Caroline Polachek Explains Her ‘Straight-Up Grunge’ Moment

The latest in pop-culture news, recaps, and reviews, plus close reads, profiles, interviews, and more from Vulture.com. [Brand Logo]( starburned and unkissed [Caroline Polachek Explains Her ‘Straight-Up Grunge’ Moment]( “Starburned and Unkissed,” Polachek’s song for the I Saw the TV Glow soundtrack, was inspired by Kurt Cobain and “temporary celibacy.” Photo: Matthew Baker/Getty Images [Caroline Polachek]( is sitting in the sun in front of an “endless hedge” in her Los Angeles backyard, chatting cheerfully about abject loneliness. We’re talking about her new single, “Starburned and Unkissed,” a soaring, bruised track on the carefully curated soundtrack for [I Saw the TV Glow,]( in theaters this weekend. The A24 film is [writer-director Jane Schoenbrun](’s second, and much like their debut, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, it’s an eerie exploration of modern alienation, transgender identity, and the way we can lose ourselves in the seductive glimmer of our screens. It’s also something of a love letter to the ’90s, following a pair of teenage suburban outcasts (Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine) who become unhealthily obsessed with a late-night, SNICK-style TV show called “The Pink Opaque.” [read more]( Devour pop culture with us. [Subscribe now]( to save over 40% on unlimited access to Vulture and everything New York. The Latest TV Recaps • Summer House: [A Cold Shower]( • Elsbeth: [He’ll Be Watching You]( • Sugar: [Everything Is for the Mission]( • Grey’s Anatomy: [Mental-Health Goodie Bags]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Stories We Think You’ll Like [Nonhuman Weekend Update Characters, Ranked Bowen Yang perfected the art form, but a few cast members have brought fantastically costumed characters to the Update desk.]( By Michael Boyle [The Fall Guy Wasn’t Always a Love Story Making one of the year’s most romantic movies was a death-defying stunt in itself.]( [The On-and-Off Sparks of The Keep Going Songs Abigail and Shaun Bengson’s music-theater piece soars when it’s not trapped in twee.]( By Sara Holdren [Jane Schoenbrun Saw the TV Glow The We’re All Going to the World’s Fair director is back at Sundance with a haunting new film about the thin line between fiction and reality.]( By Esther Zuckerman [In Search of a More Welcoming Reality Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow is an enveloping, confounding film about isolation, gender transition, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.]( By Alison Willmore [Ryan Gosling Regrets His Gay Little Wrist Or, in his words, his “La La Hand.”]( By Jason P. Frank [The 9 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend Can you survive a 20-hour Star Wars marathon?]( By Savannah Salazar [Kendrick’s Drake-Villain Origin Story Begins With DMX “I don’t like the way he walks, like, nothin’.”]( By Tirhakah Love [Kendrick Goes Back-to-Back Like He Promised Kicking Drake while he’s down in “6:16 in LA,” his second diss track in three days.]( By Zoe Guy [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Vulture Games [Today’s Crossword]( 10-Across, Five Letters: Like Paul Mescal or (honorarily) Ayo Edebiri Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty, Everett [Today’s Cinematrix]( Can you name a Ryan Gosling movie with a character name in the title? Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Phillip Faraone/WireImage, John Phillips/Getty Images A newsletter about the perpetual Hollywood awards race, for subscribers only. [Sign up]( to get it every week. [Get the Newsletter]( [logo]( [facebook logo]( [instagram logo]( [twitter logo]( [unsubscribe]( | [privacy notice]( | [update preferences]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Was this email forwarded to you? [Sign up now]( to get this newsletter in your inbox. [View this email in your browser.]( You received this email because you have a subscription to New York. Reach the right online audience with us For advertising information on email newsletters, please contact AdOps@nymag.com Vox Media, LLC 1701 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 Copyright © 2024, All rights reserved