To Save Real News - Zeldman on Web & Interaction Design: Design won't solve all the problems facing newspapers, but it will help. And unlike more “immersive” approaches such as WebVR, original full-screen imagery, and original embedded video, the basics of solid, readable design should not be out of budgetary reach for even the most cash-strapped news publisher—budget being a problem for any business at any time, but especially for newspapers now.
The self-indulgent backstory is eminently skippable, but if you care:
David Bowie - Let's Dance: the playlists starts with a Bowie track for obvious reasons. I also listened, a lot, to the live version of Sunday from the Reality tour as it was a truly astonishing moment during the show and a memory I treasure. But after a while, I found Let's Dance felt like a better choice for the mix tape.
The Sheep Of Sam Clams Disco: saw Skunkhour live. Didn't really think that would ever happen, but it did and it was awesome. Took a mate along to the show, his observation was they're Australia's answer to The Roots which isn't a bad way to put it.
Iron Maiden - If Eternity Should Fail: up the Irons! Finally saw Iron Maiden live. This track opened the show. So, so good!
System Of A Down - B.Y.O.B.: not sure how I got onto it but listened to a lot of SOAD this year.
The Avalanches - Frankie Sinatra: couldn't quite believe we were really going to get a second album. I didn't really dig a lot of tracks on the album (gasp!), but this track is brilliant.
Meat Beat Manifesto - Asbestos Lead Asbestos: dug into the MBM back catalogue a bit and got this song stuck in my head for days.
Covenant - Sound Mirrors: first track released off the new album and it's a good'un.
Deftones - Hearts/Wires: saw them live, supported by Karnivool. Would have included a 'vool track in the mix tape but they haven't released their new album yet ;)
Leonard Cohen - Everybody knows: obvious reasons. My young teenage self found a sort of grim joy in music like this - songs that spit in the eye of the evil of the world, while still keeping a sweet humanity.
Dan Sultan - Magnetic: saw Dan Sultan live, correcting the mistake I made by missing him on his Blackbird tour.
Caiti Baker – Heavy On My Heart: bonus! Caiti Baker supported Dan Sultan and she absolutely blew the roof off the Manning Bar. Great set and really hope to see her release more solo stuff.
Seth Sentry - Punch In The Face: heard this once on a Sunday afternoon out the back of The Vic, but never knew what it was. Just remembered one line from it - if your best friend's a racist / your best friend's an arrrrrrsehole. Finally worked out it was this Frenzal cover from Like A Version 9.
Garbage - Empty: finally saw Garbage live for the first time. Hard to pick a favourite from the gig... I loved seeing Queer live, Even Though Our Love Is Doomed was an amazing set piece in the gig, Sex Is Not The Enemy and #1 Crush both went off in a big way. In the end I picked Empty as it's one off the album they were touring; and it's a great track.
Dead Kennedys California Über Alles: dug through an old box of CDs to find this album, which feels freakishly contemporary given the year's political climate.
Twelve Foot Ninja - Sick: somehow picked up the name of this band from shirts and posters at other gigs and checked them out... subsequently thrashed their two albums at the end of the year.