Photographer of the Day

Watertown, South Dakota © Alec Soth

Alec Soth makes simple photographs. These photographs are beautiful.

- Joel

Columbia, Missouri © Alec Soth

Akeley Regional Community Center © Alec Soth

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

I've had the opportunity to learn a great deal about the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts over the past week. The Kauffman Center, set to open in September 2011, will be a world-class addition to the downtown landscape and an influential member of the Kansas City arts community. Read more here.

- Joel

Where the Wild Things Are Soundtrack

Where the Wild Things Are Soundtrack

More New Sufjan

Two new songs captured live on Sufjan's current tour.

- Joel

Owl City

I've enjoyed music by Owl City over the past few days. Thanks to my cousin Anthony for introducing me to these tunes. Owl City kind of has a Postal Service vibe. Check out the music video for his single "Fireflies" below. If you're in Kansas City, Owl City plays a free show with Passion Pit on Thursday night at the Beaumont Club.

- Joel

Owl City from Endeavor Media Group on Vimeo.

Sufjan

Check out a new tune from Sufjan Stevens, performed live at in Ithaca, New York this past Wednesday. It's impressive.

- Joel

Get Back

The Beatles are the greatest band in history. If only I could have been on the streets of London when they played their last show. Check out George's wearing Chuck Taylors in the video.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Thomas Sanders

Thomas Sanders. Sanders created an incredible series of photographs featuring World War II veterans entitled "Faces of World War II". Check out his website and blog. Read another blogger's interview (which features additional photographs) with Sanders here. The man in the picture above, Bob Watson, served in the Navy and landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. The man in the picture below, Bob Smallwood, served in the Navy as well. He invaded Hitler's home a few days before the war ended and took the key he is holding from Hitler's bedroom.

- Joel

© Thomas Sanders

Yim Yames - Tribute To

Jim James, lead singer of My Morning Jacket, released an acoustic EP in tribute to George Harrison under the moniker Yim Yames. The 6 song set (alliteration?) contains songs from Harrison's days as a Beatles as well as from his solo career. I found it to be really special. Download a track below.

- Joel

Yim Yames - My Sweet Lord

Photographer of the Day

Toward Los Angeles, California © Dorothea Lange, 1937

Dorothea Lange. This is another photo from the Library of Congress. It's worth clicking on the picture to enlarge it, especially with the ironic sign next to the hitchhikers.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

Russell Lee. This photo comes from the Library of Congress. It features a filling station and garage in Pie Town, NM in 1940. I've been doing research about oil companies today and came across this picture and loved it. I love vintage photography. Check out a host of great photography at the Library of Congress Flickr page.

- Joel

New Sufjan Track

It's not much, but it's something - a new track from Sufjan Stevens. Next month, Stevens drops The BQE, a cinematic suite inspired by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the Hula-Hoop. Asthmatic Kitty has released a track titled "Movement VI—Isorhythmic Night Dance With Interchanges". Right click here to download and enjoy the new (kind of, it was actually performed two years ago) Sufjan.

Also, Sufjan is a native of Michigan as is my girlfriend Bre. Sufjan is great. Bre is the best. Quick shout out to her and the great state of Michigan.

- Joel

iPhone Photos

How can I make my iPhone do this? All of the pictures below were taken by Matt Nager. He is a baller, both with the iPhone camera and with a real camera.

- Joel

Ben Rector - "Freefallin"

My three favorite singing voices are (in no particular order) Karen Carpenter, Leslie Feist, and Ben Rector. This video will show you why Ben Rector is in my top 3.

- Joel

Ben Rector - Free from TK McKamy on Vimeo.

jj - "Welcome Back"

Here's a cool take on the Welcome Back Kotter Theme performed by jj. The video is all slo-mo shots of Maria Sharapova. Interesting. In other tennis news, Melanie Oudin, the 17 year old American, ousted Maria Sharapova from the U.S. Open this weekend. Go Melanie. Go America. Enjoy the video. You probably won't enjoy the video. It's weird. So enjoy the song.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

This comes from a new class of aspiring photography students at the Arts Magnet High School, Booker T. Washington, in Dallas. It's from a pinhole camera. I'm going to hype their work a lot this school year.

Check out more from these phenoms at their blog. Shout out to the trillest photography teacher Cassie Edmondson.

- Joel

New Music: Jay-Z

You can listen to Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 streaming on MTV. Check it out here. The Blueprint 3 drops on September 11.

- Joel

New Music: The xx

Check out The xx - a group of twenty year olds from England. They offer minimal, indie pop that grows more appealing with every listen. Download a track below.

- Joel

The xx - "Basic Space"