Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Beach House

Traveling this week gave me an opportunity to catch up on some new tunes (only the hippest tunes for me of course...I mean what is cooler than a dude who reads books about the subprime mortgage crisis and incessantly watches Western films). One that I have particularly enjoyed is a new track from Beach House which surfaced in their recent live session for iTunes. Check it out below.

- Joel

Beach House - "White Moon"

Photographer of the Day

© Edward S. Curtis
Edward S. Curtis. Yesterday and today I was in Boston on a work trip. The hotel where I stayed (the Millennium Bostonian Hotel for those who are interested) had a newly designed lobby with an array of photography books scattered on shelves. Of course I couldn't help but browse through a few of them; the book on Edward S. Curtis especially caught my eye. Curtis spent much of his career traversing the American West photographing Native American Indians. I found his photography to be a rare and powerful window into our nation's past.

By the way, if you ever have a chance to travel to Boston, don't let it slip by. What an incredible city.

- Joel

© Edward S. Curtis

© Edward S. Curtis

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Your Brain On Computers

Over the past year and a half, I have noticed the steady retardation of my attention span. It has become progressively obvious that I have a difficult time passing the day without a constant barrage of digital stimulation. Today, as I was driving to my parents house, I heard a fascinating interview with Matt Richtel, technology reporter for the New York Times, on NPR's Fresh Air. Richtel recently won a Pulitzer Prize for his series "Driven to Distraction", a discussion of the perils of media consumption while driving. In fact, Richtel's writing provided the impetus for many cities and states to enact texting-while-driving legislation. However, today Richtel discussed his current journalistic series, "Your Brain on Computers". In the interview, Richtel explored the scientific research examining technology's effect on the brain. It seems that I am not the only one losing my attention span. Though technology has profoundly improved our daily lives, it has also deteriorated our mental capacity. We in the digital age have a more difficult time focusing, a shorter attention span, an impaired memory, and an increasingly unhealthy addiction to technology's buzz.

This interview and Richtel's articles, which you can read at the links below, left me with tough questions to ask myself about my own digital consumption. In fact, I may be taking a 30 day fast from Twitter as a result. The articles are not lengthy and are well worth your time. I have inserted a quote from each article below the link to give you a quick and dirty summary of what each article details. Furthermore, I realize the irony of posting articles about the dangers of digital media consumption here on a blog. I guess I'll just have to take the risk.

- Joel

"Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying A Mental Price" (June 7, 2010)
"Throughout evolutionary history, a big surprise would get everyone's brain thinking," said Clifford Nass, a communications professor at Stanford. "But we've got a large and growing group of people who think the slightest hint that something interesting might be going on is like catnip. They can't ignore it."

"Studying the Brain Off the Grid, Professors Find Clarity" (August 16, 2010)
It is a debate that has become increasingly common as technology has redefined the notion of what is “urgent.” How soon do people need to get information and respond to it? The believers in the group say the drumbeat of incoming data has created a false sense of urgency that can affect people’s ability to focus.

"Digital Devices Deprive Brain of Much Needed Down Time" (August 24, 2010)
The technology makes the tiniest windows of time entertaining, and potentially productive. But scientists point to an unanticipated side effect: when people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting downtime that could allow them to better learn and remember information, or come up with new ideas.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Song of the Day

Navajo Bixby hail from New Jersey - cue derogatory comments from Fred Armisen dressed as New York Governor David Patterson.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Scott Pommier
Scott Pommier - straight out of California counter culture.

- Joel

© Scott Pommier

© Scott Pommier

© Scott Pommier

Friday, August 27, 2010

Even More Sufan

For five years we didn't get much news out of Sufjan Stevens. I guess that's not entirely true; we did get an album full of B-sides, some repackaged Christmas tunes, and a symphony. Maybe the curse of being so incredibly talented is that we view such a diverse set of material as uneventful. However, he has more than made up for his absence, whether real or perceived, over the past seven days. Last Friday he dropped a new EP. Then yesterday he announced a new album. Now today we get a sneak peak of what that album will sound like. I'll admit that Asthmatic Kitty's description of Sufjan's new sound had me thinking, "I'm not going to like it." But now that I hear it, I think it may become my favorite album of the year. We'll see. Listen to and/or download the new track below.

- Joel

The Walkmen on Etsy

The Walkmen are doing some cool things surrounding the release of their album Lisbon, which drops on September 14. They're teaming with artists on Etsy to release posters (seen above), t-shirts, and album inserts. Not a bad way for the band to promote/support developing artists. Check out their etsy store here if you're interested. And by the way, Lisbon is going to be a great album. You should listen to it.

- Joel

Matt Lehman

Check out this great design work by Matt Lehman. Lehman does illustrations, logos, branding and so much more. He's even done quite a bit of design work for fellow Liberty High School graduate Matt Wertz.

- Joel


Photographer of the Day

© Stefano Unterthiner
Stefano Unterthiner. Animals face to face. I love this.

- Joel


© Stefano Unterthiner

© Stefano Unterthiner

© Stefano Unterthiner

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Sketchbook Project

This is something that Cassie should do (or you if you're creative). Enter into The Sketchbook Project (for $25) and they'll send you a sketchbook to design/illustrate/collage/create as you see fit. All completed sketchbooks will become a part of the Brooklyn Art Library's permanent collection, but first they will tour the country and be put on display. This is something I wish I was talented enough to try. Check out some examples above and below.

- Joel


Dead Man's Bones

If you didn't already love Ryan Gosling, you will after watching his band perform at an old folks home. If you watch all the way to the end (even past the weird interlude in the middle) you'll get to see the children's choir and the old folks break into a dance party. It's kind of ironic that Dead Man's Bones is performing for nearly-dead men's bones. Get it?

- Joel

What I wouldn't give to spend a month roadtripping across America. It might look something like this.

- Joel

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Song of the Day

Here is some grimy new hip hop from Kid Cudi. This track will be on his album which drops in the fall.

- Joel

Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West - "Wylin' Cause I'm Young"

Soft Cat

Some new folk for those of you that enjoy music that sounds like it was crafted behind the railroad tracks. In the case of Soft Cat, their album Wildspace was actually named after the area behind the tracks in their part of Baltimore. If you like what you hear below, download the tracks for free at their Bandcamp site.

- Joel

<a href="http://friendsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/wildspace">It Won't Be Long by Friends Records</a>

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The Wild One

With no cable in my new place (that changes Friday), Netflix has been my best friend lately. For me, the greatest thing about Netflix is the chance to watch old movies that are hard to find. I'm not sure how hard The Wild One is to find, however, released in 1953, it is certainly old. A timeless tale of the biker rebel turned straight by the beautiful girl, this is my favorite Marlon Brando film. When you consider that it was filmed in a time of incredible prosperity for our country and one in which traditional values were paramount, this film seems to tap into an undercurrent of rebellion that wouldn't surface for another ten years. Yet you don't have to appreciate the historical significance to enjoy this classic.

My favorite quote from the film comes when one of the local girls asks Johnny (Marlon Brando) what he's rebelling against. "Whaddya got?!" Johnny snarls. Culture yourself a bit and snag this from Netflix.

- Joel

Song of the Day

Theo Martins rapping over a Wakey!Wakey! track. Check out the Theo Martin version and the original version below.

- Joel

Theo Martins - "Twenty-Two"
Wakey!Wakey! - "Twenty-Two"

Friday, August 20, 2010

Words

Check out this clever video released in conjunction with a Radiolab/NPR radio production.

- Joel

SUFJAN!

The man the myth the legend dropped an EP today. Listen below or follow the links to purchase it for yourself.

- Joel

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Glasser

Check out the song "Home" from Cameron Mesirow, aka Glasser. I hear a hint of Feist in her vocals; lovely pipes if I do say so myself. Glasser's debut album, Ring, drops in September. I think you'll really enjoy this track. Ms. Mesirow also hit the cover of Fader Magazine, as you can see above.

- Joel

Glasser - "Home"

Photographer of the Day

© Esteban Pastorino Diaz
Esteban Pastorino Diaz. Tilt shift is just one of many types of photography Diaz employs. He actually mounts his camera to a kite in to get these unique aerial takes. My friends Jeff and Nicole have a few of his pieces on the walls of their kitchen. Very cool.

- Joel

© Esteban Pastorino Diaz

© Esteban Pastorino Diaz

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Song of the Day

The well has run dry in terms of good new music lately. I haven't heard anything brand new that I've enjoyed. However, I have been jamming to Sleigh Bells a lot lately. I posted about them a few months ago, but now feel even more confident about recommending them. Check out the song "Run the Heart" below. When the weather cools, theirs will be an album to crank up with the windows down.

- Joel

Sleigh Bells - "Run the Heart"

National Park Posters


In the midst of the Great Depression, the National Park Service commissioned artists to create posters encouraging Americans to get out and see our national parks. Growing up, it seems like our family took most summer vacations to Colorado. We became intimately acquainted with the wonders of Rocky Mountain National Park. I can still remember getting out of the car along Trail Ridge Road, in the middle of July mind you, and being fascinated with the amount of snow on the ground. These posters conjure up a certain nostalgia and remind me of the mystique of our country's national parks. Too bad they don't make posters like this anymore.

- Joel


Saturday, August 14, 2010

Edward Sharpe Take Away Show

A bunch of crazy hippies playing to a bunch of crazy French kids. See more shows like this at La Blogotheque.

- Joel

Tallest Man On Earth

I've posted about The Tallest Man on Earth before. If you are partial to Bob Dylan's growl or Weezy's croak then you'll enjoy this guy as well. Watch a performance of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "My Journey To The Sky" below.

- Joel

Thursday, August 12, 2010

On My Reading List

I've heard good things about this book from a number of different places. I'm in the midst of a Cormac McCarthy novel, Blood Meridian, but The Big Short by Michael Lewis will probably be my next read. As boring as the subprime mortgage crisis sounds, I hear this book is fascinating.

- Joel

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Photographer of the Day

© Vincent Laforet
Vincent Laforet. Laforet uses tilt-shift photography to make the subjects of his photographs look like toy miniatures. He also offers an intriguing take on aerial photography. Browse through his website and you won't be disappointed.

- Joel

© Vincent Laforet

© Vincent Laforet

A Working Library


If you are like me, you are always looking for new books to read. It can often be hard to filter through the millions of books to find those that are worth my time. I think I'll be using the site A Working Library quite often in the future. Mandy Brown offers insightful summaries and connects books to other books to aid in the filtering process. Check it out.

- Joel

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Song of the Day

Besides the crisp, intelligent writing on Mad Men, one of my favorite parts of the show is the music. For us they are golden oldies, but for the characters on the show they are the current hits. For some reason that fact constantly intrigues me. Below is one of the hits played on this week's episode, a hit from 1957 by Patti Page. It plays on the jukebox while Don is dancing in the restaurant in California.

- Joel

Monday, August 9, 2010

Photographer of the Day

Longmont, Colorado, 1979 © Robert Adams
Robert Adams. A Colorado photographer often remembered for his night photography.

- Joel

Burning Oil Sludge North of Denver, Colorado, 1973 © Robert Adams

Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1968–1970 © Robert Adams

Song of the Day

I've been in a bit of a music funk lately. I haven't found anything new/exciting that's actually cool. It seems the "cool" music popping up over the last few weeks has all been too strange to deserve a post. The funk continues today. But I have been enjoying this track by Paramore. I guess I have something in common with the legion of middle schoolers who love Paramore. Listen/download the track below or watch the music video.

- Joel

Paramore - "The Only Exception"


Saturday, August 7, 2010

Letterhead


I had a conversation with Cassie yesterday about bringing back the handwritten letter. (She actually wrote me one which came in the mail yesterday as well). Letters carry much more meaning than the unlimited number of other ways we have to communicate these days. You don't just write a letter on the fly. A letter implies thought and purpose and time. With that in mind, I decided to create my own custom letterhead. Unfortunately I don't have the skills to convert the vision in my head to a form transferrable to paper. Thus I commissioned my brother Cory to make it happen, and he did a splendid job. The "logo" above is the end result.

- Joel

Friday, August 6, 2010

Songs of the Day

© Stanley Marcus
These could legitimately be modern day indie tunes. Add some fuzzy guitars (and remove the dialogue from the Shangri-Las track) and you've got another version of Best Coast. Also, listen to the opening drum beat in The Ronettes tune. I read an interesting bit arguing that it's the most iconic drum beat, because of its instant recognizability and frequent use by other artists, in all of pop music.

- Joel

The Ronettes - "Be My Baby"
The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack"

So You Need A Type Face?


Click on the image to enlarge if you want to get the true effect. This project was created by Julian Hansen.

- Joel

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Quote of the Day

"I'm not sure there's a great leader in my life who didn't spend a season of their life making someone else look great."
- John Bryson, Memphis, Tennessee

I read this quote today. Actually, someone retweeted it, so the original author of the quote is no one famous. That fact doesn't make the words any less profound to me. They may not strike you the way they struck me, a young guy with leadership aspirations who is learning the ropes by watching and serving under others.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Noah Wilson
Noah Wilson. Obviously I'm a sucker for landscape photography. The photograph above was taken at Monument Valley in Utah where many a Western has been filmed.

- Joel

© Noah Wilson

Cold War

My girl Janelle.

- Joel

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Spoon

When I first bought Spoon's album this year, I wasn't in the right mood to enjoy it. However, it really is a great album. The band played on Jimmy Fallon last night. Britt Daniel decided to rock the white jeans.

- Joel

© Alex Maclean
Another by Alex Maclean.

- Joel

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

I've been listening to a lot of oldies this week, not just for the nostalgia but because of the purity of the music. There's something refreshing about hearing music and instruments and voices that aren't 99% computer processed.

- Joel


Photographer of the Day

Jockey and Horse Rounding Corner at Suffolk Downs © Alex Maclean
Alex Maclean is an aerial photographer. Check out his website. There are too many good photographs to choose from. Quite a few of his photographs were taken high above Kansas City.

- Joel

© Alex Maclean