BONETOPIA Top 5

1. John Cale.  I suppose at this point it's fairly obvious that I have an unnatural fascination with this man.  To me he is the preeminent musical genius of the last century.  The Velvets and Lou Reed be damned (though I'm not against their contributions), I have been a Cale fan through and through.  Listening to his album Fear this evening, I was reminded that there really is nothing this man cannot express with something as simple as the human voice.  It's expressive and as a singer, I have the ultimate respect for a man that can pour so much into something so raw as a pure vocal.  It's a little uncanny.  Kudos to Cale.

2. Iza  I started working at an Asian fusion restaurant known as Iza last week.  While I've always dreamed of working the back-of-the-house and cooking quality food for quality people, I never realized A) how difficult it may be to get it right and B) how fun there is to the job.  Theo, my Head Chef, is a fucking genius.  Indonesian born, Seattle weaned and otherwise drenched in the kitchen world, his ideas and ability are absolutely stellar.  Him and his co-owner, Tobin, are two of the greatest bosses I've ever had and the food we produce is the best pan-Asian you'll find in the mountains.  Hands down.

3. Porkpie Hats  Since I've moved to Missoula I've been in LOVE with my porkpie.  Japan apparently loves them too:

Cool.  I think a man always looks classy in dress-ware.  It's becoming, slimming, and generally exudes a flair that is difficult to summon otherwise.  Porkpie.  Great name.

4. David Byrne Journal  This has probably been one of the most endlessly rewarding and insightful blogs by any celebrity in recent memory.  The last thing I read was a surprisingly well researched and entertaining entry on the history of the Internet, music digitization, and the cultural effects of both.  Fantastic.

At times it's little more than a tour diary but if you've ever been a fan of the Talking Heads (they're not too far down from Cale in my pantheon) it's always a fun read.  Byrne has been a prolific and interesting artist in his own right and the blog goes a good way in representing his work.  Check it.

5. Oneohtrix Point Never  Though a recent obsession, Oneohtrix Point Never has astounded me.  The singularity of mood is a quality I regard Highly in the musicians I spend time listening to.  His work has been captivating, invigorating, and slightly irritating to my housemates.  I love it.