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Talkhouse

On his ANTI- Records debut Beginners, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Christian Lee Hutson embeds every lyric with his most intimate self-dialogue, sharing painful confessions and private jokes, imagined conversations and elaborate daydreams. The album — produced by his friend and collaborator Phoebe Bridgers — spotlights a nuanced songcraft and understated candor that all but erases the distance between feeling and expression. Throughout this collection of songs, Hutson ultimately speaks an illuminating truth about regret and forgiveness and the endless confusion in growing up.
Hutson and Bridgers recorded Beginners at L.A.’s legendary Sound City Studios, but purposely preserved the homespun quality of his cell-phone-recorded demos. It mines its subtle textures from Hutson’s warm vocals and graceful guitar work, and also unfolds flashes of sonic brilliance achieved with the help of its guest musicians—including Bridgers herself, as well as Nathaniel Walcott of Bright Eyes (who created all the string arrangements for the album, in addition to playing trumpet).
Hutson also co-wrote a song on the 2018 debut EP from boygenius and two on the 2019 debut LP from Better Oblivion Community Center (with whom Hutson also toured as both a guitarist and support act). Last year, he toured supporting artists including Julia Jacklin and Okkervil River as well. 
(Photo Credit: Gus Black)

Christian Lee Hutson

Music

Codependence Day

Course is an indie pop band from Chicago. Their debut album A Late Hour is out now.
(Photo Credit: Chloe Hamilton)

Course

Introducing: Course’s “Darkest Tower”

When Bambi and Cole Browning started writing the songs that would be become Reptaliens’ 2017 debut LP, FM-2030, they had no intention of starting a band. Focusing at first on creating music and art on a purely personal level, the project soon took off when the duo brought on Julian Kowalski (guitar) and Tyler Verigin (drums) to form a live band. The four-piece swiftly delved into songwriting inspired by sci-fi art and literature, cult mentalities, and deep connections. The result was the band’s self-defined genre of “dreamwave,” which connected musical influences ranging from Gary Wilson-inspired jazzy lounge music, the warmth of Broadcast’s recording production, to Todd Rundgren’s outer space synth sounds.
After touring throughout most of 2017 and 2018 with STRFKR, Cults, and Of Montreal, the band returned home and went straight into renowned Portland studio Jackpot to record their sophomore LP, VALIS. Titled after the 1981 Philip K. Dick novel, VALIS was released via Captured Tracks in April 2019.
(Photo Credit: Eirrin Gragson)

Reptaliens

First Entry

Daniel Stessen writes, directs and executive produces the hybrid live-action/rotoscope animated Adult Swim series Dream Corp LLC alongside John Krasinski and Stephen Merchant. Currently in its second season, the show has already been picked up for a third. Stessen also directed the Emmy-nominated &ldquo;Goodbye Videos&rdquo; for The Office series finale that featured everyone from Will Ferrell to Rob Riggle. Additionally, his animated short The Gold Sparrow premiered at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival and won Best Animated Short at the Berlin Independent Film Festival.

Daniel Stessen

Film

Doctor China

short story