Top TV Shows of the last 25 years

I blogged about this a while ago, but when I caught this article in yesterday's SMH about the top shows of the last 25 years I thought I would look over the list and update it.  Its fairly tough, but I think I'd settle on these. The only one that I think won't change is The West Wing. For me it is miles ahead of the rest.. 

5. Homeland

I really liked the premise of the show (perhaps believable).  The second season will be the real test. However Season Two goes, I'm very intrigued to see the Israeli show it was based on.

4.  Downton Abbey

A great period drama, and I have really got into the characters. The producers haven't been too ambitious with each series (around 7 episodes long). Season Three looks like it could be interesting.

3. Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds is probably my favourite crime show.  One that really does highlight the depths of our potential depravity, it scares me every now and then, but the way the profilers are able to piece together the story amazes me.

2 Picket Fences

I have included this, but I have not been able to locate a copy of the series to buy on DVD. Would love to though, again it dealt with real meaty issues well.

1. The West Wing

Hands down the best written show I have watched on television.  One of the few shows which has regularly dealt with meaty issues. Their episode relating with 9/11 dealt with a touchy topic sensitively. The show is one of the more even shows I have seen across all seven seasons. I do regularly wonder where these characters have got to.  Very easy to watch again & again.

On the articles list, I haven't seen Mad Men. Anyone who has seen it - would you put it at number 1? 

Cassie - Sing about me

Another musical discovery for 2012 is the Finnish band Cassie.  The band is probably classified as ambient rock.  Cassie's debut album is Sing about me.

To my mind there are some similarities to Sigur Ros in the ambient nature of their songs, they also bring Portishead to mind.

What I love about the Cassie at the moment is the purity and expressiveness of their singer's voice, against the expansive nature of the music.

If you're looking for some new music, Cassie is definitely one to listen to. Again, you can download the album via Noisetrade.

This is September ...

September, means the beginning of spring, and September means Footy Finals.  I am quite happy with how the Swans have been going this year.  Given that most suggested that they would make up the numbers in the eight to finish third and secure a double chance is a great effort for the year. 

The reward for finishing third, is a trip to Adelaide to play the Crows. Where the equation is quite simple - win, and they reach the preliminary final; lose and they will host the Cats (in Sydney).  Hopefully, whether its the Prelim Final, or Qualifying Final, someone remembers 2005 - and they play at the SCG.

Even with the last few losses, the Swan's still have the best defense in the competition.  Hopefully, we will see that on display next weekend.  Geelong could well become the first team from outside the top four to win the flag, but I think the favourites would probably be Hawthorn or Adelaide.  (The Hawthorn v Collingwood game is likely to be a cracker..)

Onto the NRL, sadly, the Warriors won't be there this year.  Their season, can be summarised as erratic.  Hopefully 2013 will be a better year. At this point, I suspect one of Manly, Canterbury or Melbourne to win, with Manly probably being the favourites.

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In brief.  
Congrats to Andy Roddick on a fantastic career - I will miss you, I always enjoyed watching you play, the heart you poured out on the court. Who could forget that 21-19 set you played at the Australian 

Open.  Would love to see him win the tournament this year.

Sad to see Ratten sacked. Thought he handled it with loads of class expressed through humility and grace.  I'm also feeling a little bit for Deans too..   (via the SMH)

Congrats to the All Blacks, still rusty, but it did the job. One thing which saddens me, is that after the All Blacks play (win or lose), there seems to be an increase in domestic violence.    

Feel Inside - Flight of the Conchords..

Really love this video and song ...  (for a good cause too..)

Heath McNease - The Weight of Glory

I recently downloaded Heath McNease's new album, The Weight of Glory. If the title rings bells with you, you have heard it before. Heath's new album is his reflections on CS Lewis best know books including:

• The Great Divorce, 
• A Grief Observed, 
• Mere Christianity (focusing on the Liar, Lunatic or Lord quote)
• The Problem Of Pain, 
• The Four Loves - poetically he sums up the four loves as the love that made him grow; the love that made him bold, the love that made him whole, the love that saved his soul.
• Screwtape Letters, 
• Edmund (centred on the betrayal of Edmund in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), 
• Perelandra, 
• Till We Have Faces, 
• Surprised By Joy, 
• The World's Last Night, and 
• Weight Of Glory.

His lyrics beautifully capture the essence of these books (and is a great intro to his writings.  The music covers a broad range of genre's mostly folk, rock and blues, with some spoken word or rap in Mere Christianity. 

Mostly because of the intelligent lyrics and how easy it is to listen to I definitely recommend the album.