Weekly Update #7 - L'Aquila trip and other fun stuff
Roadtrip!
So, this week I had a small break from work, and we decided on a whim to visit L'Aquila, a city in the mountains in central Italy. It's a cute, vibrant city that is slowly but surely recovering from the disastrous earthquake of 2009. Unfortunately the weather was a bit uncertain, so we couldn't do the light trekking we planned, and instead visited some museums and wandered through the city.
We visited two record stores and got ourselves a respectable haul:
- Two Kubrick DVDs: Clockwork Orange and The Shining
- Three records: London Calling by The Clash and a couple Tyr records
Also, the owner of the store where we bought London Calling told us about the apparently famous Joe Strummer murales, which was nice. Time and weather have not been kind to it, but still cool.
Listening
London Calling is a great record, we must have listened to it 6-7 times since we bought it. It kinda sets you up since the title track, which is also the first of the album, is very different from the others, but you get use to it. Also Rudie Can't Fail kept jumpscaring me because it reminds me so much of I Fought the Law (and the Law Won).
During the trip we listened to a lot of Florence + The Machine, turns out it makes for a great soundtrack for driving on a sunny day on the highway.
Also finally got around to listening Jar of Flies by Alice in Chains. Which is kind of a whiplash from Dirt. I'll have to listen to it a lot more to understand if I like it. I think I do.
We also put on By the Light of the Northern Star by Tyr, and eeeeh... it's good album. But boy is it a heavy listen. It's like eating lasagna: after a bit you start to feel full. I think the problem is in the mixing, too bombastic, too loud drums, a bit TOO MUCH. But thinking about it, it's a common problem with Nuclear Blast Records releases. Still, it's a fun listen once in a while.
After being jumpscared by a poster for a Godflesh concert, we listened to Streetcleaner and MAN what a blast it is. I like this kind of industrial metal a lot more than the Rammstein variety. After a bit it starts to get tiring, but it's a great listen nonetheless. Also it's funny that after buying their records in our last visit to the city I saw the concert poster.
Watching
We're progressing with Fringe, and plot twists are plot twisting! Pleasepleaseplease do NOT crap the bed. The plot is not the... sturdiest, but the actors make up for it. And some of the moster-of-the-week episodes are genuinely great.
After buying the DVD we watched A Clockwork Orange! Which.. is... A MovieTM. A great movie. But A MovieTM indeed. I'm picking up the book, I'm curious.
Reading
Books
The Fall of Hyperion has become my bane. Goddamn do I not care about anything. Please end. I don't want to drop it, I like having the conversations after finishing the books for the Book Club.
Not much progress on the IT front, considering the trip, but it's fun.
I also finished the Deathconsciousness zine, such a fun(?) little read. Worth the money IMHO.
Comics
Western Comics
I read Thieves by Lucy Bryon! Such a cute little read. Recommended. I look forward reading her short stories in Happy Endings, will report on it once I get around to it.
Mangas
Juujika no Rokunin is luckily in a moment of grace doing the only thing it does well: senseless violence. Let's see where it goes.
Ishou Senkin updated! Absolute cinema, every chapter is a joy.
Ichi the Witch keeps on being peak. The humour is unbeatable. God I laugh so much at every chapter.
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