November Worthwhile Stuff

📚 Books
Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey: I truly and thoroughly enjoyed this book: enlightening, inspiring, relatable — and very often hilarious. McConaughey’s story about golfing with his brother in Palm Springs made me put the book down for several minutes while I collected myself, and alone is worth the cover price. His recounting of his year abroad in Australia helped put my own less-than-ideal year abroad in perspective. And his rich, unique outlook on and approach to life results in an entire book that can easily be revisited over and over again, revealing new layers of meaning with each reading. I also really dig the overall scrapbook- and journal-like design of the book, which gives it a unique feel and imbues it with even more personality.


🎶 Music
Disco, Kylie Minogue: Kylie's Disco offers up a perfect 2020 bookend to Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia, delivering plain old nostalgia for Disco with a capital "D". It also includes the song we need for 2020, "Monday Blues", with it's helpful "Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday / It's the weekend" chorus. The first track, "Magic" perfectly sets the scene with strong roller-disco and glitter eyeshadow vibes. "Miss a Thing", "I Love It", and "Unstoppable" invite the listener to time travel to the early 80s.  "Last Chance", "Real Groove", and "Where Does the DJ Go?" would have been perfectly at home on Fever, demonstrating that Disco has long been Kylie's domain. Disco is a concept album as only Kylie can deliver, with both commitment and authenticity. After all these years, she's still queen of the dancefloor.

"Not So Sad", Ben Taylor: Needless to say, I'm very excited that Ben Taylor is releasing new music once again, and this latest track offers his signature melodic delivery paired with deeply evocative lyrics, layered over fuzzy guitars and synths that reflect the anguish of those lyrics. Another masterpiece from Mr. Taylor and David Saw.

"Love This Christmas", Rick Astley: Leave it to a British person to just throw together an instant-classic Christmas song after going for a walk. The Brits have a special way with Christmas, and Rick is certainly no exception. This song has the kind of 60s throwback vibes that remind me of Leona Lewis's stellar Christmas album, and it is guaranteed to put you in a festive mood -- or at least make you feel like you could be in a holiday shopping montage.