June’s Flashiest Pixels: Waves, Walkmen, and Walter White
Flashy Pixels Issue 14: A Surfing Memoir, Nostalgic Tunes, and a Gripping Crime Series
During the summer, my media consumption shifts towards escapist, lighthearted entertainment that matches the season's relaxed and easygoing vibe. Summer in the Northeast is about slowing down, savoring the outdoors, and embracing the extended daylight hours. My media choices follow suit.
For my June recommendations, I’ve selected a memoir that checks both the escapist and summer boxes, a radio show that highlights and curates music from decades past, and a pulpy crime procedural with a stellar cast.
Barbarian Days by William Finnegan
William Finnegan's surfing memoir, Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, began as a New Yorker essay in 1992 before evolving into this sweeping memoir. Finnegan writes about surfing with a contemplative depth, breaking down the sport's intricacies and finding endless ways to describe the beauty of a breaking wave. Beyond a mere love letter to surfing, the memoir is a coming-of-age story, a tale of friendship and adventure, and a reflection on how our passions shape our lives. It's no surprise it won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize. While I typically refrain from rereading books, this one has a near-constant presence on my nightstand.
The Walter Martin Radio Hour
If you're overwhelmed by the vast music selection on Spotify, this show is the perfect remedy. It’s an hour-long program hosted by a member of The Walkmen, a terrific New York indie-rock band, who shares his record collection and provides insights on each track. He often pairs two songs that offer contrasting interpretations of the same material. He never uses the internet during the show; instead, he relies on what’s on the album jacket or already in his head. This self-imposed constraint leads to charmingly vague commentary like, "This one is from '60, or maybe '63, somewhere in there." The show initially airs on Sunday nights on WEXT, but he also uploads episodes to Substack every Friday morning for easy streaming. It’s the ideal accompaniment for a leisurely weekend afternoon.
Your Honor
Your Honor is a show that flew under the radar when it premiered in 2020, mainly because it was on Showtime. However, both seasons premiered on Netflix in late May, and it’s the perfect summer crime procedural. Michelle and Patrick King, creators of The Good Wife and its spin-offs, adapted Your Honor from an Israeli TV show. Set in New Orleans, it centers around a judge, played by Bryan Cranston, who brings the same intensity to this role as he did to Breaking Bad. While trying to retrieve his phone from under the car seat, the judge’s son fatally hits a mobster’s son. The judge agrees to help acquit the mobster’s other son of murder in exchange for the family’s mercy. Realism isn’t the show's strong suit, but you'll be too engrossed to mind. Bryan Cranston's magnetic performance and the show's relentless pace make Your Honor a series that will keep you entertained throughout the summer months.