The Weekender #18: Blowback
The Weekender #18: Blowback
Packed with suggestions on what to stream, watch, and read this weekend.
The Weekender is a curated listening, watching, and reading experience to give your weekend a sensory upgrade. Subscribe to get The Weekender in your inbox every month. All previous editions of The Weekender can be found here.
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What to Listen to This Weekend
Jamie xx - In Waves
Stream: Spotify | Apple Music
Get Vinyl: Deluxe | White | Black
Jamie xx is back, fashionably late, with In Waves, his long-overdue second album—a full nine years after the iconic In Colour. That record gave us "Loud Places," one of my forever-favorites, so you know my expectations were sky-high.
In Waves is Jamie’s love letter to the club, loaded with dancefloor beats and dreamy vocals that swing between precision and chaos. There’s plenty to love here: bandmates Romy and Oliver reuniting for their first xx track in eight years, Robyn lighting things up on "Life," and a left-field yoga anthem in “Breather.” While nothing quite reaches the euphoric heights of "Loud Places," the closing track, "Falling Together," gives it a run for its money.
I’ve given this album three spins: at midnight with headphones, a breakfast jam, and a morning run and it delivers in each setting. The breakfast listen won the day—my three year old, still chewing on Cheerios, busted out dance moves like she was gunning for a Dance Dance Revolution championship. I’m aiming for that same energy at a wedding later today.
Want to see how these tracks translate live? Jamie xx’s Lollapalooza Brasil set from last year is worth a watch.
Gorilla vs. Bear’s 2024 Modern Yacht Rock Mixtape
Stream: Soundcloud
As summer slips away, music blog Gorilla vs. Bear dropped their ninth annual Modern Yacht Rock Mixtape like a life raft for anyone clinging to the last rays of sunshine.
Picture Christopher Cross casually sailing into Clairo, Steely Dan and The Cars getting remixed like they’re at a beach party, and even a Charli XCX vs. Fleetwood Mac mashup. I’ve been mainlining it into my SPF-slathered veins like it’s the only thing keeping me afloat.
Blowback Season 5 Podcast
Stream: Spotify | Apple
One of my favorite podcasts, Blowback, is back for a fifth season, and this time, hosts Brendan James (former producer of Chapo Trap House) and writer Noah Kulwin are tackling Cambodia, Henry Kissinger, and the Khmer Rouge. After covering the Iraq War, Cuban Revolution, Korean War, and Afghanistan, they’re now turning their sharp lens on one of history’s darkest chapters.
What sets Blowback apart is its razor-sharp research, a fully fleshed-out, chronological retelling that’s packed with biting commentary and a killer soundtrack featuring Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Divine Fits).
This season features ten episodes, with new ones dropping every Friday—or, if you're impatient, you can binge the entire season now for $24.99 as a subscriber. Check out the top tier trailer below, animated by Ben Clarkson, who has his own acclaimed comic out this week: Justice Warriors Vol. 2: Vote Harder.
What to Watch This Weekend
The 50 Best NPR Tiny Desks
This week, Vulture tackled the Herculean feat of ranking the 50 best NPR Tiny Desks out of the 1,125 (!) that exist on YouTube. It’s a wild ride through the series’ most iconic performances, and I can’t argue with their top pick: New Orleans rapper Juvenile.
Tiny Desk has humble origins. Back in 2008, NPR producers Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson, annoyed by the SXSW crowd noise drowning out Laura Gibson’s set, joked that she should perform at Boilen’s actual desk. Gibson did just that, and with a handful of NPR staffers watching, a sensation was born.
Fast forward to April 2023, when a fan tagged Juvenile on Twitter, suggesting he play Tiny Desk. His viral reply was “Wtf is a tiny desk” followed by a firm “no.” But, the internet worked its magic, and by June, Juvenile was rocking the desk with a star-studded crew—Trombone Shorty on ’bone, Jon Batiste on melodica, and Manny Fresh holding it down on keys. Legendary performance.
Vulture’s list is solid, but if 50 Tiny Desks aren’t enough, I’ve included three omissions that would have made my personal Best Of list.
AIR’s Moon Safari at Royal Albert Hall
Stream: YouTube
French duo Air is finally back on tour after a six-year hiatus, and they’re not just playing any set—they’re performing their 1998 debut Moon Safari in full for the first time ever. They’ve brought back their lounge-jazz classic, like reviving a vintage bottle of wine, and poured it out in full at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The whole show is up on YouTube via ARTE Concert, looking and sounding better than ever. So, if you can't make it to their North American tour dates starting next week, just turn down the lights, throw it on the big screen, and let Air take you back to the golden age of French cool.
If you don’t have this one on wax yet, the Vinyl Me, Please “Sea of Tranquility” variant is gorgeous and affordable at Discogs.
What to Read This Weekend
The Power Broker: Robert Moses & the Fall of New York by Robert Caro
Fifty years ago this week, Robert Caro’s The Power Broker hit the shelves and it's as timely now as it was back in 1974 (shoutout to
of for this milestone reminder).If you've ever been curious about how one unelected man, Robert Moses, single-handedly reshaped New York City like his own personal SimCity, this is your story. Moses ruled urban planning with an iron fist, and the ripples of his decisions still shape cities today.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning juggernaut is in its 75th printing and still moves an eye-popping 40,000 copies a year. And finally, you don’t have to haul this 1,400-page behemoth around like an ancient scroll; the first ever digital edition dropped this week, so you can enjoy it without herniating a disc.
Reading a massive book is always better with a book club. The podcast 99% Invisible is running a yearlong reading group breaking down each chapter and featuring guests like AOC, Michael Schur (Mose Schrute!), and Caro himself. Here’s the episode breakdown, with chapters 35-38 discussed today.
And if you’re in or traveling to NYC, the New York Historical Society has an exhibit running until February celebrating The Power Broker at 50. So there’s never been a better time to dive in—just clear a few months from your calendar first.
Hey thanks for visiting The Wax Museum! If you like what you read, forward this newsletter to a friend who needs their weekend upgraded! 🙌
That yacht rock mix goes hard
I absolutely love the tiny desk concerts. Going to have to check out the Mitski one! Daughter is my favorite! https://youtu.be/s-OoG1aGYO0?si=AeXjAwMfw0y-USzT