Obsessions #7: "Under the Silver Lake," New Balance 550s, New Hozier, Sleeping

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Maya

Watching “Under the Silver Lake” near Silver Lake

First of all, I didn’t expect to like this movie, but despite its flaws, I loved it. What does that say about me? It’s such a fun and f*cked up neo-neo-noir, and honestly such a good period piece, but most importantly I yelled when I immediately recognized the inside of Mustard Seed on Hillhurst from the very first frame. I love to be in the know!

Remembering my roots (that I used to be obsessed with R.E.M. in high school)

More about “Under the Silver Lake” (and, I guess, “The Bear”): Back in high school I had a strange obsession with R.E.M. I had posters in my room, all their CDs, and logged so many hours watching their live performances on YouTube. They were the reason I desperately wanted to learn the mandolin. I couldn’t tell you why, since, although they’re historically significant in the inception of “college rock,” they’re considered a little cheesy. But after hearing the R.E.M. needle drops in “The Bear” (literally just “Strange Currencies” over and over) and “Under the Silver Lake” with “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” I’ve fallen back in love with them. Call me a Stipe-head!

Rilo Kiley and the genius of Jenny Lewis

The first time I heard their magnum opus, “The Execution of All Things,” something shifted in me. I’ve been a Rilo Kiley stan ever since. As September creeps in, I’ve been thinking about what my seasonal soundtrack should be, and nothing really speaks to the girlish feelings I’ve felt recently than Jenny Lewis’ songwriting. Thus, this playlist was born, featuring Jenny and some of her contemporaries.

Actually using my kitchen

I won’t lie, I’m not really a cook. Or a baker. I know that I need to eat to live, but I’ve just never had that gene in me that can follow recipes and that is okay standing for that long and waiting around and then washing all the dishes after. It’s just not who I am, until now. Now that I’m settled in my living space and have ordered enough Pine and Crane on my own to feed a family for weeks, I feel mentally/emotionally comfortable using the oven. This week I made roasted chicken with summer vegetables, and banana bread. I know this is kind of just a basic aspect of adult life, but it’s the little things.

Sleeping in

Another basic tenet of human life: sleep. I’ve never enjoyed intentionally wasting daylight (my brain usually wakes me up at 6 AM), but recently I’ve been trying to take everything as it comes, and be okay with not having to optimize my entire day. I think it’s working well for me. 

Hannah

Sweating

I'm over it! I can’t do it! I don’t know if I’m severely out of shape (which admittedly, is possible) or if it’s really that disgusting outside but I won’t survive another month of this! This is all of course connected to the ever-present anxiety that apathetic industries and careless politicians dodging productive, helpful environmental regulations bring, but I’ll skip the straw when I get my iced latte and use reusable bags and pretend that’s doing something I guess! (I saw the Doomsday Clock on my way to the library to write this, so I’m in a space!) Anyway, can’t wait for my favorite season, Fall! It better keep happening forever! Haha! 

The Killer movie poster

I hope we bring back painted movie posters because this is what we could have! This is so cool and striking and just generally made me excited for the movie (the trailer also dropped today, if you’re wondering!). Fall will be a great time for streaming platforms—wish actors and writers and everyone who actually worked on the films actually saw the benefits from that, instead of the corporations! Down with corporate greed! Etc!

Thinking About Getting the New Balance 550s

Ugh, it’s like—do I actually like them or is it just that everyone and their mother in this town I live in has them? Will I still like them in a year? I think I might, but then the question is which color? Watch this space!

Hozier’s Unreal, Unearth 

I wasn’t sure about Unreal, Unearth at first, but like anything Hozier has ever done, of course, love it now! It’s earthy and ethereal as is his general musical thumbprint, and it’s interesting and smart and thoughtful and I like it! Go listen!

Connections from NYT

If you’re as obsessed with Gogglebox, a British TV show where people watch and react to TV, as I am, then you’ve seen them watch the show Only Connect, which is impossibly difficult unless you’re a genius or really good at puzzles. Anyway, the last round on Only Connect is a grid of 16 words that you have to put into four different categories that you also have to figure out. That is this new NYT game! Is this explanation interesting at all? I think it isn’t. That’s fine though!