So long, 2013

A few highlights from 2013..

Sport.
Cricket - The Ashes stand at 4-3 ;) (and the urn has been returned). We farewelled some of the giants of the game with the retirements of Michael Hussey, Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis.The BlackCaps have had a few good moments this year (a little too few though).
Golf - Adam Scott (first Australian to win the Masters at Augusta National)
Yatching - Oracle comes from four races behind to win the America's Cup and defeat Team NZ.
Rugby League - NZ wins the race for second place at the World Cup. (oh and in case you missed it QLD won the state of origin, and the Roosters won the comp).
Rugby Union - All Blacks complete season undefeated and the Lion's win in Australia.
AFL - Swans lose prelim final to Fremantle who were then beaten by Hawthorn in the Grand Final. Will be very intrigueing to see how the Swans go next year

Looking forward to World Cup - inspite of the All Whites failure to qualify. The Socceroo's will have a challenge gtting out of their group.

Music: 
Listened to a bunch of good music, and its been tough picking the top five. And as usual, I've left off live albums, eps and collections. In terms of the EPs, the series Atlas by Sleeping at Last is really amazing, and worth getting into, Sarah Masen released an EP of new music too, so I'm hoping an album is on the cards. Sarah is one of the more thoughtful Christian singer-songwriters going around.
 
The two live albums which have been on heavy rotation are the ones by All Sons and Daughters and the recording of Neil Finn and Paul Kelly's concert from earlier this year, just a great collection of songs from both of their careers.

In terms of albums for the year my favourites for the year (and probably in his order) are:

1. Jars of Clay - Inland
2. Holly Williams - The Highway
3. Amy Speace - How to sleep in a story boat
4. Sandra McCracken - Desire like dynamite
5. Hem - Departure and farewell

What ties these albums together is the song-writing. Each are filled wth songs I could relate too, telling moving stories about our shared human experience.

The honourable mentions are Paper Aeroplanes - Little letters; The Paper Kites - States; Noah & the Whale - The Heart of Nowhere;

For 2014 - I'm hoping (again) for a new U2 album (though with Ordinary Love out, it appears more likely this time), lookng forward to hearing Elizabeth Marvelly's new album, hopefully more from Brooke Fraser and as always new and unexpected discoveries.