Five Easy Pieces: Oct. 21, 2022
Every Friday I share a quick hit list of 5 things I’m into. They may be wildly outdated or impossibly current. They may be overexposed and well known, or a hidden gem. If there is a product included, it is never sponsored or paid - this is just stuff I like.
1. Tracking down samples
One of my favorite tracks in recent memory is Jim James “Here in Spirit,” which I discovered through an Ozark episode. I’ve long been a My Morning Jacket fan (James is the lead singer), but had not explored his personal catalog as much. Here’s the track:
Recently I was listening to Apple Music when it served up the EDJ track, “Minor Miracles.” Something sounded familiar. See if you can spot the sample:
2. Via Carota cookbook
What can I say - everyone and their mother says Via Carota is their favorite restaurant. In my defense, I’ve been going since the day they opened, having been a big fan of Jody Williams first restaurant, Buvette. (And before that, Gottino!) I recall the time when you could stroll in at any hour and grab a table. Gone are those days.
Fortunately they’ve released their new cookbook, and it is quite literally chock full of all my favorite dishes. Loads of inspiration and just quality ideas for dinner from cooks who really understand the power of simple food, treated well.
3. Farrow & Ball for cheap people
Farrow & Ball makes incredible paint, and a price to match. My little trick is to use this color matching site, which provides an alternative Benjamin Moore paint. It has always done right by my pocketbook, and my walls.
4. Movies movies movies
There are so many movies on my “must watch” list. I keep a list on Evernote that seems to keep getting longer. A few on my list:
Brian and Charles
The Good Boss
The Inspection
5. Drive to Survive
After countless recommendations from friends we’ve finally given in and started watching Formula 1: Drive to Survive on Netflix. Huge fans - the locations, the intrigue, the drama. Put it on your list (even if you’re not a racing fan, which, I wasn’t!)
New to your Substack and going through the archives. Thank you for the Jim James song recommendation. What an incredible track! That whole album is awesome, including that opening track. In reading about the album, I came across an interview with Jim saying how George Harrison’s “My sweet lord” was a track that resonated with him as a youngster and, while I’ve heard that song a ton, I listed to that whole album and I was upset that I’d never listened to it because it’s an absolutely beautiful album. From one of your song reccs I came away with two new fave albums. What a deal! Thanks!