better place.

I took this picture as a ‘Blue Steel’ was being executed. I caught the full movement.