1989

Thanks to my good friend Harper, I was introduced this week to the new Taylor Swift album, 1989. I've always liked Taylor. I think she's kept it classy when so many girls her age are just selling sex. I like her songwriting and catchy country tunes. I admire that she's able to poke fun at herself and her list of famous exes. She's got a better perspective at her age than I did, that's for sure. But I was never a super-fan, never bought an album, just a few singles. Country music, admittedly, is something I listen to on occasion but not most of the time.

There was a pretty big deal about this being Taylor's first "pure pop album" - I've been seeing articles pop up on Entertainment Weekly and other sites. To me I kind of shrugged it off (hasn't she always been a bit pop?). But I have to say I really, really love this album. The writing is spot-on and transports me back to when I was her age or a bit younger. So many of the songs, especially Blank Space, I Wish You Would, and This Love resonate with how I remember a younger version of myself. And maybe that's appropriate since her album title is 1989, the year she was born, the music is a throwback to the pop of the late 80s and 90s, the beats are catchy, and it's just absolutely fantastic.

So, here I am, highly recommending the new Taylor Swift album (never thought I'd be saying that!). And for what it's worth, it's always good to open yourself up to new music. If you looked at my music on my iPhone it's pretty random. So here I am, officially on the Taylor Swift bandwagon. Go get it, go get all the songs stuck in your head, and tell me which ones are your favorites!

Disclaimer: I am in no way a music expert, but I just had to obsess a bit about this awesome album

My Orphan Black Obsession

Nate and I have started joking that I tend to have an annual obsession. 2011 was the year I discovered Harry Potter. 2012 was the year I obsessed and worked on Hunger Games (lived it 24/7). 2013 was the year of World War Z (seriously, read it, best book ever). 2014 has become... the year of Orphan Black!

So what is Orphan Black? I'll admit the year it came out I didn't pay it a second glance. The posters were kind of weird and looking at them didn't give me a sense of what the show was really about. But then in early 2014, I saw an Entertainment Weekly that likened it to the best cult-followings - Doctor Who, etc.

In a nutshell: Orphan Black is a drama with a sci-fi element. Its plot centers on Sarah Manning and how she becomes involved in an illegal cloning experiment. The unique part of Orphan Black is that it stars a female - actually females (which rarely, if ever happens in this genre) as the main characters and drivers of both story and action. I thought, well this is something Nate and I both might be able to enjoy. Bonus - the first season was free on Amazon Prime streaming.

Nate and I gave it a shot... and we became obsessed, not just with the storylines which were suspenseful, engaging, and intricate, but with the multifaceted performance of Tatiana Maslany as all the clones. By the end of season one she had appeared on screen as seven fully-developed clones each with her own unique mannerisms, speech, accent, hairstyle, walk, you name it. We kept having to remind ourselves - particularly as she plays off herself in scenes Parent-Trap style - that this is the SAME actress. She's just absolutely incredible, and her performance is so convincing it really takes the show to the next level.

Season two, we get to see her play two (!!!) new clones on screen. Sometimes she's hugging herself - or fighting herself (see above, Sarah versus Rachel). Seriously, there's nothing this actress can't do! Season two was equally good - now we can't wait for season three to return in 2015. If you've watched it you're hooked, if not - what are you waiting for?

Party on, clone club. Party on.

PS: Yes she's playing all four clones in that scene. CRAZY!