All Recs #1
This edition is exclusively content recommendations
Sorry for the delay in hitting “Send” on our newsletter. While Andrew was on top of ish (as always) and ready to go last week, I was the slacker. I’m in the midst of a road trip from Phoenix to San Francisco and between the time difference and hiking the Grand Canyon, finding writing time has been a bit of a challenge. But we don’t want to leave you hanging, so we’ve got a late (for last week, but early for this one) edition that rounds up some of the stories, videos, and even other newsletters we’ve been appreciating. We’re hoping to make this a semi-regular thing alongside our long-ish essays so let us know what you think.
—Justin
Uncle Joey
I’ve been thinking about writing a piece about how important it is to suck at something (stay tuned). Part of the inspiration for that was seeing Jonah Hill put out this surf part with 88 Surfboards. The surfing is not good, but Hill’s stoke level is. It’s nice to see a celebrity who isn’t focused on presenting a pixel-perfect image. Sure, maybe that’s a schtick, but with Hill it comes across as genuine. It’s also very relatable. A lot more people surf like Hill than surf like John John Florence. And if the job of a surf video is to make you want to surf, then “Uncle Joey” serves its purpose.
—Justin
Parcels - Free (Live from the Silverton Hotel)
I first learned about Parcels when I was living in San Francisco. My roommate Mike—a trusted source after introducing me to Khruangbin—was going to see them and put me onto their latest release, which had been produced by Daft Punk. Shortly thereafter, they released their debut album and have not released any new studio music since. Between the album (2018) and now (now) they released this incredible live album, featuring songs off their first two EPs and the aforementioned studio album. If their music doesn’t make you fall in love with the band, their decade-ambiguous look probably will. Anyway, Parcels are back with some new songs and accompanying videos to go with the releases.
—Andrew
Lorde on Hot Ones
Consider this just a general recommendation for Lorde, who I’m re-realizing is awesome and I’d very much like to be friends with. The general press circuit can sometimes be OD, especially when you want to see Lorde on Hot Ones (above) and Lorde and Seth Meyers day drinking and Lorde answer 73 questions. But she achieved the rarely-achieved and made all these appearances unique and entertaining and we are now friends. If you haven’t heard them yet, the first two singles off her upcoming album (which she is promoting in these videos) are great. So is the video for Solar Power. Go Lorde, who is my friend!
—Andrew
Ta-Ta to ‘Teetering Tabloids’: Keith Kelly Signs Off
I moved to New York City because I wanted to work in magazines. And once I was lucky enough to land a job at one, I quickly realized that if I wanted to know what was happening in the industry, I needed to read Keith Kelly. The longtime New York Post columnist was plugged in on all that was going on at Conde Nast, Time Inc (where I worked), and other magazine publishers. Kelly recently retired and the Times marked the occasion with a nice profile. It’s filled with nostalgia for an industry that doesn’t really hold the same sway in the city as it used to.
—Justin
New York: We LIKE That It Sucks
Well, Gawker is back. ICYMI: they were sued into oblivion by Hulk Hogan via Peter Thiel, a story worthy of going down the rabbit hole for (this book is phenomenal). I really like this style of “journalism,” which I suppose is similar to what I’m doing here–or trying! I don’t resonate with a lot of the sentiments about New York, perhaps because I’m a bit more positive or because no “real New Yorkers” would consider me a New Yorker, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love reading this. I’ve mentioned it before, but if you like this, you should read E.B. White’s “Here is New York.”
—Andrew
Perfectly Imperfect
This edition of Just a Thought is all recs, which is exactly what every edition of Perfectly Imperfect is. Except instead of Justin and me, they mostly have other cool people come on and recommend things. Occasionally, the “Perfectly Imperfect Boys” recommend things too. It’s also more “stuff” than content, which we tend to skew towards. It’s really well done and probably the most fun newsletter I read. The recommendations are vast, but within a fairly specific realm. Vintage button downs, Criterion subscription... you know the type. In a world with mostly too much email, I’d still recommend finding some real estate for these twice-weekly, hot recs.
—Andrew