2010 - A Year In Music and Top 10 List Part 2

The Top 10!!!

Consolation Prize - Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot... The Son of Chico Dusty

After so many years of working on this record it just had to be good, right? Well that sort of logic is not always applicable. It is funny that there seemed to be a preconceived notion that this album wouldn't be that good or wouldn't be as good as an album done by Andre 3000. When you think about it, such a notion is just silly. Listen to the Speakerboxxx, Big Boi's contribution to the hit double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below and you will hear an album that may not have to top 40 singles that The Love Below had but was a fantastic hip hop ride to Andre 3000's more ambitious but sometimes unbalanced work. Sir Lucious Left Foot... The Son of Chico Dusty sounds a bit like an Outkast album but is also a response, reaction and improvement on the current state of hip hop. Hard to remember a hip hop record that was this fun and hip then easily converts to smart and philosophical and back again with ease. With a killer production team that includes Lil' Jon, Andre 3000 and others this album was well worth the wait.

10. Delorean - Subiza

Electronic music can often be overrun by club ambitions. They have 9 minute tracks, can be a bit repetitive, and promote a certain type of escapism where one can throw hands in the air and party like you just don't care. Subiza is enjoyable because it is accessible while still containing certain Balearic qualities. Ibiza is at the heart of this record with it's trance like rhythms and piano led hooks. Subiza is simply a wonderful. Subiza might be the perfect summer record that isn't a reggae record. It is also a pretty good driving record. With the breezy vocals, piano hooks that come right out of the early 90's, chimes, bells and whistles, a sample here and there, big but simple bass booms, Subiza is a fun, fun, fun record that is suitable for any rave, on or off the beach. Preferably on the beach.

9. Sleigh Bells - Treats

Is it pop music if there are really aggressive guitars and drums, a combination of booty shake and marching band, with angelic vocals? It seems a little calculated, possibly the miracle of great studio work but Treats is a fascinating record. This noise pop, dance punk duo from Brooklyn compose frantic noise grounded with sweet vocals in around 2 minutes. The juxtaposition of the vocals and music creates an effect like no other in music today. Derek Miller is responsible for the sound and Alexis Krauss is in charge of the vocals. It can be an off putting record or it can be a sing a long record that will later cause soreness in your neck from the crazy head knocking you've done. I tend to side with the latter. Plus any band willing to sample Parliment for the track "Rill Rill" is A-okay with me!

8. The Roots - How I Got Over

How are The Roots not considered the hardest working Band in America? They are are the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and are routinely the best part of the program. They released their own album How I Got Over and then a couple of months later released an album with John Legend featuring cover songs of soul and funk classics from Nina Simone, Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye. The played the Rally to Restore Sanity/Fear. They also made appearances across the country for various concerts and festivals. Questlove is also a mad fiend on the twitter feed. Not to be forgotten is how good How I Got Over is... it's superb. Black Thought sadly continues to be one of the most underrated MCs ever. He displays a somber quality on tracks like "Dear God 2.0" and defiant on the title track and "The Fire." On the album Phonte and Blu contribute seamlessly to The Roots family, while Joanna Newsom's contribution to "Right On," helps create bounciest Roots track since the Things Fall Apart days. For their 11th album and who makes great albums for their 11th? Not many. Here, The Roots made their best album since Phrenology and most consistent album since Things Fall Apart. The hardest working band in America doesn't sound worn down but tighter than ever!

7. Surfer Blood - Astro Coast

This outfit from West Palm Beach, Florida sounds like a combination of the Beach Boys, 13th Floor Elevators and 90's rock. The track "Swim" that generated all the hype in the beginning of the year, sounds like a track that would have gotten the Buzz Worthy nod from an early 90's MTV station that still played music videos. Astro Coast is a great guitar record. It's a great guitar record because it relies on the guitar to create most if not all the hooks for the album. The surf ready "Take It Easy," the 50's guitar lick of "Catholic Pagans," and post punk finger picking of "Harmonix," work to varying degrees but all successful. What also helps are the additional elements of keyboards and additional percussion to certain songs adding a different twist to certain songs. For example, the Cure like synths at the end of "Floating Vibes," the flute and additional percussion in "Twin Peaks" create a fuller and more playful sound to Surfer Blood's songs concerning the confusion of romance, friendship and the future.

6. Beach House - Teen Dream

This dream pop outfit from Baltimore does an impeccable job of seeming like a very cold distant record while at the same time being a warm, comfortable and heart broken. The looming keyboards that at times sound as lonely as a dial tone are a perfect match for Victoria Legrand's vocals. Legrand's voice doesn't sound like Nico, Mazzy Star or Sade but it is just as magnetic. With those ladies, they could pull you in with the beauty of their voice. As if, instrumentation was/is almost unnecessary. That is not the case with this record. I am not suggesting that Alex Scally's music is worthless. The guitar pacing creates an atmosphere of forced enclosed contemplation on "Zebra," and "Silver Soul."Keyboards create a similar effect on, "Walk In the Park" and piano on "Lover of Mine." Do you ever replay thoughts in your mind, they never escape or you never express them clearly but eventually they build and build until your mind is ready to explore? That is Teen Dream.

5. Mavis Staples - You're Not Alone

Even though Mavis will be 72 this summer, she has not lost command of her voice. In 2007, she worked with Ry Cooder on We'll Never Turn Back, an album full of civil rights anthems that were given new meaning during the Bush-era politics. On her current album, Jeff Tweedy is at the helm to rework some of Pops Staples gospel classics, along with John Fogerty, Randy Newman classics, a few traditionals and possibly the most beautiful song of the year as the title track, written by Tweedy. "You're Not Alone" is such a beautiful song that is inspirational and comforting but confronting. Every year it seems like a legend makes a record that is well made and thoughtful. This year Mavis Staples made that record. It isn't going to flip the country, blues, folk, gospel or soul world upside down but applause should be given for making a dam good album. You're Not Alone is a testament to the human condition and spirit that pulls us through the very hard times we are facing.

4. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

Why isn't Damon Albarn discussed as a musical genius? Out of all his contemporaries... the Gallagher brothers, Jarvis Cocker, Thom Yorke and several other blokes don't have the legacy Albarn has. The Gorillaz seemed like a cute little side project that grew into something more and should be talked as the most intriguing musical project of the past decade. Let's not forget the other side projects and all the years as the head of Blur. Now the Gorillaz are finally coming into their own. The Gorillaz first album was produced by Dan the Automater and it sounded like it. The second by DangerMouse and it sounded like it. For Plastic Beach Albarn took charge of the production and their sound is becoming more and more distinct. Here they combine the dub, indie hip hop experiments of the first record, the spaghetti western samples and trip hop of the second album, and explore Krautrock and electro-funk for the third. This time around the hip hop segments gel with greater fluidity than previously on the first two albums. It also worth noting that with all the guest stars on each Gorillaz album, Albarn composed the best Gorillaz song solely for himself. "On Melancholy Hill," is just a prime example of Albarn somber tone over zippy keyboards and catchy harmonies. These songs range from beautiful, "Cloud of Unknowing," to frantic, "Glitter Freeze" or somewhere in between with, "Empire Ants." No other record this year has as much range.

3. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

Thank goodness James Murphy put to rest the notion that this would be their last album. Thank goodness! This Is Happening has all the trappings that the last LCD Soundsystem explored such as NYC club culture, Bowie/Eno influence and punk-funk. We do get some new twists on this record such as the conga drum monologue beginning of "Dance Yrself Clean." Depeche Mode wishes they could write a song like, "I Can Change" and the Devo touches on "Drunk Girls" is just euphoric. On this album Murphy seems perplexed by his fame, the lack of fame, the pressures to produce a hit record, and the stance his band has on the musical landscape. Murphy has a knack for song crafting and his vocal flexibility allows him to not only play with genre but mimic Bowie's vocal styling on "All I Want" or sound like an American Shaun Ryder. It seems that with little doubt Murphy can mimic whatever vocal styling he so chooses. From cagey whisper to brooding vocal, to high pitch yelp and spoken word. Murphy is like the master of ceremonies on each album and each album a clear image of what fascinates, disturbs and motivates him.

2. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid

Thematically, it's a dystopia. Musically it's Prince, Outkast, trip-hop, electro, with 60's pop and soul. Monae looks like some 80's soul temptress with a fixation on 30s/40s big band posterity. She is a vivacious performer that can move like James Brown. With a vastly underrated voice, Monae's record is inspired by science fiction cinema as much as it's inspired by Prince's Sign 'O' The Times. The ArchAndroid is part 2 of a 3 part series. A huge concept that includes an Ep released last year and a highly anticipated future release. The album almost feels like a soundtrack to elaborate science fiction musical ripe with action sequences, a party, and balladry. Her debut album clearly separates her from the pack, not simply because of her ambition but because it's really fucking good.

1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Never mind that "Power," "Runaway," "Monster," "All the Lights," have the capability of being classics. Yes, classics. Not just for 2010 but in more general terms as from today to who knows when and then again and again. Kanye West might be an ass but if their were less assholes making music we'd be missing out on a lot of great music over the history of time. I don't think anyone can examine the demons within with the same insight, humor, craftsmanship, outrage and admiration as West. West was agitated by the moderate response to his experimental 808's and Heartbreak album. On that record he tried to sing but he can't really sing, the music composition was a bit flat and frankly, where was all the experimentation? Even though West is back to rapping and not singing, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is more of a dare than anything West has ever done before. Conflict runs throughout this album, the loss of innocence, societal pressures and many faces of Kanye at war with one another, making for great theater and a fantastic album.

2010 - A Year In Music and Top 10 List Part 1

2010 was a great year for music. Any way you slice and dice it, it was a great year for music. So many artists and so many albums were released this year that were just great and far too many that were above average.

I love music and every year I buy an excessive amount of music. I read reviews, take suggestion and I do my due dilligence to find new music, old music, undiscovered gems and every day classics. I love music. So naturally, I have an opinion on what trends I found most intriguing and what albums were the best.

One of my favorite trends of the year was the emergence or rebirth of 60's and 70's soul music. Maybe it's not really a new trend. Artists like Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings and the Budos Band have been laying down modern day funk inspired by James Brown for years. John Legend and Jill Scott have been making 60's and 70's soul inspired R&B safe for Barnes and Noble costumers for quite a long time as well. But this year was a very special year for soul music. It seems to be pushing itself forward as well as rediscovering itself all over again. John Legend recording an album with the Roots covering classic soul tracks from artists like Bill Withers, Marlena Shaw, and Baby Huey. Classic soul singers like Mavis Staples, Gil Scott-Heron and Bettye LaVette recorded new albums this year. New groups like Kings Go Forth found inspiration in the Motown and Philadelphia sounds of the 60's. While acts like Janelle Monae and How To Dress Well pushed soul music forward beyond the wildest imaginations. There are plenty of acts looking back towards Motown, Gamble and Huff, Stax, Parliment and Prince for their inspirations. Shoot, even Huey Lewis and the News recorded an album at Ardent Studios where many Stax greats like Otis Redding recorded their legacy. Let's not forget R. Kelly dipping his brush in the Motown sound as well with his latest album. Soul, funk, Rhythm and Blues are on the up and up, and I love it!

Another trend I am enjoying is that it seems more and more bands are recording cover songs. Such as the Flaming Lips took on the daunting task of recording their own version of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon. Not only did they record the album but put they also performed the album at several festivals across the country. Levi's was kind of enough to create something they called their Pioneer Sessions in which acts like the Shins, She & Him, Nas and Ryan Bingham recorded cover versions of some of their favorite songs. The Bird and Bee released a tribute album to Hall & Oates and even though Glee is the most detestable show on earth, it does a fabulous job of keeping great musical hits of the past in our collective conscience. Throw in a tribute album to Chris Knox and John Prine and the year gets a little better. You'll find covers on the latest She & Him and Local Natives records. I am sure there are a lot more to mention that hasn't been mentioned already. Why are covers becoming more and more popular? A friend of mine suggested that for the current generation, rock music has the same relevance that the great American Songbook had for the great jazz singers of the past.

This was also a fabulous year for electronic music. Dance music, club music, or whatever it is that you want to call it. Great albums from Caribou, Crystal Castles, Holy Fuck, Simian Mobile Disco, Delorean, Matthew Dear, Four Tet and Hot Chip. These are simply the albums I've heard and found in the clubs. Not a bad year to have rhythm and dancing shoes, not bad at all.

Unfortunately not even a great music year could withstand the blemish that is Justin Bieber. My goodness does that kid suck something awful.

Now for the awards!

Most overrated - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Wavves and Cee-Lo Green album's will go down as the most overrated works. Sorry Cee-Lo. We've had some great times together but your overproduced and more cheeky than tongue album is fun but I don't get the fanfare over "Fuck You" and the rest of your album.

Favorite uncovered gem - Ernie Smith. Ernie Smith is a reggae artist I had never heard of before until a collection of his hits were released over the summer. A fabulous reggae talent, Smith didn't quite sing like Johnny Nash or Bob Marley even though Smith was a contemporary of those music legends. No, Ernie Smith had a very clean delivery that is a blend of Bill Wither and Kris Kristofferson. On the collection you'll even find a cover of Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down." It's great to see Smith get some recognition and even Neil Diamond is getting into action as Diamond covered Smith's "Love Song" on his latest album of covers. I was very happy discovering this artist and I hope you discover the same joy I have with his music.

And every year, there is some music released that I have a hard time explaining why I enjoy so much. This year I award two albums as my Favorite Guilty Pleasure

Favorite Guilty Pleasure 1 - The Dream's Love King. With it's hip hop club, synthy pop, dance fusion sound and lyrics entirely about sex this album is fun, hip swiveling, sexy and playful. Maybe the best thing about The Dream is that his confidence is not off putting. He wants to rock your world and he will say it metaphorically or literally. For club music or baby making music, the sound is very rich and layered, the choruses are catchy and the swagger is on! "Yamaha" is just a great song, catchy with layers and layers of synth magic.

Favorite Guilty Pleasure 2 - Fitz and The Tantrums, Pickin' Up the Pieces is just a great soul record with big choruses that seem more like Vegas than Motown. Think a little bit of Maroon 5, Hall & Oates, George Michael and 80's soul hits. This five piece band minus a guitar player is just fun. Whether it is the romantic anthem "L.O.V." or the political inspiration of "Dear Mr. President" Fitz and The Tantrums find their groove with big funk inspired soul songs. Fitz doesn't have the range for ballads but heck a majority of these songs are meant to make you dance and dance you shall!

Producer of the Year - T-Bone Burnett

Sure, Madlib tried to release/produce 13 albums in one year but fell a little short. He released 10. Who else produced 10 albums this year with the same variety as Madlib? T-Bone Burnett. Much of what Madlib produced was his own work but Burnett worked with Elton John and Leon Russell, Elvis Costello, Robert Randolph, Jakob Dylan, Willie Nelson and several others. In some casess Burnett helped produced their best material in years. In that same time, Burnett even won an Oscar for producing and writing the hit track for the Crazy Heart Soundtrack. Burnett is a fabulous musician and has a great knack for song crafting. Already in the works is an album with Steve Earle and Gregg Allman in 2011.

In the end, this was a great year for music. I don't get to listen to everything. I am not a magazine. I am not employed at a record store or a radio station. I don't have a truck full of money I can throw at any record I want. Boy, I wish. I don't get to listen to every album but that doesn't stop me from making a Top 10 list.

Soon to come a Top 10 list.

Dear Gillette - Stop Giving Me So Many Options

One blade doesn't seem to exist anymore. Two blades can do the trick. Three blades blew me away. For some reason 4 blades just sucks, America thought so and I don't see the 4 blade option anymore at any store. Then came 5 blades and I was a happy clean shaven dude with less nicks and cuts on my face. Things were going so well.

Then a couple of years ago the 5 blade pro fusion blades went up in price and I was not frustrated, yet. Then a year after, the 5 blade price went up again and I was outraged. Now the sneaky, after your dollar Gillette is after more money by coming out with a new (new, like a year ago new) 5 blade shaver with thinner blades! They claim the blades are better because they allow for a smoother shave with less tug and pull. Do I agree? Somewhat, yes. Is it worth $2 extra dollars? Should I be paying over $16 for 4 razor blades? All I know is when it comes time to buy new blades at the store then I will buying less fruits and vegetables. The money has to come from somewhere. Steak, fruits or razors and you can only have 2. Damn it Gillette you are ruining my diet. Grrrr....

Dam you Gillette for the different blade option, the plethora of different shaving gels, creams, pre shave gels, skin moisturizers and what not, that absolutely do nothing for me except provide 5 seconds of cool relief after a shave. Grrrr.......

How come I feel like all of this is some attempt to make more money rather than benefit the customer? Do large companies like Gillette do that sort of thing? Crappy major corporations! What's next? They have already tried vibrating blades which did nothing for me. They also have blades with gells and precision blades, so what could be next? Are they considering shorter or longer blades, blades that move in a circular motion, or blades that stick to your face thus allowing you to shave yourself by simply moving your cheeks up and down. I don't know. When will the madness stop? When will the madness stop?

America please start growing beards, mustaches and other wicked facial hair again because Gillette is not only taking your money by offering so many different shaving options but in a way is killing the manliness of the American man. Equation - facial hair = (the perception) of manliness. It's not just beards that the shaving companies are after. Now men are trying to be convinced by Gillette and the media that being clean shaven isn't just for your face but for your entire body. No! The madness must stop!

Grow beards America. Grow your beards. Umm let's see, people with facial hair... Jesus, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Chuck Norris, and Conan O'Brien. Teddy Roosevelt, Frederick Douglas, Jimi Hendrix, Orson Welles and Tom Selleck all have had facial hair so maybe you should to. Does facial hair equal greatness? That equation has yet to be scientifically proven but in the opinion of this blogger, it increase the probability of success.

Ladies... this madness does not apply to you. If you insist, the aftermath will be on your shoulders.

Sad day. Goodbye friend

Today after waking up, I went downstairs as I normally do, with a stretch, yawn and a certain wonder concerning today activities. My casual smile faded as my father told me the news that a close family friend passed away last night.

For much of my life I have been able to distance myself from death, through luck or geographical distance. My grandparents are no longer with us but I was either too young or not very close to them for it to have much an affect on me. Now I just deal with uncertainty that comes with not knowing where I come from. I have known many people to pass but none were very close for me to feel that sudden sledge hammer to the chest, the boulder on the shoulders and the drop of the head that would be similar to a spinning top that has stopped revolving. Plainly, finding out this news really sucked. I freely admit, I had to stop myself from crying.

Death never comes easy. I have always felt bad when death arrives at a friend's door. When a parent, grandparent, classmate or a casual chum loses someone important to them. You have to be a cold son of a bitch to not feel something sad for their loss. But for myself, death never really hit this close to home and this shot was still off target. Until now the great deaths in my life are people I never knew. I was sad when Paul Newman, Johnny Cash, and Joe Strummer died. I feel a bit of sadness knowing that I never got to take part in the lives of John Lennon, Martin Luther King or Bob Marley; people who died before I was born and before their time.

Death is an ugly thing that all of us are forced to accept as a daily part of life. Fortunately, acceptance does not mean allegiance.

I am simply sad. Lincoln was the only adult of my parent's age group that I felt comfortable calling by first name. He was my dentist for a time. I, being around the same age as some of his children used to spend Easter Sundays with his family, participating in egg hunts as his family fed me baskets of chocolate. I have known him and his family for 20 some years but many of my memories are of him the past couple of years. Memories of afternoons with him or going to family lunches. He had a curiosity for my life, the way an uncle cares for his nephew. Last year he bought me a milk shake at local shop after oral surgery. He was quick to tell stories, jokes and comments that at times may seemed silly, inappropriate or awkward but that simply added to his charm. It really did. He could recall tons of dirty jokes. I can't recall any even though that doesn't stop me from trying to tell some with the punchline falling flat. He was a very affectionate person who never shied away from a hug and I was never too embarrassed to give him one. We often spoke of family. He spoke of my parents love for me, his love for his family and what a great joy it would be for me that one day I would have a family of my own.

I know this hurts. I cannot imagine what my father must feel as the two have known each other for more than 30 years. I simply cannot imagine that what so ever. I'd hate to lose any of my friends 30 years from now and not feel incredibly selfish. Death is a selfish thing in some ways as we don't want to lose the joy our friends or family bring to us. I cannot imagine what his family must feel. It's gloomy to think that one day I will be in a similar situation that I cannot avoid or bargain my way around.

I don't know. All I can hope for is perspective and that Lincoln is in a better place where happiness is in abundance.





"we'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when.
but I'll know we'll meet again, some sunny day.

Keep smiling through , Just like you always do,
Till the blue skies chase those dark clouds, far away. "
- Vera Lynn

You Are What You Read (On the Toilet?)

There are many formulas for which you or I can casually observe someone and decode what kind of person they are. Your poker face, what you eat, what shoes you wear or who your friends are can say a lot about a person. Today I examine something I truly believe... You are what you read on the toilet.

Many already subscribe to the notion that you are what you read but I would like to break it down a bit further. What you read on the toilet says a lot about the type of person you are. Reading is very important and unfortunately in the USA there are sad statistics that show people don't read very much at all or don't know how to read. Statistics show that those who can read, choose not to read while those who can't read continue to struggle without help or the desire to change. Even with this information I choose to write a blog. Silly me.

I don't read as much as I should. My father reads a book every couple of days. I have friends that read books every day or two and I even have friends that will read books within a few hours. I am a summer reader which means I enjoy reading while sitting by the pool. During the winter, lazy snow filled sundays is when I find a book of interest and do nothing but read. A book per week would be a generous estimate but I am much better than the national statistics. Thank goodness.

A majority of my reading is done while I sit on the toilet. I admit it. Please don't be disgusted until you listen to my argument or be disgusted but still read the argument. Like Larry David in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, I have started sitting on the toilet to read while performing much of my business. I won't get into too much detail but by sitting on the toilet to urinate I've increased my sitting on the toilet by a large percentage. I have a team coming up with some figures. While on the toilet I have a little more time to read an article in the paper or in a magazine. I am not a fast reader by any means so books with short chapters or books like the Intellectual Devotional series are perfect for toilet reading. The Intellectual Devotional book series are books of general knowledge, each book with a certain theme with each page focussed on a particular topic. I don't know about you or how long it typically takes for your business to take place but while you pee you might be able to read a page or two about a variety of topics.

For me, I like my toilet to be surrounded with a wide variety of knowledge. I like a plethora of books to surround my bathroom. I never know what type of personal growth I'd like to explore while doing what natured intended either. History, sports, music, life, philosophy surround my toilet. I purchased a shelf for my toilet just so I would have a resting place for my books. Books and magazines can take quite a lot of counter space so a shelf was needed. I mean after all you can only put so much on the toilet tank.

My current toilet literature.

Truffuat by Antoine de Baecque and Serge Toubiana

The Mysterious Montague by Leigh Montville

Mockingbird With Me Luck by Chalres Bukowski

The Books of Basketball by Bill Simmons

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin

The Architecture of Happiness by Alain De Boton

The Diving Bell and Butterfly by Jean Dominique Bauby

On Bullshit by Harry G. Frankfurt

Etiquette for Men By G.R.M Deveroux

magazine - WaxPoetics issues 32-37, 39-42

magazine - Poetry issue April 2010

Bla Bla 600 Incredibly Useless Facts by Fredrik Colting

I've been meaning to switch some things up. Bring in a new starting line up to my toilet literature series. I recently purchased the Clash by the Clash. It's a large coffee table book on one of my favorite bands but I found it a bit awkward to hold a large book with a heavier weight on my lap during business time. I am not saying a large and heavy book is impossible or not worth pursuing but what happens if you need to stretch, use the book as a fly swatter, or if your knees start to buckle or if your legs were to fall asleep. I tried it out but I think a smaller the book allows you greater mobility and mobility is key on a toilet. Plus the cheap shelf posing as a metal shelf might not be able to handle a heavy book.

Either way, what you read says a lot about you. What you read on the toilet can say even more. What do you think about literature that surrounds my toilet? I'd like to think it screams "man of intrigue and mystery" or "international jet-setter of cool and ease." It probably says neither of those things. I'd even settle for, "profound but silly." Is all of this a little superficial? It might be but I'd feel a little bit bad or even feel like a lousy host if you came to my house, sat on my toilet and the option of a magazine or book was not made available to you. I don't know about you but that's how I would feel. Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time.

till next time.

ps. yes I know. My trash can is small and needs to be emptied.

Bad Things Happen in 3 - Cleveland's Early July Woes

On July 8th Lebron James made a humiliating and public statement called, "the Decision."This hour program focused on his future as a basketball star in which James decided to leave Cleveland and his near by home of Akron, Ohio. Akron is less than 40 miles from Cleveland so locals took his departure personally, as they should have. The locals have followed Lebron James since middle school and Cleveland Cavalier fans could only wait anxiously to see if they could ever have the chance of landing the young superstar. A few years later, with a little bit of luck, the Cavaliers landed their star, gave him everything he wanted and seven years after that, he publicly embarrasses Cleveland by suggesting the team, the organization and the city are not good enough.

I think it is easy for those on the outside to agree with James about leaving. I think it is impossible for those in Cleveland and in Ohio to see this as anything but insulting and heart shattering.

Cleveland didn't just lose James but within the next week the city would mourn the death of two other great men. Cleveland also lost writer Harvey Pekar and New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. The departure of James along with the passing of Pekar and Steinbrenner do nothing but bring a great sadness to many within Cleveland's borders and beyond.

George Steinbrenner was a Cleveland area native. Before the Yankees, George made a name for himself with the Great Lakes Shipping Company. He also owned an ABL (American Basketball League) team, the Cleveland Pipers. Steinbrenner also made an attempt to purchase the Cleveland Indians but was rejected. What success the Indians could have had is unknown. Would the Indians have won 7 World Series in the past 37 years? Probably not, but winning one would have been better than the none they have won without Steinbrenner.

George is just one of many Ohioans to find success outside of Ohio but he never left his roots, often returning to the Columbus, Ohio for the annual OSU vs. Michigan game. Mr. Steinbrenner was a graduate student at OSU and it's good to know that after his success he would still return to celebrate one of sports great rivalries. A funny story I had heard was that one year all the hotels were booked for the rivalry game and George had no place to stay, so the next year George built his own hotel and kept the top floor suite to himself. The Yankees triple-A ball club was also based in Columbus. The Columbus Clippers is where notable Yankees got their start including Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Alfonso Soriano, Mariano Rivera and Don Mattingly.

The Yankees flourished under his control and Steinbrenner revolutionized free agency. It is ironic, a twisted piece of fate or something like that, that the system of paying athletes outrageous amounts, the system Steinbrenner revolutionized would be the framework for James' departure. George Steinbrenner changed sports, for good and bad... the debate continues. I think it goes without saying that he was a man you'd want to own your sports local team because he would have done whatever it takes to win.

Steinbrenner is recognizable to many Americans because of his success on and off the field, also because of a recurring character on the hit show Seinfeld. Harvey Pekar was not nearly as famous with the American public. Harvey Pekar was a mild mannered file clerk by day and an alternative comic book writer genius on the side. He also was a music critic. Mr. Pekar became more recognizable in 2003 because of the part autobiography, part documentary film based on his comics and his life. The comic, American Splendor and film of the same name helped elevate alternative comics to a larger audience. His comics focused more on the struggles of the average person with himself as the central figure. Pekar was able to express himself about his job at a local veterans hospital, the struggles of marriage or what other ramblings happened within his mind.

I was first introduced to Harvey Pekar as a teenager. I grew up reading comics but most about super dudes with super power and super chicks with super bodies and super powers. In high school my father introduced me to an American Splendor comic. My father was a doctor for the VA hospitals in the Cleveland area for around 20 years and the two had become casual friends that would on occasion discuss Latin jazz. They were never close friends but I do have a signed copy of an American Splendor graphic novel with an inscription to my father that reads, "To Luis, Thanks for the music recommendations." Years later I would meet Mr. Pekar at the OSU campus in Columbus, Ohio. After a discussion on comics he signed my copy of his latest graphic novel, the Quitter. I asked him if he remembered my father. He asked for my name, he asked for my father's name and after a brief pause he said, "Yes I remember, your father is a smart man." Maybe Pekar didn't remember him but it was enough to put a smile on my face then and even now.

While talking with my father about Pekar today, my father and I were most impressed by Pekar's humility. He always wrote about normal daily life and even after the success of his comic, several appearances on David Letterman and a critically acclaimed film, Pekar never stop writing about what he wanted to write about nor did he ever stop working at the hospital as a file clerk. As someone on the radio noted, after all the success Pekar had, maybe the greatest thing he did for Cleveland was never leaving her because he never wanted to.

Lebron James will be missed without question and possibly without parallel but maybe just maybe, the loss of Steinbrenner and Pekar are just as hollowing. I often have to defend Ohio and Ohioans when traveling elsewhere. People forget what great things have come from Ohio like the birth of flight or even Victoria's Secret. Great American athletes like Jack Nicklaus and Lebron James are from Ohio. Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon and is from Ohio. In fact, Ohio has had more astronauts walk on the moon than any other state. Ohio has also produced the most Presidents behind the state of Virginia. If anything Virginia was cheating having 4 of the first 5 Presidents and by the time Ohio became a state our third President Thomas Jefferson was already in the White House. What am I saying? Virginia had a jump start.

I love Ohio very much. I have known many great men and women in this state. It is the state of my childhood. I have many fond memories of this place. Memories that I carry with me where ever I go. It is a shame that so many look down upon it but for someone like myself, it will always be home.






Side note. Even though Cleveland is about 120 miles away from Columbus, while writing this blog Columbus radio personality John Andrew "Andyman" Davis drowned while on vacation in Michigan. Another blow to Ohio, also adding proof that nothing good happens when you go to Michigan. (it's a rivalry thing... Mr. Steinbrenner would understand)

"Andyman" was a local dj for the indie radio channel CD101. Every year the "Andyman-a-thon" would be a 48 hour special in which "Andyman" would stay on the air for 48 hours straight, trying to raise money for local kid's charities. His passing is nothing but sad.

My Two Cents - BP, the Oil Disaster and What has Happened to Our Anger

BP caused an oil spill in the gulf. This is not new news unless you have been living under a rock for the past several months.

I am not really here to debate what could have been done, what should be done, who is to blame and why this is happening.

I really don't have concrete answers except for this...

BP is to blame. I spill a glass of water, it's my fault not the glass. I break a window, it's my fault not the brick for being so hard that when colliding with the window, the window shatters. BP is to blame for the oil disaster. Yes, it is a disaster. The constant recognition of this disaster as a "spill" is nothing but disrespect for the businesses losing money, the animals dying and mother earth getting her faced punched in.

I am not going to blame the current administration, the previous administration or the ocean for having waves and currents, the ocean for being deep or oil for being difficult to obtain. I am going to blame BP and some others.

What I want to know is and some others have often wondered... Where is all the anger? Where is all the sympathy? Where is all the aid? Where are all the relief concerts and fundraising specials? Where are all the commercials in between your favorite programs asking for donations or community service to help save animals, businesses and the people being ruined by this oil disaster?

The only thing close to this that I see is a savvy marketing campaign by BP displaying their outreach to local communities affected by their blunder. Some commercials with some BP accountants casually expressing their concern, sitting along the gulf coast explaining how important his or her job is because they are helping the businesses that have lost so much from this disaster. BP should be helping those business and paying those claims.

But, where is all our anger?

Some of it has been directed towards the current administration. Some of it directed towards the previous administration. Some of it has been directed towards BP and some of it has been directed towards local vendors. The anger aimed towards local vendors has been label as "misguided" because it only hurts local businesses and has little effect on BP. At the same time, I haven't filled my gas tank at any local BP stations as a symbol of my disgust but also because I don't know what else to do. Emailing my local government official seems pointless. Sending an angry letter to BP while they burn money seems foolish. How should I direct my anger?

Maybe some of our anger should be directed at ourselves. Maybe we aren't angry or as angry as we should be because we need this oil. We are well versed in the risks of our dependence on oil and sadly accept the ugly truth that if you want an omelet you have to break some eggs. We should be angry at ourselves. Maybe this disaster could have been diverted if we as a civilization weren't so dependent on oil and more invested in cleaner energy technologies. Unfortunately we aren't and with this disaster hopefully coming to a close we are still slow to arrive towards cleaner and more efficient energy solutions.

We aren't going to get rid of SUV's. We haven't come close to an automobile that can achieve 100 miles to the gallon. We are addicted to air conditioning and central heating. We love the leisure oil can offer our lives. We need more and more and as our need grows and grows our comfort level must match that need. Change is difficult but maybe instead of blaming BP we should blame ourselves and our childish resistance to change. Change must come and hopefully another disaster won't occur before we accept that.