Colin Meloy & Carson Ellis' Wildwood.

I just finished reading Colin Meloy & Carson Ellis' Wildwood. It is a fantastic story about a girl who travels into a forbidden forest with her friend to save her kidnapped baby brother. The heroine likes to ride bikes and draw birds. All images by Carson Ellis and found on Design Sponge (check out their review of the book), unless otherwise noted.

The book is filled with beautiful illustrations by Carson Ellis, from small drawings to full page color spreads. I highly recommend you check it out.

Badger with a Rickshaw.

A scene from Wildwood.

I just found out that there is a sequel, too. Next on the reading list. Image via Harper Collins Childrens.

Song: 

January Hymn - The Decemberists (The whole book reads like a Decemberists song.)

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July from Morris Baxter!

Songs:

Star Spangled Banner - Jake Shimabukuro

July, July! - The Decemberists

Concert Photography.

Since moving to Chicago, I've relished the opportunity to go to an endless number of concerts. There's always something going on in the city. I've been captivated by watching musicians play their instruments for as long as I can remember, and even did a few staged photo projects on them at school; my favorites were with duct tape instruments.

Here are my favorite photos from shows around the city.

RJD2.

Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble.

The New Pornographers.

Rogue Wave.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down.

Kevin Andrew Prchal.

  

Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele.

The Decemberists.

Songs:

Bag of Hammers - Thao & The Get Down Stay Down


Sixteen Military Wives - The Decemberists

I Know New York, I Need New York, I Know I Need Unique New York

A Playlist for New York State: My Top 10.

Lake Ontario, Webster Park Pier.

Lake Ontario, Bay Bridge.

Southern Tier Expressway.

Southern Tier Expressway.

Ellis Island.

Song For Myla Goldberg - The Decemberists

New York, New York - Frank Sinatra

New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down - LCD Soundsystem

Bonus Mashup Video! (via Pitchfork)

Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

Lost In New York - Emma Tricca (last.fm)

The Only Living Boy In New York - Simon & Garfunkel

The Oldest Established (Permanent Floating Crap Game In New York) - Guys & Dolls

New York, New York - On The Town (YouTube)

New York, New York - Ryan Adams

New York State Of Mind - Billy Joel

Hot Fun In the Summertime

I've graduated! Rochester is very green. That means it's time for a summertime mix.

Hypemachine links on the left, YouTube links on the right.

Summertime Clothes - The Animal Collective

Don't Worry Baby - The Beach Boys

Sunshine - Atmosphere

Girls In Their Summer Clothes - Bruce Springsteen

Summertime - Billie Holiday

A Summer Song - Chad and Jeremy

Summersong - The Decemberists

Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince

Smooth - Santana featuring Rob Thomas

Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful

In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry

Hot Fun In the Summertime - Sly and The Family Stone

Enjoy!

Danger of the Water

This week's Illustration Friday topic: Breezy.

I like to think of illustrations as stills from a movie. And now, I present the soundtrack:

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot

Russian Sailors' Dance - Reinhold Gliere (Youtube)

Sloop John B - The Beach Boys

Ocean of Noise - The Arcade Fire

Danger of the Water- The Futureheads

Stormy Weather - Ella Fitzgerald (Youtube)

Raincoat Song - The Decemberists

The Mariner's Revenge Song - The Decemberists