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Okay, I know everyone’s been recommending this, but it really is that good. Lovers Rock is the second film in Small Axe, Steve McQueen’s five-part series about Black life in West London in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The movie follows a crew of West Indian Londoners through a night at the coolest party I’d probably never get invited to. They’re spinning jams, drinking Red Stripes, and falling in love. I weirdly really fuck with all movies that take place over the course of one night and this one is no exception. It’s visually gorgeous, the soundtrack is vibey as fuck, and the fits are astounding. Check it out on Amazon Prime Video now.
Dec 8, 2020
Related Recs
Nic Mosher’s new documentary came out today. Him and his boys are my boys as of recent and I think this film is a modern masterpiece. A hilarious, tragic, and beautiful portrait of the homeless crisis in the bay area. I’ve now seen it 3x. Needs ur eyes.
Feb 4, 2024
Jan 22, 2024
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a touching and humorous documentary about liverpool by Terrence Davies. it’s so good I even forgave how aggressively british it is. it’s easy to find online, and is a great short watch
Oct 13, 2024
Top Recs from @shyam-mervana
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I recently revisited this book of photos by Michael Jang, an incredible photographer who’s been documenting life in California since the early 70s. Jang’s photos distinctively capture the sincere humanity that exists in San Francisco but is often overshadowed by today’s pervasive tech bro agenda. There’s something extremely tight about how he was able to capture high-energy situations––from parties at the Beverly Hilton to punk shows at the Civic Center Plaza––in a way that just feels so tranquil. As a Bay Area native, I deeply appreciate his work and hope you will too.
Dec 8, 2020
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Gonna kick things off with a tune I’ve had on repeat pretty much all year long. Everyday, I Don’t by Anna Domino is one of those rare tracks that makes you feel warm, isolated, hopeful, and subdued all at the same time. It’s been a go-to source of respite for me throughout this historically shitty year. Not to like, be a total “my life a movie fr” dude but listening to this song while biking through the city at night really is an inimitable vibe. Truly cathartic. I will be listening to it on repeat while I write the rest of this newsletter.
Dec 8, 2020
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For somebody that works in podcasting, I hardly ever listen to them. NPR’s new show Louder Than a Riot, however, is the rare exception. Hosted by Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael, the show interrogates the relationship between mass incarceration and hip-hop by diving deep into the experiences that artists like Bobby Shmurda and DJ Drama have had with the criminal justice system. I’ve been fucking with Rodney and Sid’s music coverage for a while now and this pod really highlights their skills as storytellers.
Dec 8, 2020