Return to the moon

A Matt Berninger solo project, spring sneakers and new coffee

Right at the tail end of the week, what with churning out posts for my daily style blog and writing about the world’s oldest whiskey for Maxim.com (to name but a few pursuits!), a song popped into my head, as they so often do. But this one was a bit off the wall: It was a track (the zippy and bouncy “Return to the Moon”) by none other than Matt Berninger, but not a track from his output with famed indie band The National. This track, today’s featured listen, hails from his 2015 side project EL VY (more on them in a moment), and it’s curious that this song sprang to mind, because — while excellent! — it’s not often in my daily rotation, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

A change of pace is much-needed every so often, and that’s the case with today’s other supporting picks in my music and menswear newsletter, from a bright striped T-shirt to low-top canvas sneakers, kind of like the spring and summer-friendly pair seen at the top of the page. These are pieces that are fun to wear but not exactly top of mind on the daily, like today’s standout track. Sometimes, that’s OK — we all need some relief and some color from time to time, and after another week hustling on the freelance grind, that’s how I’m rolling into the weekend. The rest of your Saturday awaits.

What To Listen To This Weekend: “Return to the Moon” by EL VY

Before Matt Berninger launched his own solo career last year (as I wrote about in this newsletter), there was the fun, quirky, offbeat side project EL VY, one that Berninger and bandmate Brent Knopf developed through several years. Berninger would write lyrics to song sketches Knopf sent to him, often working on the lyrics as The National (yes, those guys!) toured the globe. The resulting album came out in 2015 (and was unfairly maligned, in my opinion!), and it’s the title track that popped into my head randomly this week as I worked on this newsletter and other pursuits, like penning whiskey dispatches for Maxim. It’s instantly catching, it’s far more danceable than most tracks with Berninger’s singing, and it’s just plain enjoyable. Is the album as groundbreaking or moving as the music of The National? It certainly isn’t, but then again, not everything has to be — if that sounds like sacrilege, I assure you, it’s not!

This is a fun, lighthearted track with some lyrics that keep you guessing, yet aren’t all that far off from what Mr. Berninger writes at times for his main indie outfit, my favorite band (One example: “Went to bed/And woke up inside another man's head/Nobody noticed”). The point being, if you havent’t given this solo project a fair look yet, it’s worth giving it a spin for a more lighthearted start to Saturday.

What To Shop This Weekend: Alex Mill Standard T-Shirt in Striped Slub Cotton

Believe me when I say this T-shirt will go very well indeed with the stylish captoe sneakers we’re about to talk about shortly. I’ve been riding high on Alex Mill, out of New York City, for some time in this newsletter and in my style blog, and this classic men’s T-shirt is a perfect example of how it all comes together. As we all look towards getting back out there this summer, you’re going to need a full rotation of laidback, easygoing T-shirts, and you should be able to have a little fun with your striped T-shirt “collection,” too. So, go right ahead and throw on this tee, brew up a fresh pot of coffee and check out today’s featured track in the process. You know the drill.

What To Sip This Weekend: Atlas Coffee Club

I could have easily started this post off with another much-loved craft beer pick, but hey, a guy needs some fuel for the weekend before proper beer consumption can start. That’s why I’m recommending you dive into the world of finely-sourced and crafted single-origin coffee from Atlas Coffee Club, a monthly coffee subscription service that, to me, looks pretty darn great. I’ll be testing out Atlas Coffee Club in the weeks ahead, but for now, you should know that get a customized selection of coffee delivered on the schedule that works for you, with an emphasis on coffees sourced from around the globe. Plus, packaging designs play off the regions from which the coffee was sourced, referencing cool textile designs. Neat, right? Single-origin coffee is prized for its quality, the fact that it’s easy to trace and more sustainable and ethical because of that. What does that mean for you? Well, it means that coffee from Atlas Coffee Club can provide the perfect jumpstart to your weekend (along with some cool tunes, of course).

The Final Pick: Komodo ECO Sneakers via Wolf & Badger

Made with organic and eco-friendly materials with sustainability top of mind, these stylish captoe sneakers are the sort you should wear with pride for many a spring and summer weekend, starting right now. Get ‘em for a nice, sub-$100 price at global fashion retailer Wolf & Badger to feel even better about finding your new favorite sneakers. The best part is, you can wear these to all manner of safe spring and summer pursuits, from park strolls to (inevitably) indie music festivals and brewery visits aplenty. Are these the most affordable sneakers for your money? Very likely.

Alright, folks. Lace up those stylish captoe sneakers, throw on that striped T-shirt pour up a cup of single-origin coffee (or better yet, make your first purchase in time for next week), and kick back with a little blast from the past, if you can count 2015 as the distant pace. If you’ve got any thoughts on any of today’s picks, or if there’s a certain band or song you’d love to see featured, you let me know in the comments. Let’s make this weekend count. Cheers!