I don't think I need to introduce Adele...and, although I have heard some of her songs before and was certainly curious to hear more, I had so far not bought any CD from her.
A recent browse into a JB Hifi store while my car was being washed drew me to my favourite section of this gigantic music emporium, the Blu-Ray concerts. I have said before than I can't find a better soind quality than a well recorded Blu-Ray disc and this one is no exception. But  a big surprise was in store for me, as I didn't waste any time to listen - and watch - this amazing performance as soon as I got back home. My wife dropped everything to be with me and we were soon like two teenagers at their first live performance!
This girl is amazing! Not only is sheextremely pretty, but funny, witty, vivacious and can she sings!
She draws you into her emotions and lyrics and manage to make you feel that she sings just for you and she achieves this monumental performance barely moving on stage! A far cry from Madonna or Michael Jackson, but a stunning piece of music nevertheless. She is certainly helped by a great team of musicians and back singers. Her pianist in particular, specially when playing solo, plays the perfect counterpoint or support to Adele's stories, from the most delicate ballad to the jazziest beat. The filming is quite good too, with maybe 20 cameras - I like the close-up on the hands of the pianist or the top shot on the drums and the close-ups on the supporting singers!
Great entertainment, great sound, great photography and obviously fabulous songs by a very talented Adele!

You have probably heard that the sales of vinyl records are actually up, so it was appropriate to spend some time on Saturday to visit a few record stores in the Sydney CBD (I didn't venture any further as we had like 60mm of rain that day...) to celebrate World Record Store Day.
And it is certainly true that the number of physical record stores are down, but the ones that are left are obviously the ones that are specialists in a niche market, have evolved with an online presence and finally have knowledgeable staff! 22 shops in Sydney participated in the event.
Two of the stores I visited, Fish Fine Music and Birland Records (where I bought Cafe Blue from Patricia Barber in a HDCD Collector version) are primarily stocked with CDs and DVDs/BluRay. Birland Records also stock a rare collection of XRCDs, a specially mastered format invented by JVC, and a large selection of SACDs.
I also shop occasionally at the Mojo Record Bar who are primarily vinyl stockists, new and second-hand.
My surprise came from Red Eye Records which i pass by often driving but never had a chance to visit properly ...until then.
Well, this was certainly a very busy place, where the cash registers were ticking red hot.
The crowd was diverse in age, sex and all alleys were busy with shoppers wandering mainly in the vinyl sections, but also DVD and music BluRay had their fans (me included...)