Spin Spin Spin

Its the end of June, that means July is next. I've got surgery in about five days, and its gonna be an experience! Regardless (irregardless for those who read my blog), it also means my birthday is coming up! So, my girlfriend, got me a really neat gift. She got me Raven in the Grave by the Ravonettes on vinyl! I did a review of this album a while ago, and its not really fair to compare the two. The vinyl version suits the record a lot more than the digital version that I've listened to. Its a dark record, and the open aspect of a vinyl record gives the music room to breath. (P.s. Thanks Erin!)

I've made plans to go to Texas next year for the Lonestar Round up, with a few very great friends, it should be an event. Dad and I might go to Salinas Kansas for the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular , which might be insane, I won't take my car if we go (but I really want to). I'm also gonna start tearing into my car, now that the weather is suitable for motorbiking. The car gets a transmission ordered very soon, so as soon as I do that, out comes the old, in goes the new. Should be interesting to have a car that I can take any where in the US, and not give the engine a thrashing.

July 15, Clerks will be playing at the IMA, and the plan is that I, and the lady who makes my heart swoon, will be in attendance! I'm stoked for that, it should be a good time. Watching a film on an outdoor screen, one of my favorite films--a movie that takes a while to really appreciate.

It has been the best summer of my life. Thank you,
Wesley

It starts with you...

On a mattress in your parents old room.


There is a pattern to which I listen to music. Its a mirror to how I feel. A mirror, not in the sense of a reflection, but a reverse. If that makes sense.

Now I'm listening to a lot of down tempo sad songs, such as Gemini (birthday song), because I'm stoked.

Anyway I'm going to bed

'Night,
Wesley

I am Jack's tired eyes

I wanna watch fight club again. I need to shave. I need to buy some oil, and distilled water for my car. I'm tired. I've worked a ton recently, 40 hour weeks get old after a while. I'm gonna go run errands, nap, then do it all over again tomorrow.

Oh well, I'm broke, so the money will be good. I realized that even though I'll get to spend July 4th with the most bad ass lass ever, I won't be able to consume anything. Fudge.

So it goes,
Wesley

You can read about it when we're gone.

I've been cleaning my room, as in, throwing shit from my childhood away. I'm growing up, and that is why I've been stockpiling things that aren't worth anything, other than memories. Except now, I dunno. I've captured all that I want to of my childhood, and finally accepted the fact that I'm not a kid anymore. I mean, I am a kid, in the sense that I'm a minor and still lust for life, but I'm not the kid I was ten years ago.

There are some things that I sort of hid from myself, that I'm now more proud of than ever. I used to think that the whole custom car thing was really lame. I mean, I loved it and really dug it, but it was passe. Why embrace something that A. no one will ever understand and B. that never really existed in the first place.

I was a smart kid.

Well, I found a framed picture of Bob Hirohota's 1951 Mercury, that as far as I know, I've had it since birth (I think my dad had them before hand, and just gave them to me at one point, regardless, its before I can remember, I've always had them). As it turns out, something that I hid in my room, I would jump for joy for a decade later. Its weird how the world works. I've stopped caring, and honestly love old cars for a million different reasons, and I really don't care that the majority of people I run across won't understand what a piece of shit old car means to me, but I've know a few folks that do get it, and feel the same way.

Connecting to the past, by going forward, is a weird and only human thing.

Anyway, if I ever have a kid, they'll probably have, be ashamed of, then hopefully love the picture that my father gave me. And maybe read some of the stuff I did. I dunno.

Growing up is weird,
Wesley

Game on!

Well, excuse the leave in posting, I got busy again. Despite my lady being in NYC and the Hamptons (yes, you can be jealous. Smart, cute, and affluent. Triple threat.) In the past few days I've been working, doing yard work, going to the doctor, and doing something I've not done in years. Playing Basketball. I really forgot how much fun playing games with friends was, I'm admittedly no athlete, but it was still a blast! I think this may be a weekly thing now, which will be great

The reason I went to the doctor is because of my high blood pressure. Makes sense. My diet is shit, and I'm a stress hound. Oh well.

Work has been weird the past week as the store manager was gone, but now that he is back, it should go back to normal (i.e. I don't catch shit from people that aren't my manager).

I spent saturday night cruising, which was rad. I really didn't plan on it, but I put about 100 miles on my car, just from cruising around Indy. Its an escape, but I'm an escapist. Hung out at a local cruise in spot with some people that normally don't go there, and had a weird conversation about my car. It was weird. But fun no less. Someone asked if I was trying to be a greaser (as if the Sk8-hi vans are greaser chic). My response was "Nope, just trying to be me." Fuck'em. If I'm trying to be anything, its Max Schaaf.

I've been spinning a bunch of garage rock lately, mostly because I'm trying to live a dream. It seems to be working.

Oh well, My lady comes back in a week, and as much as I like that she is experiencing a whole new world in NYC, I can not wait until she comes back. It will be a very good time. So many plans.

Oh well, Gonna go clean my room and read.

I really wanna start recording some music.

Go surfin',
Wesley

A day in the life...

Today I woke up at noon and got shmamered. Well, I did one of those things. I woke up, and started trying to find something to eat, and planning my day. I was going to clean my room, but that ended up not working, I'll probably wake up early to do that.

Later, I got to skype with this lovely lady, and her cuz. So I got to enjoy that, I skyped with her later (actually just ended as I type this). Talked about our days and stuff, but we also kinda talked about my blog a little bit, and she pointed out how depressed some of my older posts were. I need to talk with her about that, but there was a point in time where I started using this blog as a whipping post for what I felt inside. A way to convey emotion to empty space, but still convey it. Like screaming into a dark hallway, you don't know if anyone will hear you, but if someone does they can scream back. That is what this blog has become, and I was a pretty unhappy person as a whole, or at least I made myself unhappy. I could see it both ways, but regardless, I'm happy now and that is all that matters. Is it because of her? In a way yes, but I don't rely on her to be happy. does she make me happy, without question. I dunno, I'm growing up, and its hard sometimes, I just like to be able to mark how I feel electronically, so I can always remember the way I was. Embarrassing or not.

Anyway, I also got to hangout with some bros from high school that I never see, that became pretty good budz today. Went to the mall downtown to look at pants, and then chatted it up! Broing down saturday after I get off work, so that will be chill.

Oh well, I'm gonna go to bed.

See you soon Love (you know who you are),
Wesley

GB City - Bass Drum of Death

I found out about this band through a little known web portal that goes by the name of YouTube. I know, not many people use that, but I think it will catch on. I digress.

According to what I've read, and seen about this band, the name aspires from when the singer, John Barrett, would play guitar and simply use a bass drum. Similar to the likes of Bob Bleed, or King Khan and the BBQ show, very minimalist and primal. Very cool. Though, despite its greatness, very limiting. So, with the inclusion of a real drummer, they brought a record to the table. GB city. The song that I was opened up to this band was "Get Found" which I will link later. All in all, its a very good garage rock record, if you like Ty Segall, King Khan and the BBQ show, the Oblivians, Jay Reatard, the Smith Westerns, or even Wavves, you will really like this record.



Get found,
Wesley

Music returns tomorrow

Today it isn't about that.

Today is about keeping with my promise for daily blogging really.

I was having a conversation with a kid I work with, and generally thought we didn't really get along, and turns out the kid really likes working with me. Which, most people I work with enjoy being around me, and it is a good feeling to be accepted by people, regardless of your job or otherwise normal life.

I dunno, just weird.

I'm gonna detail two cars tomorrow, and maybe a motorbike, and call a good friend, and maybe try and hang out with some folks or set some plans up.


Sleepily,
Wesley

Feeling better!

Let me start, by thanking all of you that took the time to care about me when I was sick. It is because of YOU that I get to live the life that I do. I love you all.

Now, to get the record straight, I had a severe case of tonsillitis, and a severe sinus infection. I REALLY should have gotten my tonsils removed, but I didn't.

Anyway, so this post is sparked by something interesting in my life. My girlfriend (who I've been devoting my blog time to, because quite frankly she is more important to me than this self-important whining blog.), is leaving for an internship in New York. She will only be gone for a couple of weeks, but just not being able to see someone that you've become so close with for any length of time is rough. I'll never want a long distance relationship. Which brings me to the fact that she is going to go to school in Muncie, which is about an hour and a half away from me, but I will make that work. We will.

Anyway, so those of you that know me, thought I was going to go to IU last fall, and learn how to drink like a fish. Well, others know me for going to IUPUI and complaining constantly about it, and wanting to go to IU. Well, I just want to put it in public, that I'm really happy with the way last year turned out, because those constant failures are the DIRECT reason why my life is going so well right now. Had I gone to IU, maybe I would have been social and met a lot of people. Maybe. I know that going to IUPUI has made me create some good friendships, and fluked me into being able to date an amazing girl. I dunno, I'm glad I didn't go to bloomington. I'll never say never, it still would be a great opportunity, and I would LOVE to move out and go to school one day, but I'm really happy with my decisions. As of now, I've got two years to figure things out with my life and really decide what is going on. I'm excited.

Erin, even though I'll talk with you while you're having fun in New York, I'll still miss you.

People who don't know Erin, read her blog. HERE

I like the way she makes me feel, so you should support her like I try to.

Regardless, I'm in a good mood, gonna blog daily, and kick start the c^4 blog again. Production month starts tomorrow, sleep today.

I love you.

Always,
Wesley

To whom it may concern.

Which is at this point me.

Well, over the past week, ive progressively felt worse and worse. I'm pretty sure I know what is killing me though (90%). I can't talk, so I figured I'd atleast throw something up on here.

Its not so much the pain that gets to me (it fucking hurts though), its the fact that I can't eat, and swallowing is a mother fucker. I'm seeing an oral surgeon today to see what we can do until surgery, until then, I'm just gonna go with the flow. I feel great in the morning (besides the fact that I can't talk or eat), but eventually the pain comes back and it just kills.

I'm gonna try to go to my lady-friends graduation stuff, and im gonna try to go to a car show in kentucky. I doubt I'll be able to do either, and that is really whats frustrating. I get sick on the ONLY FUCKING IMPORTANT WEEK. Oh well, I hope to god I can get something from this surgeon. I want food.

Love always,
Wesley

Prom Night

It rained on prom night.

I went to prom with a lady that I love, and it was one of the best nights of my life.

This may become one of the most mushy-gushy posts that I'll make, so if you don't like this, then well, I'll return soon with a music review, until then, lets talk about prom.

About two months ago, My lady and I started talking about going to prom, kidding about it and what not. We ultimately decided to go, and as things got closer and closer to the date, we both got more and more excited as well as more and more formal, and less and less ironic. It started with her deciding what dress she wanted to wear, and what not, and she picked a really nice black dress. I wore a black tux, and impresses her with my knowledge of Victory curls. We had planned on a candle light Mcdeez dinnerr, splitting some nugz. Instead of a "Candle light Mcdeez" dinner (that will come later, I'm so proud that this idea exists), to eating at Yatz (a place that we both like, and a place that we went when we were first on kissing terms (believe it or not, I'm on kissing terms with an actual breathing lady)), then we went to cold stone. She really likes Cold Stone. So do I.

Before dinner and all that jazz, I picked her up and got to talk with her family, that was neat. I also had to wait on her, which despite the wait, was nice to have a cliche (almost) pre-prom activity of waiting on her. Anyway, I talked about dinner already so to prom!

We went home and swapped cars, and then we went downtown to the ballroom. I parked in the mall parking garage, and we made our way to the designated area. We danced for three hours, and it was awesome. I got to see her friends, and being that it wasn't my school, I didn't have to deal with a lot of the worthless jazz that going to my own school's prom would have held.

After prom we were going to go walk the canal, but I sorta chickened out on that, mostly because I was kinda tired from dancing and everything. I will be down for a late-nite canal stroll soon though, that will happen. But, we walked around memorial park, and the war memorial, and talked a little bit, and it was fun.


I mean, I'm not really giving it a fair twist, because its impossible to express the way I feel in words. It was an honor to take her, and I'm glad that we went, and I'm glad that we could both have fun. I like the fact that she still gives me butterflies, and that I love her.

I can post pictures later.

Regardless, I just had to talk about it to everyone that reads this. All one of you.

Sincerely,
Wesley Wren.

Weakness-Weakness

As I previously mentioned, I was at culture shock. Upon arrival, I see a band, and the singer is going ape-shit, as he is climbing on the tent, and generally just going bonkers.

That band was weakness.

I didn't give them much mind, because I was there for three reasons, and none of them were weakness.

Anyway, so I go home, look up their bandcamp page, and download their record (for free, but we'll get to that later). I was floored, its a great record. Very odd, as I assumed it would be all no age-esque, and fast, but it isn't, there are a number of slower acoustic tunes on there which make for a well rounded album.

Anyway, enough chatter, you can download the album for free, or flip them some money. You car.

Do this here.

Listen to it, and give me your thoughts.

I'll talk about my day later.

Tired,
Wesley

A year ago.

Well, thanks to facebook fucking up in a weird way, a few of my messages I sent my friends from about a year ago are showing up in chat. I sent my friend Zach a line paper I wrote for my AP english class, in my senior year of high school. It is pertinent to music, so I'll post it here, with a preface.

I just finished my first semester at IUPUI, and to be fair, a lot of high school is a blur. The things that I loved, I've romanticized to the point that they did not really exist. I know I'm not getting the full college experience, but the past year, despite living at home and not really making a lot of new friends at school, has been one of the best years of my life. I've grown up and matured a bunch, and it shows in my character. I thank you all. Anyway, a line paper.

The record spins. Throughout time, throughout lives, and throughout minds. Spins. That record is the record that plays in our head, that lowly record that makes the song of ourselves seem realistic. There is noise in our signal though, atonal rubbish that pollutes the melodies of that record. That noise is negative influence, most importantly corporate influence. The trends and fads that are being forced down the throats of anyone who has a dollar to their name. Worst of all, corporate influence soon becomes social influence. That in turn becomes the social norms. The vicious cycle of consumerism ideals corrupts everyone eventually.
Advertising is unavoidable. Thanks to technology, celebrities can subtly advertise products and no one will be the wiser. Following a star’s twitter, lets you know nothing more about them then watching them in the new Coca-Cola commercial. Groups are no better then sheep, with the smart and the rich being the Sheppard. Guiding the herd of off the cliff to watch them fall senselessly to the rocks. Consumerism destroys.
With that anti-consumerist mind set in mind, a venture through life becomes painful. We watch sheep eternally fall off the cliff that is stupidity. Every generation worse off than that of their elder. Always. The youth will be headed to hell in a hand basket, and that has been the American mindset for the past few centuries. Like the rain of a hurricane, it stings.
How dare age predicate the maturity of an individual. How dare someone stand on a pedestal of “how things used to be.” Whining and regurgitating their pedantic prose to an audience of hellions. Or so it may seem.
Is this not the same thing that corporations are doing and have done forever?
The global corporations hit most by advancing technology and the influx of piracy retreat from advancement and whine. Blaming everyone but their selfish selves for the devastation to copyright laws. Companies outsmarted by a cardigan sweater wearing thirteen year old on his Macintosh Apple laptop listening to the new leaked Sonic Youth record in the highly trendy ironic fashion.
Well, maybe Generation Y will be the death of civilization as we know it. No healthcare for those that lack it, no more dehumanization predicated on race, sex, or gender, and most importantly no more time to waste. The cusp of change is here, it can be great or it can be horrible. The laziest generation.
So lazy that they can’t create their own styles of art, just perfect the ones from the past. So much so that the arts are being assaulted by a swarm of great up-and-coming masters of their respective crafts. Possibly due to the open-access approach of the internet, allowing people to get connected wirelessly with one another at every hour of the day.
That accessibility is the key. Everything is accessible at all hours of the day. Even things no one would have expected to exist. That is why this lazy generation has to watch their own tracks and make sure that they keep their Facebook status updates free from spontaneity. That is in the off-chance that one of these kids would choose to eventually lead the country.


Historically,
Wesley

P.s. I'll review a record tomorrow.

Excuse the Lull.

This isn't farewell, its college.

When I get summer, I'll post, and it will be good.

Until then, do what I do and listen to Best Coast.


Or Ty...



Poo-tee-weet,
Wesley

Culture Shock: A history of words with friends

Well, as some of you know, culture shock 2011 was held this past Saturday in Bloomington. Well, I was there.

After I got off work, I picked up my lady friend from her house, and off we went to go to Bloomington. An hour later, we were there. We went to a friend's dorm to pick him up, and use him as a GPS unit that guided us through campus. Well, Culture Shock got moved to a "tented area" on Fee street, well as it turned out, there was two tented areas. One had awesome, and free, food though so that was rad. The other, was culture shock.

Anyway, as we actually got to the concert (Thanks to Noelle from KIUX/sister-in law) we caught the last few minutes of Weakness' set, and they were rocking the fuck out.

anyway, the band coming after weakness, looked kinda weird, and not my style. They were setting up a drum on stage, and a bunch of non-musical props. Terror pigeon dance revolt, a hipster band. Great.


Well as it turned out they fucking ROCKED. It was probably the most fun I have had seeing a band (besides almost passing out during Wavves). They were great, there was a parachute, a blanket-chute, a string of coats, and I wore a dress and got an award.

They were awesome.

War on drugs was on next, they were pretty great aswell. I'd rather hear them on a record, but they were really chill and a great contrast to the terror pigeon dance-a-thon.

There were two things I really wanted to see in bloomington on saturday, Beach Fossils, and Ty Segall. Well, beach fossils rocked the hell out of their set. It was amazing, they were superb live. They rock-the-fuck-out.

Ty segall was the headliner and this tweaker was moshing, and it was kinda lame, but Ty was stellar. They used other band's gear, and Ty prefaced the set by thanking them, then saying that they'd take good care of it. Then proceded to crank the levels on his amps, and play a loud and fuzzy set. It was awesome, no Gloria though, which was a little bummer.

Also note, there was supposed to be a monsoon, and it only really rained on the way back.


All in all, it was awesome. GO to 2012! It'll be great too.

go see the pains of being pure of heart, Twin Shadows, and Weakness on friday at Rhinos in bloomington.

GO see a show!

Anyway, I've got food to eat, and things to do,

Sunshinin'
-Wesley

VBS Doc about Garage Rock

This documentary is amazing, and is a great cross section of the modern garage rock scene. Helluva doc.

Its been over a week

and I'm sorry.

Well, to those three or so that still read this anyway.

Well, lets see here, Record Store Day was this past Saturday, and I was busy working at my job, of which has little to no relation with records. Anyway, I bet it was fun, I wish I could have gone, but I didn't. No worries anyway.

I've been working on my car, instead of doing homework, so that has been relaxing. I've got to throw my interior in, and paint a few more things, and then spend a couple of weeks swapping in a borg-warner T-5, which will be interesting.

I've done this thing called "falling in love," and I suggest some of you folks out there try it, its pretty nifty. Scary, but nifty.

Today, a HAMB mate from Michigan is coming down to hang out for a little bit, which will be sweet, it'll be rad to put a face to an avatar.

This week is culture shock in bloomington, its also Monsoon season in indiana, so we'll see if I go to that, or just hold off to see Pains the following week. Unless work scheduled me to close, which would be a suckfest. Oh well, a penny saved and all that.

At this point, I'm really stoked to go to prom, I know I'm in highschool v1.75, but I'm just excited to have a lot of fun, and share a night with my girlskis.

In other news, its raining, and my professor is five minutes late, I've got some listening to do.

With love,
-Wesley

P.s. Music stuff WILL return, just in due time. Everything is hitting the fan right now, and I'm rather busy, too busy to keep up with this or listen to anything that new. Anyway, L8r

In the past five days...

A lot has happened.

I've finally been into a target.

And a bunch of other fun stuff. #youknow

Otherwise, I've also been doing homework, I've got a lot of it out of the way, the sole exception being at this point, I need to write a 4 page research paper for my poli sci class, and a 2 page supplement to that paper, based on the topic.

So thats what I'll be doing tonight, damn research and a paper. That and fixing my english paper.

Looking forward to tuesday, so hard.

Also, I need to schedule for my classes still, get insurance for my bike, and that fun stuff.

Forever,
Wesley

Raven in the Grave (2011)

In true RS;EC. fashion, the raveonettes do it again.



The record that was reported by being darker and less fun than any other Raveonettes album, is that to an extent. Its still very much a Raveonettes record, its got noise, harmonies on harmonies, and it cuts you. I don't know how fair it is to say that this album is "darker" than any of the other Ravonettes' efforts. From cuts off of Pretty in Black of a girl committing suicide, and cuts off of pretty much any other Album (Lustx3, Whip it on, chain gang, or in and out of control), Raven in the Grave just isn't a whole lot darker lyrically or topically.

Sonically, this is a different story. The timbre and the feel of the new record is dark. It feels cold. Not like a cold shoulder, but a dreary, gloomy, funeral day cold. To put it lightly, it feels empty. You just want to hug it, and tell it that everything will be alright, even though you know it won't be.

Let me on out, for example, is moving. Thats all I can say about it, its just damn moving. Washes of noise, and a slow pace, and Sune Wagner's heart wrenching delivery of the lyrics just makes it a sad song.

Forget that you're young, the most sing-a-long cut off the record is a song about heartbreak, but just because of the situations at hand. An age gap is separating love, either that or its about pedo's. I'm guessing its the former.

War in heaven. I'm guessing someone died that Sune or Sharin knew. "wait, a war? In heaven? Wait, a war in heaven? I hate it when they forget, to let people live." I'm done with that one.

Evil Seeds: holds the title lyric in it. Its no different than any of the other songs.
Its. just. sad.


To put it into perspective.

On a beautiful summer day, throw on Crazy for you (2010)- Best coast, Cape Dory (2011) - Tennis, or even Lust Lust Lust (2008) - Raveonettes (if you want some melancholy but still a summer jam).

On a cold, rainy fall, spring, or summer day. When you just want to either be held, or hold someone. Put this on. Maybe you could even call it a winter album. I don't know, or care.

It'd be a killer record for slow dancing.

All in all 9/10 without a second guess, it might even be a perfect record for me. I dunno, just pick it up and give it a shot

Sports!

Butler just got embarrassed.

Who am I kidding, I didn't watch the game, I was busy having a much more fun time with my ladyfriend (Yeah I said it, ladyfriend.).

And by fun, I mean Sports!

Anyway, back to important things, I've a bunch of homework to do, and I've a bunch of tunes to talk about, but this all can wait until later.

l8er daze,
Wesley