I should really know better than to read the headlines

New music from The Weather Station and weekly spring picks

Another week dawns, and there’s no time to waste as far as new spring music, new spring gear and new spring craft beer is concerned. To recap: On Saturday, I talked about a favorite 2017 track from California indie rockers Local Natives (plus some craft beer and gear for your weekend, of course). Today though, we’re moving away from the sunny confines of California and heading north of the border to Toronto — a city I love (I visited there back in December 2017 to see The National play!), and a city that’s home to today’s featured act, The Weather Station, fronted and founded by Tamara Lindeman (that’s her at the top of the page).

And to go along with a new week and a new season, I’ve got some new suggested listening for you from Lindeman’s 2021 album, “Ignorance.” It’s fifth studio release, and it’s got the innovation to match. I first came across Lindeman’s music for the first time earlier this year thanks to long-running Seattle indie station KEXP, and then later dove into this terrific Consequence of Sound podcast featuring Lindeman talking about, well, everything: From climate change to new music to recording with a full band and releasing an album during the pandemic, livestream shows and all. The podcast is worth a listen, as is today’s featured song (that’d be “Atlantic”) and the acclaimed new album, in turn. Before you do that, keep on scrolling through today’s edition of The Style Guide In Brief to get your weekly to-do list all set, from spring shopping to spring craft beer to new music. Cheers, my friends.

What To Listen To This Week: “Atlantic” By The Weather Station

In listening to the excellent podcast interview by Kyle Meredith with Tamara Lindeman that I referenced above, I was struck by the fact that this album builds on her solo sound and amps it up with a swinging band, driven first and foremost by her piano-oriented songwriting. This is a departure from previous records by Lindeman, including her 2009 self-released debut “The Line,” which she recorded and released herself. The resulting approach on “Ignorance” is really fresh and unique, with rich, cascading drums and piano, plus lighter touches that call to mind Death Cab For Cutie, to name but one example (in my opinion!). The album itself is quite theatrical and dramatic, and “Atlantic” is as great an example of that approach as any.

Oh, and as mentioned in that terrific podcast interview I keep referencing, Lindeman talks specifically about how this song explicitly calls out climate change and perhaps even the ignorance inherent around the globe today (just listen to the line “I should really know better than to read the headlines” to get what she means). It’s a challenging song lyrically, for as refreshing as it sounds musically, and it’s the type of song to really make you sit back and think. That’s what all great music should do, right? Especially as we enter a new season, what better way to step forward than with new, bold and challenging tunes? Oh, and as to the rest of your spring to-do list, keep on scrolling below.

What To Shop This Week: Filson Alcan Quilted Jacket via UNCRATE

We’ve got it all in today’s edition of The Style Guide In Brief, including a new tune for the season and a rugged new spring jacket from Filson via UNCRATE. I’ve long been a fan of UNCRATE for the retailer’s ability to open my eyes to both new brands and old standby companies (like 100-plus-year-old Filson). That’s what makes the Filson Alcan Quilted Jacket such a fitting, durable and functional spring pick as you hit the road in search of new music (like The Weather Station) and new craft beer (more on that in a second). The Filson Alcan Quilted Jacket is the brand’s take on road-ready outerwear and gear, meant to be worn by motorcycle riders, but believe me when I say you don’t need to own a chopper to wear it (heck, look at me!). I’d wear this jacket around Brooklyn for Prospect Park strolls and outdoor brewery beers this season — here’s hoping! If you want to read more about Filson, you should also check out my regular style blog.

Shop More Gear From Filson via UNCRATE

What To Sip This Week: Firestone Walker 805 Cerveza via Drizly

Let’s keep things rolling through in fine fashion — you’ve already picked up your new favorite spring jacket (right??), so why not toast to the season with a return to form in a really light, refreshing craft beer for spring? The Firestone Walker 805 Cerveza is plenty ready for happy hour later, with loads of crisp and refreshing flavor akin to a traditional Mexican lager (I should know — I’ve tested it out!). I talked in my Saturday newsletter about 25 years of brewing innovation from Firestone Walker, and this is just the latest and greatest to roll off the famed California brewery’s bottling line. If it were me, I’d throw on some folksy rock by The Weather Station and kick back with this cold, fresh beer later (as always, you can get it delivered to you via Drizly). Cheers!

The Final Pick: Club Monaco Williams Garment-Dyed Crew

Now, because we’re talking about fresh takes on the classics today, and a fresh sound to go along with it, how about some of the best new menswear from a company that makes accessible takes on runway-ready pieces? I’m talking, in this case, about Club Monaco, a brand that’s made a name for itself in what you might call the “mid-tier” luxury category. These pieces are modern, sleek and yet subtly stylish, and in today’s casual times, you can wear them just about anywhere (including to the coffee shop, with The Weather Station in your Bluetooth headphones — or is that just me?). Take the Club Monaco Williams Garment-Dyed Crew. It’s just a T-shirt, right? Not exactly — look closer and notice the washed finish, the kind of touch that makes it seem like you’ve had this stylish T-shirt for years. Better still, you can get 2 T-shirts for $50 at Club Monaco, enough to start on a spring wardrobe refresh. And the best part, of course? Wear this Club Monaco T-shirt for a casual start to your morning as you spin some new tunes. It’s all coming together, folks.

Put all of the above picks together, and I’d say you’re well-positioned for success this week. Even as you work from home, a stylish T-shirt is going to be a nice upgrade for the season, as shown with the Club Monaco Williams Garment-Dyed Crew, and it only gets better from there: You’ve got a new favorite album from The Weather Station, you’ve got your Firestone Walker 805 Cerveza for refreshed spring sipping and to top it all off, you’ve got your Filson Alcan Quilted Jacket to take with you on the road for seasonal adventures. Check each of these items off your to-do list and have a great week all the while. Thanks for reading!