Writer, runner, creative director
1. Pixian fermented bean sauce. Fermentation is underappreciated in America. This bean paste made a very memorable Szechuan dish — punchy, savory, satisfying. 2. Floating sauna at the marina. A transformative Chicago experience. Connects the city, the lake, and the human body like no other. We need many more of these.
Bleached bone country western. A man, a guitar, a heartache, revenge. This one is spartan country poetry. I like how Yoakum takes a simple phrase and adds layers and meanings as the song progresses. Iconic for a reason. Embodies the loner vigilante archetype. Morally corrupt, yet you’re rooting for
Llamas Llamas Llamas, Belafonte Sensacional. Maybe the only album with 6 Ls in the title? Balkan brass influence, Mexican artrock. My 9 yo son likes this song. Hemisphere flip, Serbia, speed brass ground zero. Interplay of rhythm and syncopation at the 3 minute mark is a hard earned groove. Thank
John Lennon’s post-Beatles love letter to his newborn but played on piano by a japanese amateur musician. Stripped down piano reveals the beauty of the melody. Zombie marionettes? Disco ragdoll? Collective effervescence? Watch the part at 1:30. Visually, there’s a lot of dynamism despite minimal edits.