NEW MIDLAKE DROPS TODAY: Denton’s Midlake releases its latest album, The Courage of Others, today. And if for some reason it doesn’t sell, it won’t be for lack of press. Dallasnews.com checks in with the band’s songwriter, Tim Smith, as the band preps for a European tour. The reviews have been spotty, though. The Onion’s A.V. Club calls the album “stunning” in grading it an A. Rolling Stone wasn’t quite as thrilled, giving the effort two and a half stars out of five. Spin was slightly more thrilled, handing out three stars out of five. And in case you missed it last week, the headline to the Dallas Observer‘s current cover story boldly asks, “Is Midlake’s The Courage of Others the Most Important Record Ever to Come Out of Denton? Possibly.” Hard to say, but it’s got to be the most written about.

TACA LAYS OUT THE CASH: TACA will hand out $1 million to area arts groups for the third year in a row. The gifts range from $5,000 to $100,000, with the Dallas Opera and Dallas Symphony each claiming the maximum grant. Click here for the complete list of grants.

DELL BUYS PHOTO ARCHIVE: Michael Dell has purchased 185,00 photographic prints from the Magnum Photos agency at a estimated price tag of $100 million. The photos will be lent for five years to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas. “This is a singularly valuable collection in the history of photography,” Ransom Center director Thomas F. Staley said in a statement. Bloomberg has further details about what you will see if you make it down to Austin.