The Verge - Favorites

Verge Favorites: Carl Franzen

2013-05-24T14:29:03Z

The Verge staffers aren't just people who love technology. They're people who love stuff. We spend as much time talking and thinking about our favorite books, music, and movies as we do debating the best smartphone to buy or what point-and-shoot has the tightest macro. We thought it would make sense to share our latest obsessions with Verge readers, and we hope you're encouraged to share your favorites with us. Thus a long, healthy debate will ensue where we all end up with new things to read, listen to, or try on.

'Fringe', Fox (2008-2012)

I’m hit or miss when it comes to J.J. Abrams: I liked Alias, not so much Lost. But this sci-fi show — a post-9/11 paean to body horror, has grown on me so much since I began watching it straight through on Apple TV a few months ago. If I didn’t know who made it, I’d guess it was some sort of X-Files spin-off directed by David Cronenberg, written and produced by James Cameron. Cheesy and completely, ludicrously unscientific at times, yet cleverer than its premise would suggest, it’s a paranoid thriller on acid (often quite literally), clearly homaging overlooked 20th-century sci-fi cinema greats, from Altered States to Relic. Fringe’s constant cliffhanger screenwriting benefits from binge-watching via digital streaming, too. Don’t be afraid. Plunge in.

'Optica,' by the Shout Out Louds (2013)

I was prepared to like this record from its first single on ice, but wholly unprepared for how much I love it. For a while, this Swedish indie rock band was one of many post-punk staples for me — not a favorite, not exceptional, just solid, fun listening. But Optica is surely their best record yet. It’s one of those rare albums that’s not only instantly catchy, but that improves with every listen. It’s also incredibly flexible — good for work, working out, or in a social setting. The lyrics are extremely repetitive. Okay, not J.T. repetitive, but initially they sound like pop punk unrequited love chants. But listen closer and they become much, much more interesting, especially taken as a full album. Can’t recommend highly enough.

Neutral.fm (2013)

This is a car show for non-car people by popular tech podcasters John Siracusa, Marco Arment, and Casey Liss. It just concluded its 12-episode long “miniseries” run, and it’s unclear if it will ever resume again. But it’s worth a listen now, all the way through, even if you hated their other shows. Maybe I like it so much because I don’t own a car myself but have a lingering idolization of them due to leafing through my Dad’s copies of Road & Track growing up and being forced to listen to Car Talk (also recently ended) on public radio with him. Car buffs are warned to stay away, or suffer intense aggravation.

Grilled cheese

When I was a bachelor, I used to eat a can or two of Amy’s vegetarian Chili (spicy) most nights for dinner. Then I moved in with my girlfriend and she convinced me there were better, cheaper foods to be had. Grilled cheese is my new go-to. I like to fry some Turtle Island tempeh bacon and drop that in between the cheese slices. Butter on one side of the bread and the frying pan itself. Cheese on both pieces of bread (duh)!

'The Magicians' by Lev Grossman (2010)

Confession: I never completed the Harry Potter series. I made it to book 5, which I finished, but was too put-off by “angry” Harry’s faux angsty self-loathing to continue. But anybody that’s even dimly aware of the boy wizard’s saga should appreciate how it is both subverted and honored by The Magicians, a more mature look at what attending a school for magic would be like, written by Time magazine’s book critic. Those readers who took a deeper dive into the works of actual Victorian-era magicians, e.g. Aleister Crowley, will appreciate it even more. The sequel, The Magician King, slumps a bit but is still a worthy follow-up, and I look forward to book three in the series.

Verge Favorites: Katie Drummond

2013-05-17T18:42:03Z

The Verge staffers aren't just people who love technology. They're people who love stuff. We spend as much time talking and thinking about our favorite books, music, and movies as we do debating the best smartphone to buy or what point-and-shoot has the tightest macro. We thought it would make sense to share our latest obsessions with Verge readers, and we hope you're encouraged to share your favorites with us. Thus a long, healthy debate will ensue where we all end up with new things to read, listen to, or try on.

Hullabaloo Zinfandel

Drinking wine is a top priority for me, and I’ve increasingly enjoyed learning about different varieties (particularly of the red persuasion) in recent years. Discovering the world of zinfandels was something of a revelation, and Hullabaloo has become my label of choice. It’s full-bodied, versatile, and at around $13 (in New York) relatively inexpensive. I go out of my way to buy it, and strongly suggest that you do the same.

Tegan and Sara 'Heartthrob'

Drummond trivia: I grew up in the same Canadian city as Tegan and Sara, and their mom was my therapist in middle school. I spent a lot of time in her office, staring at framed photos of the twins, and imagining myself as the third sister. If only. They remain my favorite band to this day, and although I set out to spurn their latest release — because admit it, they did the sell-out thing — it’s undeniably awesome. “Now I’m All Messed Up” is the best track, and that’s not really up for debate.

Asics Gel Cumulus 14

My dad always told me, “when you find the right running shoe, buy in multiples.” I took his advice when I got my first pair of these Asics last year, and now have four pairs in various stages of sweaty-and-dirty decay. I can’t promise these shoes will address your own athletic needs, but for someone with a high arch and relatively neutral pronation, they’re perfection. Bonus points because they don’t have the obnoxious orange-and-purple color vibe that tends to ruin otherwise decent women’s running shoes.

Apple iPod Shuffle

I’ll get crap for this one, but the iPod Shuffle remains my favorite gadget, even after all these years. Yes, the battery sucks. Yes, it breaks relatively easily. Yes, I’ve lost at least three of them. But the Shuffle still fulfills important requirements for me: lightweight, clips onto clothing, is a separate entity from my phone (because the buzz of texts, emails, and calls is really annoying when I’m trying to listen to music). Oh, and it syncs with my iTunes account, which, because I’ve amassed an enormous library of iTunes music, has become extremely important.

'Science Ink' by Carl Zimmer

Yes, this book is a few years old. But when I was gearing up to launch Verge Science, I picked it up again for some inspiration. If you’re not familiar with the book, a primer: Carl Zimmer compiled the best, most awe-inspiring tattoos from science lovers around the world, and used those tattoos to explain the scientific concepts that informed them. A book that manages to celebrate science and tattoos in equal measure? That’s an awesome damn book.

Verge Favorites: James Chae

2013-05-03T16:00:05Z

Section.80

I wasn’t allowed to listen to rap music when I was growing up. When I was in college, "conscious rap" was all the rage. So I missed out on a lot of classic rap, but Kendrick caught me up in his 2011 mixtape Section.80, a 60-minute long diary that takes you through the streets of Compton’s sociopolitical past. For anyone confused about the contradictions in hip hop culture, please listen to this tape.

Olympus XA

My first post-graduate apartment was broken into and my laptop and digital camera were both stolen. Rather than go out and get a new digital point-and-shoot, I decided to explore film cameras. I stumbled upon the Olympus XA after some flickr and Camerpedia browsing. This “professional’s point-and-shoot” is a great piece of hardware. For $30 it’s a much better camera than a Lomo and you get similar effects.

Akzidenz-Grotesk

Designed by Günter Gerhard Lange, Akzidenz is a true workhorse typeface. Many will mistake it for Helvetica, but this is that Swiss whimp’s grandpa. Lange originally designed the family in 1896, and expanded it during the '50s to its current form. Not only is it a beautifully drawn typeface, it's got a wide range of weights (light, italic, bold, etc…) I use Akzidenz-Grotesk Medium Condensed on my personal business cards.

Anish Kapoor

The first time I encountered Kapoor’s work was at the Tate Modern in London. I was so perplexed by the dark blue box that I actually touched the piece! It was a deep blue rectangle that appeared to sink into the wall. I was terrified that my eyes weren’t working so I felt no apprehension in touching the piece. His work is simple and it really makes me rethink time. I’m always excited to see his work in person, which is increasingly rare in this Tumblr age.

Boiler Room TV

My second musical passion is house music. What started as a secret party in London has turned into a global music phenomenon. This party series is now active in four cities (London, Berlin, NYC, LA) and has hosted some of the most important DJs and electronic musicians of our time. My personal favorites of recent are: Apparat, Roman Flüegel, Kerri Chandler, and Groundislava. What I love about this show is that by being streamed online it celebrates the open-minded culture of dance music. The parties themselves may be exclusive, but everyone can tune in at home and dance.

Verge Favorites: Greg Sandoval

2013-04-10T17:30:06Z

Fear and Loathing On The Campaign Trail '72

Sure, nobody wrote more entertainingly about debauchery than Hunter Thompson, but what often gets overlooked was the man's eagle eye. The 1972 US Presidential campaign, eventually won by Richard Nixon, was the perfect showcase for Thompson's ability to spot subterfuge. Here, he outs the narcissistic buffoons, public relations sleight of hand, and general double dealing that plagues the American political system. I came away, however, feeling sorry for the author. Despite all the cynicism, it's obvious Thompson loved America and wished the electoral process would evolve into something beyond cheap theater.

AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

On a cost / benefit basis, my Nikkor 24-70mm, 2.8G-ED lens is the best purchase I've ever made. Nearly everything I ask of it; portraits, action shots, speakers on stage at tech conferences, low light — the lens consistently gives me sharp photos. Need shallow depth of field? This bad boy is bokeh-licious. High performance comes at a price though. The Nikkor set me back $1700. It's also a bit clunky. When attached to my D-7000, the rig only takes a couple of hours on my shoulder to leave me sore. Alas, I'll consider that my cross to bear for quality photos.

Caetano Veloso, Fina Estampa

The Brazilian woman behind the counter told me Caetano Veloso "is our Frank Sinatra." To an American, that's a big statement, but one listen to the album Fina Estampa and it's obvious Veloso can back it up. This is Veloso live, when the timbre and tone of a master vocalist are at their best. Contemporary music fans may hear a little of Radiohead's Thom Yorke in Veloso. Both singers are comfortable in falsetto, but can also drop into a cavernous growl.

The films of director Luc Besson

Some of my friends who are film fans, as well as those friends who are French, sneer when I say how much I love the films of director Luc Besson: The Fifth Element, The Professional and the now classic Nikita. Besson was born in Paris but my friend Seraphine calls him "The American!" To critics, Besson is all pretty pictures and no narrative, a style they associate with Hollywood. I've recently watched a string of Besson movies starting with The Big Blue. His best films typically feature strong but vulnerable female characters besieged by powerful and evil forces. I don't know that there's much to be learned from Besson films. I just know they're fun and beautiful to look at.

The photographs of Francesca Woodman

Francesca Woodman was a prodigy. Raised by two artists, Woodman took up photography in her early teens. By the time of her suicide at the age of 22, she left a huge body of work — mostly black-and-white stills. Woodman was expert at using light and shadow as well as mundane objects to convey powerful emotion. Her work is proof that you don't need expensive backdrops, models, or equipment to create compelling photographs.

The Verge - Favorites

Verge Favorites: Carl Franzen

'Fringe', Fox (2008-2012)

'Optica,' by the Shout Out Louds (2013)

Neutral.fm (2013)

Grilled cheese

'The Magicians' by Lev Grossman (2010)

Verge Favorites: Katie Drummond

Hullabaloo Zinfandel

Tegan and Sara 'Heartthrob'

Asics Gel Cumulus 14

Apple iPod Shuffle

'Science Ink' by Carl Zimmer

Verge Favorites: James Chae

Section.80

Olympus XA

Akzidenz-Grotesk

Anish Kapoor

Boiler Room TV

Verge Favorites: Greg Sandoval

Fear and Loathing On The Campaign Trail '72

AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Caetano Veloso, Fina Estampa

The films of director Luc Besson

The photographs of Francesca Woodman