Golden Mixtape

Some take culture to an extreme, some live by the book they pray to and some celebrate their heritage annually on the given days. Then there’s me. I never really identified with a racial or ethnic group because I was a mutt in a town with no familiar faces and my mom grew up Catholic, so you can only imagine how much she didn’t want to impose on her kids’ beliefs. So I grew up with pop culture being the only thing I loved and took on as my own, so when a band like Wayne Szalinski came to my attention, I took notice.

As I continue to digest the season premiere of Dexter, I sit alone in a living room that looks like it’s been hit by a twister. In the middle of trying to organize a mountain of emails into a logical “to do” list, Wayne Szalinski’s self-titled EP plays on. For such a kooky band name, the music is actually a serious array of indie infused rock that’s having an affair garage band elements.

“Thanks for Nothing, Becky Gelke” keeps strong with the pop culture aspect, but as I just said, this song isn’t as upbeat as one would imagine judging from the title. “These Are the Layers of Bandages” picks it up a bit and shows more oomph, but is a tune wearing a happy coat over a dark suit. Reading between the lines, it’s seems to be about watching someone you love perish. Vocally speaking, this song had the words dressed to impress with the delivery.

It’s appropriate that “Atrophy for Lethargy” is the last track. The end of the song is like a hearing someone have a realization and breakdown simultaneously, with a strong build up to an even stronger sentiment, “I am a monster and I made it so.”

I may never know my roots or care to visit a homeland…wherever that may be, but one thing’s for sure; pop culture will forever be where I feel like home. I didn’t realize until I grew up that Wayne Szalinski was a DILF, but he is. Other than that Wayne Szalinski is a band with an EP you should give your attention to if you’re into bands like Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) and Joie De Vivre (they’re popping up a lot this week). So check out the fine lads of Michigan called Wayne Szalinski and their self-titled EP, you guessed it…Wayne Szalinski, out now.