Current Top 10 Albums

I'm one of those people who needs to listen to music whilst they work. So with stressful exams and essay periods, I'm simultaneously and inevitably binging on and discovering new music. With some all-too-exciting Easter exams coming up, I thought now would be a good time to run down on my current favourite albums. These are constantly changing but I finally managed to whittle them down to a somewhat structured Top 10:

10. Open Season - High Highs (2013)

I've been listening to High Highs for a while, but have only listened to this album in its entirety recently. It is the perfect album for moments of relaxation and apt for both looking outside at the rain and laying down in the sun. Their sound is made up of these beautiful soft and slightly crackly drum beats and guitar twangs that emulate a spinning record. The real epitome of the High Highs however, is the lead singer's dusty and almost cottony voice that simply wraps around your ears like an enveloping hug. A true experience of cosiness here. Favourite Track: 'Flowers Bloom'.

Top 10 Films Watched in 2014

I got through significantly more films this year than last as well as managing to go to the cinema a lot more often. I'm planning to write another post about watching films at home vs. the cinema, but I really liked that I made watching films more of a social activity this year and shared my favourites with my closest friends. So here is my countdown:

10. Her (2014)

I hadn't heard much about this film actually before going into the cinema to watch it apart from an offhanded synopsis of "it's about a man and Siri getting together". Of course, a man's relationship with an operating system is the basic plot outline of this film, but its real merit comes from the cinematography and set design. It was a stunning film, the visuals made up of a selection of bright block colours that go against the stereotypically grey colour scheme of futuristic films. I particularly found the opening and the idea of a corporation that write letters pretending to be from other people really fascinating. The narrative itself wasn't amazing, but the themes and emotional resonance you draw from the film is extremely thought-provoking and powerful.