Matt Neal

09/09/2026

The Port Fairy Literary Weekend starts tomorrow! So many great events - get along if you can. I'll be there, hosting the Sunday crime panel, and trying to learn as much as I can from the other authors.

Port Fairy Writers Festival

25/08/2026

This Aussie comedy/sci-fi gem is due for a wide release later this year, and you should absolutely check it out.

(MA15+) ★★★★ Director: Sam Voutas. Cast: Ivan Aristeguieta, Florence Noble, Francis Greenslade, Genevieve Neve, Luke Saliba. "Last time I o...

23/08/2026

The End Of Oak Street isn't as fun as you might think, but it's surprisingly brutal and scary.

This is a version of a review airing on ABC Victoria's Statewide Mornings program on August 20, 2026. (M) ★★★ Director: David Robert Mitchel...

09/08/2026

I'm sure no one is surprised to hear that I loved the new Spider-Man film. But I think it's genuinely great.

02/08/2026

I've passed the 300-album mark in my quest to watch 500 albums this year. Here are some highlights from between #250 and #300.

Farmer's Co-op - Plaid (2026)
Shoutout to Jeremy Lee, who continues to make great, uplifting '80s infused electro that is a joy to listen to.

Small Faces - Small Faces (1966)
Having little-to-no knowledge about how much Small Faces rocked, I was blown away by how down and dirty and rockin' this record is, right from the first chord.

The Monks - Black Monk Time (1966)
Is it the first punk record? I dunno, but it's a strong candidate. Didn't know this existed. Loved it.

The Supremes - Supremes A' Go-Go (1966)
This is peak Motown. Absolutely killer record, with the Funk Brothers cooking and The Supremes selling it. You Can't Hurry Love is one of the greatest songs of all time.

The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin (1999)
Everyone knows this is a classic, but I listened again just to be sure and it's perfection.

The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)
As per The Soft Bulletin.

The Sonics - Boom (1966)
Another great dirty rock 'n' roll record from '66 that points to punk and beyond. Some killer sounds and killer songs.

Spiderbait - The Unfinished Spanish Galleon Of Finley Lake (1995)
I listened to all seven Spiderbait records prior to seeing them play Ivy & The Big Apples in full the other week at the Forum and I think Spanish Galleon is my favourite. We tend to forget how wonderfully weird Spiderbait are and how metal they used to be. Spanish Galleon is them at their most wonderfully weird and ass-kickingest metal. Monty is a perfect song.

Magic Dirt - Young & Full Of The Devil (1998)
I also listened to five Magic Dirt records around seeing them open for Spiderbait. This is the pick (though I love What Are Rock Stars Doing Today? as well). They're still ridiculously noisy and rough around the edges, but they're starting to write some great melodies and hooks at this point. She-Riff is their greatest achievement.

The Frames - Fitzcarraldo (US version) (1996)
RIP Glen Hansard. I've owned and loved a burnt copy of The Frames' live album Setlist for nigh on two decades but for some reason I never got around to listen to the studio albums. I'm disappointed in myself that it took Hansard's death to remind me to dig into their first four records, each of them an absolute treat, combining quiet beauty with amp-burning noise. What sounds and songs. He will be missed.

Updated: June 25, 2026 Back at the start of the year, my colleague Olivia Sanders mentioned one of her New Year's resolutions was to liste...

02/08/2026

My head isn't in there, but I swear I'm presenting a panel at the amazing Port Fairy Literary Weekend in September. I'll be hosting the crime panel, so get a ticket and get along to learn how to get away with murder (probably).

25/07/2026

I've updated by Christopher Nolan Best to Worst list (even though I still haven't seen Tenet). Tell me how wrong I am in the credits.

From 2000 until 2010, there were few directors who could rival Christopher Nolan. He had a Pixar-like strike rate of awesomeness. Across ...

25/07/2026

No other story could be more fitting for the talents of one of history's greatest directors than one of the greatest stories known to humankind.

This is a version of a review airing on ABC Victoria's Statewide Mornings program on July 23, 2026. (M) ★★★★★ Director: Christopher Nolan. C...

09/07/2026

Why is everybody wailing on Supergirl? It's fun and surprisingly dark, and Millie Alcock is cool and it's got Lobo in it. What's not to love?

This is a version of a review airing on ABC Victoria's Statewide Mornings program on July 9, 2026. (M) ★★★★ Director: Craig Gillespie. Cast:...