Kilian Martin

Part of me secretly wishes I was a skateboarder. Videos like this explain why.

- Joel

Song of the Day

This is a modern take on an old hit by the 1960's soul group The Spinners. Take a listen to Raphael Saadiq's version of "It's a Shame" recorded as part of Levi's Pioneer Sessions. It will get you toe to tapping and put a smile on your face.

- Joel

Raphael Saadiq - "It's A Shame"

Best Coast

I'm still digging Best Coast and their 1960's sound. Their debut album, Crazy For You, drops next month. Check out the first track from the album below and watch a little Converse clip about the band.

- Joel

Best Coast - "Boyfriend"

Kris Kristofferson

I stumbled onto an NPR show over the weekend which happened to be featuring a recently released album of demos written by Kris Kristofferson. The demos, which were actually written in the 1960's and 1970's, became recordings by a variety of other artists including Janis Joplin, Willy Nelson, and Johnny Cash. However, this album, titled Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-1972 (a long title I know), showcases the songs in their original form before other artists got hold of them. Kristofferson demonstrates the power of a good song in the hands of a man and his guitar. I wasn't able to find any mp3s from the album, but I did find a YouTube video of the title track.

- Joel

Song of the Day

I think the mandolin was made for summertime music. You've got to love, or at lease appreciate, vintage 1970's bluegrass that features intense mandolin picking. Check out the song by Roland White below. I'd listen to it for no other reason than the title. This is the Nickel Creek sound 20 years before there was a Nickel Creek.

- Joel

Roland White - "Kansas City Blues"

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Having just watched the death of U.S. World Cup hopes, I decided to cheer myself up yesterday afternoon with a Netflix movie - The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. The film, not nearly as morbid as the title suggests, stars Tommy Lee Jones and marks his debut as a director. Opening on the desert of southwest Texas, local authorities discover the body of an illegal immigrant and local cowhand, Meliquiades Estrada. The ranch foreman, and Estrada's best friend, Pete Perkins (played by Jones), kidnaps the Border Patrol agent guilty of accidentally killing Estrada who is being protected from the law by a gentleman's agreement between the local authorities and the Border Patrol. Perkins and his captive embark on a journey through the desert to bury Estrada in his native land of Mexico. This story is one of friendship, loyalty, justice, and redemption.

After his performance in this film, it's no wonder that Tommy Lee Jones was chosen to star in No Country for Old Men, which shares many similarities with The Three Burials, including the border setting. I was pleasantly surprised to see January Jones, of Mad Men fame, playing the wife of the guilty Border Patrol Agent in the film. You'll have a hard time finding this movie at a RedBox or your local video store, but it's worth you're time if you are a Netflix subscriber.

- Joel

Letterhead

The website Letterheady.com highlights interesting letterhead from around the world. The site makes me want to design my own personal letterhead. I'd probably go with something simple, like those used by Rube Goldberg or Babe Ruth. You can look at some of my favorites below. Click on the images to get a closer look.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

The Good Doctor © Orson Oblowitz

Orson Oblowitz. These remind me of the trip my family took around the Southwest last summer, though we never had an RV.

- Joel

They All End Up In the Same Place © Orson Oblowitz

Tennis

When a band names themself Tennis, it's pretty tricky to find them on Google. Try searching "Tennis", "Tennis music", or "Tennis band" and you'll see what I mean. Or even trying searching "Tennis marathon" and you'll find quite a few articles about yesterday's epic tennis match (which after 10 hours hasn't even finished) at Wimbledon. But the Tennis I was looking for is a husband/wife duo from Denver. Their sound, like many new indie acts, has a vintage 1960's feel. I like it. Listen to a few songs below.

- Joel

Tennis - "Marathon"
Tennis - "Baltimore"

The Chop Shop

When I see design like this I get really jealous. PTARMARK, Inc. in Austin, Texas employs some talented folks. What makes it even better is that The Chop Shop is a Kansas City meat market.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Jason Koxvold

Jason Koxvold. This guy does a lot of different creative work.

- Joel

James McMorrow

This guy sounds very very similar to Bon Iver - which can either be a good or bad thing depending on how you feel about originality, or how you feel about Bon Iver for that matter. His name is James McMorrow and he hails from Ireland. You can listen to the entire album below.

- Joel

FYI - the music player below seems to be working only intermittently so I'm posting a few downloadable tracks.

James McMorrow - "Follow You Down to the Red Oak Tree"
James McMorrow - "If I Had A Boat"

Latest tracks by jvmcmorrow

Quote of the Day

"Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.”

- Judy Garland

Magic Kids - "Summer"

Kind of a fun song for summer.

- Joel

Magic Kids - "Summer"

Maps

I've been thinking a lot about maps as art lately. An old school map of my home state (framed of course) would make a great addition to my wall.

- Joel

The Cool Kids

Self proclaimed Cool Kids released their third EP in as many years a few weeks ago. I have yet to listen to this new set of old school hip hop, but, if you'd like to take a listen, the Kids are offering the music free of charge. Go to their website here, or use the link below to download the EP.

- Joel

The Cool Kids - Tacklebox

MNDR - "I Go Away"

This is a song to groove to with headphones on and the volume up. MNDR is Brooklyn-based hipster Amanda Warner. Check out the slow jam below.

- Joel

MNDR - "I Go Away"

Hiking

© Joel Thomason

It's been a busy past few days on vacation. Yesterday, I attempted to climb Grays Peak and Torreys Peak (two 14,000 foot peaks) with my friend Blake. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. After losing the trail (because of the snow not our own incompetence) and battling snow drifts of 3-4 feet up much of the climb, I came down with altitude sickness at 13,200 feet and we had to turn around. I set out again this morning on a solo hike up Buffalo Mountain, near Silverthorne, Colorado where we are staying. The hike required a bit of careful climbing as the "trail" crossed an enormous boulder field. After scrambling from bottom to top of the field over slippery rocks, I once again ran into impassable snow drifts. The trail disappeared, the wind and snow picked up, and I decided to turn around. No use in trying to find a trail covered in 4 feet of snow. I did, however, manage to take a few photos with my iPhone to document the treacherous terrain. Enjoy.

- Joel

Buffalo Mountain © Joel Thomason

Buffalo Mountain © Joel Thomason

Buffalo Mountain © Joel Thomason

Photographer of the Day

© Edward Weston, 1938

Vacation started yesterday. I'll be spending the week in the Rocky Mountains. While visiting the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver with my friends Blake and Amy, I stumbled across a book of photography of the American West. Some of my favorites were by Edward Weston, fitting considering I'm spending the week in the American West.

- Joel

© Edward Weston, 1937

© Edward Weston, 1936

Oberhofer

Check out 19 year old NYU student Brad Oberhofer's classic indie rock. It's pretty catchy, which would make sense considering he looks like a Jonas brother. Listen to the song "AWAY FRM U" below. Only someone who grew up in the texting generation would title a song "AWAY FRM U". You can also download his EP o0O0o0O0o for free at the link below. I've been listening to the EP all day at work and I'm loving it. Oberhofer's voice reminds me of Animal Collective vocals, except with guitars and drums in the background. Very cool.

- Joel

Oberhofer - "AWAY FRM U"

Oberhofer - o0O0o0O0o