Top 3 - Artists you should be listening to

3. James Vincent McMorrow - This Irish singer songwriter has the falsetto voice like Bon Iver, but more soulful with better melodies. He also has better meaningful heartfelt songs than "the head and the heart" whom I call, "all head and heartless".

2. Andrew Bird - Dude is a stellar talent who sings, plays guitar, plays violin, and whistles all at the same time. His Noble Beast album is what got me hooked, but he just came out with a new album yesterday. I'm excited to check it out.



1. Allen Stone - This guy is the future of music. His throwback soul style is what the music industry needs to get us through this electronic pop phase. Just watch this video, and if you don't agree with me, please tell me why.



Honorable Mention - The Staves, St. Vincent

Bottom Line - Music can be saved if we put the computers away.

Top 3 (By Lydia) - Songs

On this edition of Top 3 I will be sharing Lydia's current favorite and most requested songs.

3. Old Mcdonald Had a Farm - Ella Fitzgerald



This is a super swingin version of the song. Lydia has always liked this song, but when I showed her this version from the cd "Jazz for Kids" that we got from the library, she dances and giggles to the fast pace. It is fun to watch her listen to this song. I should video tape it.

2. Liza Jane - The Wood Brothers

She first heard this song from the youtube video that I had been watching, then I got it in my head and was singing "Oh little Liza, little Liza Jane" all around the house. She picked up on it and also started singing it and started asking me to play the video and song for her.



1. The Muffin Man - Ella Fitzgerald

Another selection from Ella form the "Jazz for Kids" album. Ella is so great. This song was recorded in 1941 and my 2.5 old daughter not only loves the song, but sings along with it and asks me to play it all the time. It is hard to believe that this song was recorded when Lydia was negative 69 years old.

Bottom Line - I'm a good parent

Top 3 - Jazz Albums

3. Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section



Released in 1957, the story of this album is unique. Art Pepper a west coast alto saxophonist and junkie had just recently got out of prison and had been scheduled to record an album with the current rhythm section of Miles Davis' band. Art didn't know about the recording date until that morning, and he had never met Philly Joe Jones, Red Garland, or Paul Chambers, and also he hadn't played his instrument in weeks.

The result of the recording date is amazing. It is a brilliant album showcasing the talent of the east coast jazz rhythm section stepping out beyond the reigns of Miles Davis mixed with the cool west coast sounds of Art Pepper.

2. Thelonious Monk - Monk's Dream



Monk's compositions and melodies are at the top of the jazz world as far as creativity, swing, and catchiness. His own personal recordings of his own music however have always been suspect until this recording. I would describe Thelonious Monk as the Bob Dylan of Jazz. Everyone else was recording his songs and making them sound better than his own recordings. In this album released in 1963, Monk's 1st with Columbia, Monk finally found a horn player that was able to understand his music and complex playing. Most of the songs were previously recorded and written several years earlier. This album swings and takes you away on a finger snapping and toe tapping extravaganza.

1. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue



Released in 1959 is the best selling jazz album of all time. It is hard for anyone not to like this album no matter what kind of music you listen to. Miles set the scene for this album by writing only the introductions of each song, then left the rest up to pure musical improvisation. The results were unforgettable solos that serve more as melodies. I can not recommend this album enough. This will always be my number one album of all time.

Bottom Line - Jazz is for everyone. If you don't like "Kind of Blue" then I'll buy you and ice cream cone.

Top 3 - Fortune Cookie Fortunes

I usually save the meaningful fortunes I get out of the fortune cookies I get when I eat Chinese food. Most of them are lame and usually repeats, but every once in a while depending on where you go, you get a good one.



3. "Your present plants will succeed" - This one is funny because I think it is a typo. It is supposed to be "plans" instead of "plants". Funny thing is that when I first got this one, I had just planted new grass in parts of my yard. So far the grass is succeeding even though grass is not considered plants.

2. "You are capable, competent, creative, careful. Prove it." - This is a challenging one that deals with self confidence. It is a reminder of all of the things I could be when I chose to "prove it". This one goes along with the #1 fortune.

1. "Ideas not coupled with action never become bigger than the brain cells they occupied." - Another challenging statement invoking action and persistence of ideas and creativity with matched self confidence to pursue them.

Bottom Line - Whether you are planting grass or ideas, self confidence and action are the only things that will make them succeed.

Top 3 - NFL Individuals

Since tonight is the start of the NFL season, I would like to share the Top 3 NFL individuals that I look forward to watching this year. Some would think that they are unpopular choices and would not agree. If you don't agree, tell me why.

3. The Hoodie



No matter what you think of his antics or his methods, the guy gets results. I like it when his team is on television, because I am guaranteed to get camera shots of him pacing in his hoodie screaming into the headset. He is a great coach and his team is also fun to watch because of their high octane offense that takes chances down field and is always aggressive, and also their defense is solid with guys who know the game and keep up the hoodie's aggressiveness while defending.

2. Ray Lewis



Another easy guy to hate, but you can't deny his heart and leadership. Those two things are something that lacks in about 75% of the current NFL players. I don't need to explain his influence on the defensive side of the ball. I like him because when his team is on offense, he is not sitting on the bench texting or doing twitter updates, he is up on the sideline cheering, giving assistance to the offense, and encouraging the players. This guy's worth to a team is indescribable in the current state of the common NFL player. He would be my first pick if I were running a team.

1. Brett Favre



I have always been a Brett Favre fan, and I will always be a Brett Favre fan. The guy gets beat up by the media and fans for is swaying back and forth on retirement. That does not bother me, because I know that his heart and his life is football. If I was into something that I loved, it would be hard for me to stop. He does throw a lot of interceptions, but that does not stop him from taking down field chances. I prefer the aggressive offense rather than boring safe short passes in which most quarterbacks prefer. The guy is a great example of fun.


Bottom Line - Don't be a hater of my top 3 NFLers. They really are good for the game and you know it.

Top 3 - Beverages

It is Thursday, which means that it is time for this week's Top 3. This week we are taking a break from Music and putting the focus on beverages. Note: Number 1 is meant to be the best. Someone thought that Christina was my number 1 female vocalist. No way. It is Aretha all the way. If I am confusing people by counting down to one, then I'll consider changing it I guess. But for now it is 3 (third favorite), 2 (second favorite), 1 (most favorite).

Top 3 - Beverages

3. Water with Lemon



I start by putting a couple ice cubes in the cup or glass, then I get the lemon wedge and squeeze the juice on the cubes and drop it in the glass, then I put more ice cubes on top of the lemon wedge and bring the cubes all the way to the brim of the cup or glass, then I fill it with water.

This beverage has only been in my life for the past couple years. I never used to drink a lot of water until I got a fridge that had a water / ice dispenser. Water alone is not that great, but when you add the lemon, it becomes very refreshing.

2. Pibb Xtra



Pibb Xtra and Dr. Pepper are not the same thing. Both have 23 flavors, but Pibb has something Xtra that Dr. Pepper does not have. Cinnamon. I am one that believes that Cinnamon to men is what chocolate is to women. I drink Pibb Xtra not only for the taste, but it is loaded with sugar and caffeine. For a non coffee drinker like myself, that is a plus to my workdays. If you are currently drinking Dr. Pepper, make the switch and let me know what you think.

1. 2% Milk



It must be 2%, not 1%, not skim, 2%. This is and will always be my top beverage. I drink milk every night with dinner. To me it goes with any meal, and is even great all by itself when you are thirsty. I grew up in a milk family. We always had all three kinds 1, 2, & skim. My dad and sister drank skim. My brother and mom drank 1%, and my mom and I drank 2%. My mom floated from 1 to 2 as needed.


Bottom Line - If you are thirsty, don't offend your taste buds. Get something good to drink.

Top 3 - Female Vocalists

Most of my Top 3 entries will most likely be about music. This week it is the female voice in music.

3. Christina Aguilera



I hardly listen to her music at all, but I can't deny her vocal talent. She has the chops that can give me chills on occasion. If I had to provide a song reference, I would go with her version of "Have yourself A merry little Christmas".

2. Lauryn Hill



I have always enjoyed Lauryn Hill's voice. It is unique with a low register and her pronunciation make it even better. When singing she has an undeniable range which gives her access to many different styles of music. I like to hear her talk also.

1. Aretha Franklin



Do I even need to explain? Enough said.


Bottom Line - "If a song's about something I've experienced or that could've happened to me it's good. But if it's alien to me, I couldn't lend anything to it. Because that's what soul is all about." - Aretha Franklin

Top 3 - Awkward Concerts

I have decided to take the infamous "Top 5 things" from facebook and adapt it down to 3 things and make the lists to the subjects I like where each thing has an explanation or personal reflection.

Top 3 - Awkward Concerts

3. Travis Meeks - The Mad Frog



Travis Meeks is a highly talented jerk. He fronted the band "Days of the New" then once they made it big, he fired his band saying they were not worthy to play with him. He continued to make 2 more albums and his former band started "Tantric" in which competed with him and became more popular.

He was playing a solo acoustic gig at the Mad Frog. I had seen him at Bogarts with a band a year before and he was stellar. When he came out to play at Mad Frog he sat in a chair with his acoustic guitar and a mic. He was a mess. At one point someone yelled "Play some Tantric" in which Meeks replied "Is that a threat, or a challenge" then he changed the subject and moved on. Between every song he took 5 minutes to re-tune his guitar while people badgered him. It was a disaster show in which obviously he needed to play to get some money for his meth addiction.

2. James Brown - The Taste of Cincinnati



JB was listed and advertised to perform at the "Taste of Cincinnati" so I went down to check it out. There were tons of people crowded around the stage in anticipation. The time in which he was supposed to start came and went. About an hour after his start time, 3 long limos pulled up and several guys in suits got out and stood around for like 45 minutes. Finally one of the suit guys came to the stage to do a mic check. Another 15 minutes later here comes JB to the stage. A loop beat started playing and JB started repeating "Killin is out, School is in" while a hype man would throw in yeahs and uh huhs. It lasted about 2 minutes and then it was over and JB walked off stage got back in the limo and I never saw him again.


1. Wesley Willis - The Southgate House



I went to see this guy in concert after hearing about him from many of the bands that I was currently listening to. The bands listed him as an influence, and I happened to catch a small sample of him in a video that was intriguing enough to make me curious. I went to the show not knowing what to expect. The Southgate House was packed to the max. When the opening bands were playing, there was a long line of people waiting to visit his merch booth to buy his cds and his artwork. Wesley was also hanging out giving people headbutts. I found out that he was paranoid schizophrenic. He had to be walked to the stage which had a keyboard and a mic setup. He then promptly hit buttons in which cheap keyboard loops would play and he would ramble about Batman, or Osama Bin Laden, and many other people using the same keyboard loop over and over. It was utterly horrible, but the crowd went crazy after every song. I didn't get it at all. It seemed to be a huge money scam in which I contributed to by paying to see this guy. I left after the third song.

Bottom Line - Taking risks on thing you don't know much about could turn out to be very benefitial. Then again they could also be a waste of time and money.