If you’re new here after any of our April guests…welcome! Perfectly Imperfect is a twice weekly newsletter featuring curated recommendations from real people, and once a month we the editors, Tyler and Alex, like to share some recs of our own.

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Without further ado

Tyler Bainbridge (instagram, twitter, website)

🎵 Frou Frou

New made-up genre just dropped… I call it ”Proto-Polachek” because you can really see Imogen and Guy’s influence on the sounds and aesthetics of artists like Caroline. I mean, just listen to Let Go, it could easily be a Pang B-Side and it dropped way back in 2002. Frou Frou’s Details is front to back heat + the album cover rules, and I’d also check out the recently released demo of A New Kind Of Love.

🫶 This Emoji

Is there a more beautiful and universally human expression than a heart comprised of hands? I doubt it! And I like to spread my love by spamming this emoji in your replies, so please update your beeping phone so you can feel the warmth of my love.

👖 🌟 Heavn Star Studded Belt

I’m 26… so basically on the cusp of Millennial and Zoomer, which in terminally online downtown nyc terms basically means that I enjoy The Ion Pack aaand Wet Brain. So while I may be on the brink of too old for Heavn, I just can’t help being drawn to their stuff. It’s a breath of fresh air and fun as hell. I’m too plain to rock most of their best stuff so I stick to the “low key” ish items like this star studded belt.

👕 🦖 🌍 Having a Uniform that Evolves with You (and living a PI life…)

I’m not a “fashion” guy, I’m just a regular ol’ guy who likes clothes and slowly refining my personal style through an eternally evolving uniform. And right now that means every day I rock some variation of a leather jacket, tee or button down, jeans, and derbies. I still add “trendier” things like the Heavn belt, and someday I’ll get sick of this jacket, but it’s all in the spirit of letting your taste evolve— an important pillar of living a PI life that can be applied to all facets of aesthetic preference.

🎵 Frost Children - SPIRAL

Where does the “Hyperpop” sound go after a years of homogenization caused by chasing a spot on a Spotify playlist??? The answer is Frost Children, an exciting NYC based group that thoroughly blew my mind after seeing them live. Angel and Lulu jump from the mega catchy pop anthems like FOX BOP and LOSER to tracks like DEVIL NEXT DOOR that’d sound at home on a Black Midi record, and somehow they stick the landing. Between 100 Gecs' recent singles and SPIRAL, we’re seeing the rock-influenced future of the genre and I’m all about it.

🪖 Lazer Z1 MIPS Bike Helmet

Now that it’s warming up in NYC I’ve been riding my Richard Bike pretty much every day. I love it (update: 5/3 9:27am i got hit by a car)! I just blast some Crystal Castles and zoom around Brookyn for hours. For months I was riding sans helmet but after a few friends told me that was dipshit behavior I smartened up and bought one rec’d by man of the bike, Ryan K. It’s super lightweight, mad safe, and looks pretty badass. And apparently the vent design directs more air onto your head, which sounds cool, but I haven’t really noticed.

💊 🧠 Sertraline

Uh-oh… Tyler must’ve got a Big Pharma bag for this one 😳. But on an earnest note, finally seeing a Psychiatrist has vastly improved my quality of life. Like most people, I was worried that antidepressants would dull my experiences or I’d have some gnarly side effects, but I basically feel the same, I just spiral way less often. Everybody’s different and sadly mental health doesn’t have a one size fits all solution, but I think it’s worth exploring if you’re struggling. DM me if you want to ask any questions ♥️

🦀 Whatever the opposite of Hermit Mode is…

Last month I recommended going “hermit mode” after a self imposed period of much needed hibernation. But now that I’m recharged and it’s getting nicer out… bro, I’m breaking out of my hermit shell and I’ve made some great friends from participating in the “scene” a bit more. I’m feeling excited and inspired…so maybe we’ll see some Perfectly Imperfect parties this summer???

Alex Cushing (instagram, twitter, goodreads, moodboard)

🤠  Sam Buck KFM Radio

A great selection of (mostly) country music, mixed in with a good splash of gossip and listener calls. Get your scoop on the drama (hatred??!!) between Maren Morris and Kacey Musgraves. I love listening to these episodes when they premiere while I work, and have discovered some real country bops. Lee Ann Womack’s A Little Past Little Rock has found itself repeatedly queued up — as has Luckenbach, Texas, Should Have Known Better, and so much more. 

🎵 Tim Buckley - Blue Afternoon

A timeless mellow little album. If you know Buckley, it’s likely from Happy Sad, or Goodbye Hello, (both of which are amazing) but Blue Afternoon has a special place in my heart. It hits a unique crossroads of melancholy and warmth that cant be explained except to say – just listen to the song I Must Have Been Blind.

➗  Sudoku

Mental exercise 🏋️‍♂️, a simple but all-consuming addiction. I’ve played at least 1 game of sudoku every morning for months. I look forward to it, and find myself opening a game in progress rather than doomscrolling IG during those little moments of “in-between time”. I play on a phone app, but I’m seriously considering a back-pocket book of sudoku.

🎵  Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell

I’m ready to bring this album back into rotation. It’s been my evening go-to recently, a perfect springtime listen - toss it on for the end of day unwind. Take out your sudoku notebook and bang one out while Sufjan lulls you down with Should Have Known Better (but not the same song of that name mentioned in the Sam Buck rec - 2 for 2 on that song 🎯).

🎣  Fisherman Sandals

I’m welcoming this trend with wide open arms this summer - fisherman sandals. Whether it’s the beauties from The Row, a nice pair of Paraboot Pacifics, or something else. They’re a classic and timeless shoe that isn’t seen all over the place – yet. 

🍋 BUD LIME

Continuing the trend of sharing what I do, wear, and listen to as the weather changes, I’ve been shifting my lite beer selection from basic Buds and Coors, to the powerhouse BUD LIME. refreshing and delicious - my perfect citrus beer.

📻  Tivoli Model One

We’ve rec’d radios before so I’ll spare you details – This one looks smart, pairs to my tv so I don’t need other speakers, and, most importantly, has a beautiful little (perfectly) resistant knob for dialing in your stations - with a little light that glows when you’re tuned in at the right frequency <3.

📕 Sea of Tranquility - Emily St. John Mandel

I read this one because I was told station eleven was good, but was more interested by the description of this book. Now that I know I like the authors writing though I’ll be checking station eleven out soon. In Sea of Tranquility, you read a story that spans centuries, from the early 1900s, to the future spacefaring days. There’s something that ties these timelines together, and I was hooked from start to finish.

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