st234

CONTENTS

ISSUE 234 APR 2024

MUSIC 8-11 The Music Room: Emma Donovan, Missy Higgins 12 Album reviews 14 Vital Vinyl 15 Second Spin: Billy Joel, Shannon Noll 16-17 Cover feature: Taylor Swift 18 This month at JB 20 On the Record Radar: Beth Gibbons, Angus & Julia Stone, and more MOVIES & TV 22 Take 5/Filmmaker's Signature/On the radar/In development 24 Merch of the month/Charts/Socials 25 Cinema: Monkey Man, Civil War 26 The curse of the Iron Claw 28 Anyone But You : A tale of two Sydneys 30 Anatomy of a Fall 32 New from Imprint 34 Aquaman returns 35 Out this month 36 4K All the way/Board game party time GAMING 40 Take 5/Merch of the month/Game changers! 41 PlayStation’s stellar heroines 42-44 Get going with PC gaming 46 Dragon’s Dogma 2 Q+A 48 Sand Land Q+A 50 Out this month/Wham, bam, game exam! 52 Fast forward/Q5 TECH FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4 What to look for in a digital camera 6-8 Cameras for all budgets 10 Making sense of camera sensors 12 Insider tips to capture the perfect photo 14 Camera lenses in focus 18–20 Get creative with the right camera gear 22 Creator tips for cool content 24 Accessories for your camera kit 26 Why a dash cam is your best co-driver 28–30 The latest beauty and skincare tech 32–36 Appliances to give your hair the care it deserves 38–40 The best trimmers for beards and bodies 42 Monitor your health with Garmin Connect 44 Why you need a Withings ScanWatch Nova 46 Rivelia by De'Longhi makes bean-to-cup coffee simple 48 Streamline your streaming with Hubbl 50 Sennheiser's Momentum Sport earbuds are a game changer 52 Hot new budget-friendly phones 54 New tech at JB

WELCOME

Taylor Swift’s inpact goes far beyond the 34-year-old singer-songwriter’s earworm melodies. Across ten powerhouse albums (and four re-recorded titles), she’s crafted incisive lyrics which have resonated with millions, displaying mesmerising vulnerability and a storytelling knack which has inspired a generation to express their truth — particularly young women. A stylistic chameleon, in 2014 she leapt over the genre divide and fearlessly explored how her footholds in country could sashay into pop and folk, breaking down musical barriers for her aspirational peers. And not least, as a businesswoman she’s fought for artist ownership, crafting a pioneering method of musical revenge in her ’Taylor’s Versions’ and paving the way for fairer treatment in the music industry. Her influence comprises a powerful potion of creative honesty, artistic evolution, and industry savvy. With her 11th studio album The Tortured Poets Department , we’re anticipating a further maturation which will bake Swift’s starpower into this century’s history books — but we also know this gal’s still got 100 stories to tell. TTPD is just the latest and most exciting chapter in a tome which is being concurrently read by musical book clubs around the world, and we are all completely — and eagerly — captivated. Zoë Radas, Music Editor

jbhifi.com.au/stack

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Tech Editor Scott Hocking Music Editor Zoë Radas

Music Consultant Mike Glynn Marketing Manager Fleur Parker

Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK editor@stack.com.au

Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones Contributors Bryget Chrisfield, Jeff Jenkins,

Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Movie & TV Editor Glenn Cochrane Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando

Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Alex Deutrom, Michael Irving, Jacqui Picone

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accommpanied by a parent or adult guardian

Restricted to 18 and over

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2024 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

Cover photo credit: Beth Garrabrant

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