RS Recommends
OUR TOP POPCULTURE PICKS OF THE MONTH
BOOK
1. ‘The Project’
This new YA novel from New York Times bestseller Courtney Summers is a harrowing look at cults and the people who fall prey to them, as seen through the eyes of a young journalist trying to save her sister.
PODCAST
2. ‘Science Vs’
Host Wendy Zukerman has set the record straight on everything from glowing platypuses to the revolution of safe abortions (and a whole lot of Covid-19 myths). Now she’s back for a 10th season of this Gimlet podcast.
DOCUMENTARY
3. ‘The People Vs. Agent Orange’
Investigative reporter Alan Adelson and filmmaker Kate Taverna trace the history of the deadly herbicide turned weapon by focusing on Vietnamese activist Tran To
Nga and lifelong environmentalist Carol Van Strum in Oregon.
ALBUM
4. ‘Lost Themes III: Alive After Death’
John Carpenter wrote the chilling music for his movies ( Halloween, Assault on Precinct 13) because he couldn’t afford composers. Now, he’s making soundtracks with no movies. His latest album of icy synthesizer vignettes cuts as deep as Michael Myers.
PODCAST
5. ‘Stolen’
In 2018, 23-year-old mother Jermain Charlo left the Badlander bar in Missoula, Montana, and vanished. Gimlet’s new investigative series seeks to solve the mystery of her disappearance — just one of the thousands of indigenous girls and young women who are missing in the U.S.
MOVIE 6. ‘Boogie’
Fresh Off the Boat creator Eddie Huang’s directorial debut is the story of a teen Chinese American basketball prodigy, Alfred “Boogie” Chin (played by newcomer Taylor Takahashi), and the challenges he faces — including from his rival, played by the late rapper Pop Smoke.
VIDEO
7. “Fellowship,” by Serpentwithfeet
The video for the L.A. musician’s new single feels like a lush landscape painting brought to life, made real with the two stars’ palpable love and liberation.
ALBUM
8. ‘Bob Dylan–1970’
Bob Dylan’s May 1st, 1970, studio jam with George Harrison, where they play impromptu renditions of everything from “It Ain’t Me Babe” to “Yesterday,” has been treasured by bootleg collectors for decades, but it’s finally available as an official set.
BOOK
9. ‘The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop’
Author Clover Hope’s encyclopedic entries put rap’s female innovators at center stage — from old-school greats like Lil Kim to less-remembered mic rockers like Bytches With Problems.
SOUND SYSTEM 10. Oda
These elegant speakers (back for a limited run) are more than just artisanal hi-fi — they’re paired with a subscription to curated “seasons” of audio performances, streamed into your living room.