Uncle Drew

I'm not sure how authentically the people at this basketball court were fooled, but it's a great idea nonetheless.  It reminds me of the old LeBron commercials, back when LeBron was likable.

- Joel

Song of the Day

Bryan John Appleby - "The Words of the Revelator"
Source: T-Sides

Why Smart People Are Stupid

A friend shared a recent New Yorker article discussing the propensity of intelligent people to make mental mistakes.  It seems that smart people (aka people who perform well on standardized tests) are more vulnerable to thinking errors, because they are more likely to take mental shortcuts and less likely to rely on deliberate evaluation.  Alternately phrased, pride comes before the fall.  Research shows that intelligent people are more likely to recognize the cognitive mistakes made by others but less likely to recognize their own mental mistakes.  As a result, they slightly are more prone to common mental mistakes.  Though the article doesn't offer a solution, I wonder if cultivating an attitude of humility is the answer.  You can read the article at the link below.

- Joel

Jonah Lehrer - "Why Smart People Are Stupid"

Patrick Watson

I'd never really heard of Patrick Watson until I watched the Killian Martin skate video I posted a last week. The title track of his recently released Adventures In Your Own Backyard was featured in the video.  I dove into his album and love it. Check out another other track from the album and take a second look at the skate video below. - Joel

Patrick Watson - "Lighthouse"
Source: A Has Been That Never Was

© Joel Thomason

A few tracks I've been listening to lately.

- Joel

Tomas Barfod feat. Nina Kinert - "November Skies"
Source: Friday Mixtape
AlunaGeorge - "You Know You Like It (Bondax Remix)"
Source: Handsome Clothing

The Lumineers - "Ho Hey"

I heard this song by The Lumineers on a Bing.com commercial today.  It's a fun Americana love song.  Take a listen.

- Joel

The Lumineers - "Ho Hey"

Rudimental

Check out this track from Rudimental. Apparently it's blowing up in the UK. Also, the song's two music videos are both superb - one features urban horseback riding (a real phenomenon according to This American Life) and the other some sick dance moves.

- Joel
 

Song of the Day

This is what Michael Bublé would sound like if he was in an indie rock band.

- Joel

The Soft Pack - "Mexico"
Source: RolloGrady

Ellie Goulding Covers The Weeknd

Check out this cover of The Weeknd's "High For This" by Ellie Goulding.  I only have one other song from Ellie Goulding in my iTunes library - a cover of Bon Iver's "The Wolves."  Apparently she is good at covers.

- Joel

Ellie Goulding - "High For This (The Weeknd cover)"
Source: saintwoods

Killian Martin

I love a good skate film.  I watch this and think I made the wrong career move.

- Joel

Erik Marinovich

© Erik Marinovich

Erik Marinovich was named 2011 Person of the Year by another typography website I love: LetterCult.  Now that I am back in school again, I can appreciate more deeply the truth in the illustration above.  Check out more of Erik's work here.

- Joel

I Break Horses

Swedish duo I Break Horses released their debut album last August.  It didn't register on my radar when it was released, but I'm enjoying their album now.  They are currently touring the U.S. with M83, which is an inevitable boon to their exposure.  Check out a few tracks from the album below.

- Joel

I Break Horses - "Pulse"

Source: Rollo & Grady

I Break Horses - "Winter Beats"

I Break Horses - "Load Your Eyes"

Source: Chromewaves

The Heads of State

© The Heads of State 

I love the work of The Heads of State, a graphic design and illustration shop out of Philadelphia.  Check out more here.

- Joel

© The Heads of State

Moonrise Kingdom

I'll be excited to see this movie when it makes its way to release in the Midwest next month.

- Joel

The Walkmen

On Tuesday, The Walkmen release their latest album Heaven.  I've been a fan of The Walkmen since I saw them play "Little House of Savages" on The O.C.  And no I'm not ashamed to admit I watched The O.C. religiously in college.  Check out a track from the new album below.  It sounds like The Walkmen are taking a more laid back approach this time around.

- Joel

Nick Waterhouse

I had a conversation on Friday about the Take Away Shows from La Blogotheque.  It's been awhile since I've seen what they recorded.  Lo and behold, they had a performance by Nick Waterhouse filmed in Austin.  Nick is a modern artist with a 50's sound.  The sax steals the show in this performance.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Abby Thomason

My sister has been in Spain for the past week and has taken some wonderful photographs.  Judging by the photos, she has done little more than listen to guitar players on the street.

- Joel

© Abby Thomason

Beach House released their latest album, Bloom, last week.  It's not quite as good as its predecessor, Teen Dream, in my opinion but is still enjoyable.  The album-opener "Myth", which I posted awhile back, is still my favorite track.  The highlight for me is the guitar solo which kicks in around 3:27.  Take a listen.

- Joel

Beach House - "Myth"
Source: Violent Success

Andrew Cherry

© Andrew Cherry

I've made a new friend here in Austin recently.  Andrew Cherry is a ridiculously talented artist, illustrator, and designer, but it's not even what he wants to do full time.  If only I could be that could at my hobbies.

- Joel

 

© Andrew Cherry

The Tallest Man on Earth - "1904"

A lot of my favorite bands are dropping new albums in May and June.  One such band is The Tallest Man on Earth, whose album There's No Leaving Now releases June 12.  Check out a track from the album below.

- Joel

The Tallest Man on Earth - "1904"

source: Consequence of Sound