A Way Forward

The new Nation Of Language album & more winter picks

Thanks for joining me here for another dispatch of my (mostly) twice-weekly music and menswear newsletter, which is different (but somewhat the same) as my daily style blog from which it gets its name. Thanks for reading!

Live from Brooklyn, it’s another edition of my music-meets-menswear newsletter, where last week, I covered established favorites (LCD Soundsystem) and this week, I’m covering fresh up-and-comers, helped along by some seasonally friendly shopping and sipping picks. In fact, today’s newsletter is oddly spot-on: I just spoke earlier today with lead singer Ian Devaney of Brooklyn synth-pop trio Nation Of Language, one of the city’s fastest-rising bands of the moment. It was an enlightening conversation diving into the band’s second album, “A Way Forward,” which was just released last month.

You can catch my write-up of that conversation coming soon for Atwood Magazine, but in the meantime, I’ll talk today about the trio’s powerful blend of intoxicating retro soundscapes and witty, cutting, NYC-focused lyricism (and hey, it doesn’t hurt that Devaney is also the lead singer for Machinegum, the incredibly cool side project of Fab Moretti, himself the drummer for a little band called The Strokes). Without further ado: Here’s an album with some earworms for your Tuesday evening.

What To Listen To This Week: “A Way Forward” By Nation Of Language

There’s certainly a time and a place this time of year for traditional Christmas music, and I’d understand if you’re hesitant to jump into a new, atmospheric record sans Christmas tunes, but bear with me for a moment. Nation Of Language’s latest release is clearly inspired by the city, with dark and moody soundscapes buoyed by NYC’s bright lights and the potential (and heartbreak) of possibility. It’s an intoxicating combination that I’ve really grown to love as I’ve listened to the album since it debuted last month. And the fact that Nation Of Language welcomed the album with an outstanding and crowded live show at Brooklyn’s Market Hotel is a pretty cool album footnote in its own right. To keep it simple: If you love Future Islands, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and even The Strokes or Moretti’s Ian Devaney-led side project Machinegum, you’ll get a lot out of this record. Even cooler than that? The fact that the band seems to love playing these new tunes, led by Devaney’s cool-as-can-be style. Speaking of style and menswear …

What To Wear This Week: L.L. Bean x Todd Snyder Chamois Shirt

When I think of Nation Of Language’s sound, one that bridges the gap between the ‘80s and today, I think (surprisingly enough) of seeing runway shows by my favorite designer, NYC-based Todd Snyder. Snyder’s shows are always of a time and a place, including in seasons past, when he’s sent models down the runway layered in very ‘80s-esque fashions, with accompanying music that falls right in line. Nation Of Language are charting new territory, and their music feels fresh and of-the-moment, kind of like something you’d hear on a bustling runway or during New York Fashion Week (to me, this is a very good thing indeed). This rugged chamois shirt sits in both the past tense and the present, so it’s a spot-on style move for winter.

What To Sip This Week: Michter’s Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey

Whenever I sit down to tuck into a new record, like “A Way Forward” by Nation Of Language, I’m usually kicked back, Notes app at the ready and with a fitting beverage in hand. Sometimes, it’s my favorite cup of coffee, sometimes it’s a cold beer if it’s post-5 p.m., and other times still (especially in the chilly winter months), it’s a rye whiskey with tons of depth and character. Michter’s Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey is but one whiskey I’ve been enjoying at the moment, with spiced notes that fall right in line with a brisk winter evening. If enjoying a new record, whiskey in hand, sounds ideal to you, remember that you can get whiskey delivered to your door via Drizly. Cheers, my friends!

The Final Pick: Season Three Ultralight Hiking Boots

I view this newsletter as sort of a multi-step guide for your week or weekend, starting with what you’re listening to, and carrying you through how you’re getting dressed to get out the door (and what you should sip when you get home). For both the demands of this season and the demands of, say, dashing around Brooklyn before you see a show by a band like Nation Of Language, I certainly recommend some comfortable, lightweight hiking boots. For the uninitiated: Season Three is a newfound, NYC-based favorite of mine (read my review of Season Three on my daily style blog for more), and I think you’ll find them every bit as comfortable and versatile as I do. Are these your new favorite boots? I’ll let you be the judge, but it’s certainly possible.

As I said above, I hope this newsletter can serve as a useful guide for winter days and nights, from your personal soundtrack to the boots you’ve got laced up. And if you’re already digging what you hear from Nation Of Language, give me a shout in the comments below or find me on Instagram. The same goes for stocking up on Season Three hiking boots or pouring yourself a neat glass of Michter’s Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey. Cheers to new music, new boots and new whiskey - some of my favorite things! Thanks for reading & be sure to tell all your friends.