Winning doesn't cure all aka... I Go To Extremes...

Even a Packers win can't cure Asperger's... I know, right?

GREEN BAY PACKERS WEEKLY UPDATE:

Well, folks, we did it!  We gave Aaron Rodgers a reason to come back.  Was it a great reason?  No, it was the bare fucking minimum needed.  But, who gives a shit?  HE'S COMING BACK!  Sure, the loss to the Ravens would have really helped our cause; as would have an unlikely win over the Steelers, who seem like they are mostly concerned with getting their kicker as many "practice" game-winning kicks as possible before the playoffs to get him prepared for the Jaguars (yes, it's still fucking weird as fuck to think of them as legitimate contenders) and/or the Patriots.  But, nevertheless, here were are.  Not out completely, but goddamnit, the one time I need the Saints and Vikings to come through...  I think they both lost knowing they couldn't beat a pissed off Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs so their best bet was to keep the Packers out of the playoffs altogether.  The Falcons seriously tried to give the Saints that game and the Saints acted like winning was somehow related to the myriad of sexual harassment/assault stories coming out recently and they wanted nothing to do with it, not even be in the same room or building as it.  And the Vikings are, well, the slightly above average team (who is still legitimately the third best team in the NFC behind the Eagles and Rams, pending the severity of Wentz's injury.  Wow, the Vikings have sure benefited off the injuries of MVP-caliber QB's this year.  Sheesh...  And I don't want to hear any of that mumbo-jumbo about "our starting QB is hurt too" as Bradford:

A.)  Was always going to get hurt
B.)  Has played 2 good games in his career - last year vs. the Packers and this year's season opener vs. the Saints
C.)  WAS ALWAYS GOING TO GET FUCKING HURT ANYWAYS

Also, that hit on Rodgers, and the hit on Goff last month, by Barr were mostly definitely filled with intent.  I don't need anyone to tell me otherwise.  I do have eyes, you know...)

I thought they were, which still makes them, subsequently, the third best team in the NFC this year.  Good times...

Another solid performance from our defense and, this time, our special teams.  Our offense continues to put our defense in very difficult positions and refuses to help them out after the first five minutes of the game up until the last five minutes of the game it seems.  And Clay, Mr. "ARE YOU TAKING ALL YOUR TINY SHAMPOOS?" Matthews seems to find ways to make big plays in big moments, despite his injuries.  Ha Ha, who I PREDICTED WOULD START MAKING SOME BIG PLAYS, made what turned out to be an enormous, points-saving interception at the end of the first half.

Sadly, we have another week of people who don't watch football but insist on giving you their opinion based on their scanning of the Redzone channel and the stats from their fantasy football league calling Brett Hundley a good quarterback.  I even heard one announcer say "Teams are definitely going to take a look at this young man once the season is over."  Why?  Are there a lot of teams in need of, and willing to overpay for, a mediocre backup QB?  Oh wait, that's right, Scott Tolzien, Mike Glennon, Geno Smith, Brock Osweiler, Ryan Mallett, Matt Barkley, Matt Cassel, Matt Schaub, Kellen Moore, etc. all got paid by new teams despite their old teams deeming them not worth it after watching them every single day in practice.  So, yeah, I guess teams are in need of, and willing to overpay for, an average backup.

But his stat line, again, belied his play:

35/46 - 265 yards - 3 TD's - no picks - 31 yards rushing

It looks good right?  Well, if you watched the game, it wasn't.  Hundley is great on the first drive and the last two drives of each game it seems.  He led 3 TD drives in the 4th quarter and overtime.  He reminds me of someone...  Wait...  There's someone I can remember who was painful to watch for the first three quarters of a football game but somehow turned into a touchdown machine in the 4th quarter and seemingly pulled win after win out of his ass...  No...  It can't be...  Brett Hundley is like...  TIM TEBOW...  HE'S BACK...

To be fair, Hundley is not as painful to watch when throwing a football as Tebow, but goddamn he sure plays a lot like him.

THIS WEEK IN MUSIC:

Goddamn, Asperger's is a bitch sometimes...  Take today for instance.  My girlfriend and I went to go get some lunch at a local place we have been wanting to try forever (like five years).  Easy right?  Sounds fun, trying a new place we're both excited about.  Well, we get there and it seems a little out of sorts.  The workers are all unaware of what anyone else is doing and seem generally very disorganized.  Whatever, the food smells great.  I order my food and it's a little more expensive than I would've thought but who cares if it's good, right?  Well, it was... fine.  Irritated that I just overpaid for a mediocre meal, I try not to lose my shit.  I'm stewing and wishing I hadn't paid for it.  My poor girlfriend is trying to casually enjoy her mediocre food but can't because of me.  I obviously don't want to start ranting and raving about how overpriced the mediocre food is in the middle of the day during the late lunch rush, but fuck I really want to punch someone.  It ruins my day, until...

So, I'm shooting a music video later this week for "Lookin' at Luckey" which is fucking awesome.  It's my favorite song on the album and it's sounding like it's going to be an amazing video.  The director I'm working with MADE THIS, which is unbelievably good, and I'm putting on makeup for the first time; which, I'm not sure I can get better looking but let's try.  It's all very exciting.  So exciting, in fact, that I went out and actually bought some new clothes for the shoot.  Now, I never buy new clothes.  "Why?" you may ask.  Well, for multiple reasons.  Hmm...  Let's see:

- I hate spending money on things that aren't music, food or booze, generally I hate spending money on things that aren't experiences
- I hate going to places where lots of people are, like stores or malls (Thanks Asperger's!)
- I like to wear the same things every day, over and over and over (Thank's Asperger's!)
- When I do actually buy new clothes, I hate to wear them so I won't ruin them (just me being cheap and/or weird, I guess)

So, it was weird for me to actually spend some money on myself but I DO GET TO WRITE IT OFF, so I have that going for me, which is nice.  I was excited.  Some nice new clothes that will look great on camera.  EXCEPT, I wash the jeans and now there is a huge spot where the sticker that shows the size (31x30, I'm not ashamed) was and it won't wash off.  What the fuck?  This is fucking madness.  This never happens on the $40 Levi's I buy once every six years.  WHAT THE FUCK?  I don't get it.  I desperately search online for a store that has the same size in stock so I can swap them out for a new pair.  No dice.  I'm pissed.  I feel deceived.  I feel ripped off and taken advantage of.  MY BRAND NEW PAIR OF FUCKING JEANS LOOKS FUCKING STUPID AND ARE GOING TO LOOK EVEN FUCKING STUPIDER ON CAMERA!  I couldn't be more angry.  I hate it.  I feel stupid.  "This is why I don't deserve nice things..."  I think.   I'm so depressed about it that I can't eat dinner.  My day is ruined, AGAIN...

And, once again, my poor girlfriend has to deal with this shit.  I have some Krud Kutter goo be gone or whatever the fuck it's called which should take off any glue residue and then I'll rewash them.  Seems simple enough but I can't get over the emotional toll it has taken.  IT'S ABOUT AS DEPRESSING/RIDICULOUS AS THIS.  "And who could understand the all-consuming pain?  Only a man who's weeping in the rain knows where to go..."  Wow.  But Billy Joel was certainly on the spectrum and has many songs, INCLUDING THIS ONE, that are about it, whether he knows it or not.  Billy, I know why you go to extremes, it's call the spectrum, bud.

Nevertheless, my song of the week is:

Frightened Rabbit - "My Backwards Walk"

This song saved my life once.  I wish that was me being overly dramatic, like I so often am.  I remember having an anxiety attack in a hotel room somewhere in Eastern Washington and trying to not jump out the window into traffic.  All I wanted to do was drink until I couldn't remember and be done.  I can't remember where that thought came from but I knew I needed to get out my room.  It was after midnight (not in an Eric Clapton kind of way) so I wasn't sure what to do.  I got in my car and just started driving.  Frightened Rabbit's "Midnight Organ Fight" was in the stereo and was playing, though I wasn't paying much attention.  After about 30 minutes, this song came on.  I didn't know where I was or where I was going but this song felt so sad in a peaceful sort of way for some reason.  I started crying.  I didn't know what was happening as I sped along past the farm fields and empty landscapes.  I just kept pressing the back button to start this song over again, and again and again and again.  Occasionally, I'd pass a semi-truck trying to make up time to somewhere but it was pretty much just me out there.  Mostly, I just stared out the passenger side window and watched the so-dark-they-seemed-infinite fields while playing this song on repeat.  I must've driven for at least two or three hours as my half-full gas tank was starting to run low.  I pulled off to try and check my phone's GPS to see where I was but I must've gone too far since I had no signal.  I drove on and found signs for I-84.  I had driven all the way back to Oregon, I guess.  I'm glad this song came on since speeding along at 80 miles an hour in that state of mind is probably not the best thing one can do.  Anyways, thanks Frightened Rabbit...

What do we need? MUSIC! When do we need it? NOW!

So fuck it, let's play some fucking music...

I know things are getting fucking strange out there but we always have our trusted friend Music.  Here's some songs that always put a smile on my face.

Bradley Wik and the Charlatans - "Some Girls (Still Love Rock N' Roll)"

I can't believe I haven't fucking announced that I've sneak-peak-released the first song from my upcoming album "In My Youth, I'm Getting Old..."  I'm so excited to put this album out.  I've been working on it, and fixing the multitude of problems, for A FUCKING LONG TIME.  But, it's finally fit for human consumption and I couldn't be prouder.  The stories, the Rock N' Roll and the band are all so much better after playing hundreds of shows together.  It's so fucking cliche but we truly are operating greater than the sum of our parts on this album.

With thousands upon thousands of albums about falling in and/or out of love (the fuckin' easy part), here's an album about the rest of us. These songs are about you. These songs are about your hometown. These songs are about your friends, those you love, your lost lost loves, your hopes and regrets, your memorable nights, your forgotten dreams, your faith, your fears, your faults, your triumphs, your defeats, your will to be the best you can be, those dark nights you thought would never end, but mostly, they're about life, your life. And my life. I know you because I know myself. Guided by love, hope, faith and fear. All beautiful in our own fucked up ways. We celebrate a life full of jaggedness because that's where all the good shit is...
The press blurb:

Your ears are ringing as you pour yourselves out of the bar and into the street, still laughing.  The moon is bright in the night sky and the way it mixes with the streetlights makes you see each other in a way you’ve missed for the last few years.  In that moment, all the hard times fade away.  When she smiles, it makes you smile.  She grabs your hand as you think to yourself, “Some Girls Still Love Rock N’ Roll…”

Darwin Deez - "Radar Detector"

In another life (my NYC version), I was friends with this brilliant man.  We both would share the Sidewalk Cafe stage at various times, sometimes on the same night.  I loved his quirky, but fucking unbelievably catchy tunes.  He walked onstage and just fucking had "It."  He was a man amongst boys when he took over that room.  He knew what he was doing and how he wanted to do it.  He had us all mesmerized, every single time.  I was surprised when, years later, after he had achieved some fame, he still remembered me and gave me a great big hug when he saw me at Portland's Holocene.  While I was busy trying to be the second coming of Bob Dylan, he was busy making amazing music that was uniquely his own.  New York was a strange but amazing time.  But, Bravo sir on all the success!  You deserve it!

The B-52's - "Private Idaho"

What would a list of "fun" songs (not Fun. songs, God those guys are the fucking worst, still) be without some B-52's.  With a long list of crowd pleasers, I picked the one I return the most to.  It's fun and silly and catchy as hell.  Just what I need to chase the demons away...

Billy Joel - "The Longest Time"

This is one of the songs that reminds me of how much I can't sing.  Sure, I can do a great Rock N' Roll vocal but this is another level.  William goes back in time to remind us of why he is a national treasure.  I've almost worn out my vinyl copy of this album, but am ready to replace it should it fail me.  I cannot live without "The Longest Time," "Uptown Girl" or "An Innocent Man," nor should anyone.  The video is a little weird but don't let it distract you from one of the best pop songs of all-time.

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - "Jimmy Mack"

I've had a strange obsession with Martha for a long time.  When it comes to singers, there's something intangible that attracts me to certain voices.  I just fall in love with them and they just feel "right."  Obviously, Otis is the #1 example of that but Martha is high on that list.  I just love her voice, her energy, just her in general.  I was also lucky enough to see her live and in-person at Jimmy Mak's here in Portland.  She had previously played with drummer Mel Brown (Motown/R&B staple back in the day and current Portland Jazz staple) in the sixties and the amount of personality between them was boiling over and off the stage.  It was an incredible show which included my personal highlight of Martha acknowledging that my girlfriend had the funkiest of chickens.  A truly memorable night and why "Jimmy Mack" always brings a huge smile to my face.

Talking Heads - "Artists Only"

This is a song that I, once a week, sing over and over in my head.  Why once a week?  Well, that is how often I clean my apartment.  And yes, for the hour and a half it takes, the only thing I can think is:  "I'm cleaning.  I'm cleaning again."  That and how much I love the big suit from "Stop Making Sense."  Brianne Kathleen and I actually paid a little homage during our dance breaks whilst recording her album.  Check out THIS VIDEO at 3:35 through to see how we get down.

Michael Jackson - "The Way You Make Me Feel"

Just... Fucking c'mon.  I can't tell you how many times, as a child, I re-enacted this music video in my living room.  Well, my mom could probably tell you but, needless to say, it's a fucking lot.  I never got the girl at the end, but I'll be damned if I didn't try my hardest.  Probably just didn't dance well enough...

Paul Simon - "You Can Call Me Al"

If the greatest music video of all time can't cheer you up, than nothing can...

Some random ass thoughts on Billy Joel and the Green Bay Packers. Also, Bradley Fuckin' Wik does an interview (not here, but it is on the internet)...

Better things, inane musings and what the fuck is the deal with the Green Bay Packers?

Like many of you out there, I've had a rough couple of weeks since the election.  But, I don't really want to talk about that right now as it's been talked to death and we have four more years to complain about it; so I'll save my commentary until after the fucker has been sworn in to office...  So, on to some better things, some inane things and some downright puzzling things.

Let's start with some better things.

First, I've had the pleasure of doing an interview for Trainwreck'd Society.  Over at Trainwreck'd, they have interviews, reviews and other features and musings on pop culture, from music to movies to comedy.  I love the environment Ron has created with his writing and look forward to his forthcoming podcast. You can read the interview in its entirety HERE:

https://trainwreckdsociety.com/2016/11/14/bradley-wik-interview/

I talk about my last album "Burn What You Can, Bury the Rest..." and where "This Old House" comes from amongst other things.  I always enjoy talking about music, especially my own, so this was a lot of fun for me.  I cannot wait to kick off press for the new album so I get to talk about myself even more.  But this is a great way to introduce yourself to my musical side a bit, if somehow, you don't already stalk me on the internet and revel in my every word.  

Second, also in better news, it's ThanksFuckingGiving time!  Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday and it's not particularly close.  My favorite non-turkey Thanksgiving food:  green bean casserole.  It's the perfect dish for celebrating the beginning of the systematic removal of my people (I'm Native American, in case you didn't already know) from the earth in the name of white people feeling superior to people with skin pigment.  Ahh, good times...  At least I look white person-ish enough to partake in eating until I feel sick, watching football, then eating again, watching more football, then eating some desert, not because I'm hungry (I'm still sick from dinner #2) but because cake and pie is delicious and someone has to eat it.  All joking aside, I do love Thanksgiving and all its leftovers.  This year I am most thankful to live in a country, though it has its faults, that allows me to create and pursue my art with no repercussions.  I would not live where I live, love the woman I love, know the people I know without music.  It's been quite a journey from little 'ol Horicon, WI (Go Marshmen!), population 3000.  Quite a fucking journey, indeed...

OK, how about some inane musings?

Ever wonder why Billy Joel's four best albums (The Stranger, Glass Houses, 52nd Street and An Innocent Man) save their worst song for last?  I do.  I think about that a lot.  Now, to be fair, "Through the Long Night" off "Glass Houses" isn't actually a terrible song, like "Keeping the Faith," "52nd Street" and "Everybody Has a Dream" are, it's just the worst song on that album.  And even those others aren't terrible songs, just not very good, especially compared to the rest of those particular albums.  Those songs would be the second or third best songs on later Joel albums or the best songs Mumford and Sons ever wrote, but that's a whole other ball of wax.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately with the countdown officially on (I received test pressings for my album yesterday!) for the release of my long-awaited second album, "In My Youth, I'm Getting Old..." (apparently I like long, comma-separated titles with ellipsis' at the end...  Damn, did it there again...).  I've worked diligently on the tracklists of my albums as the order of the songs can greatly influence the feel, the flow and the ability of a group of songs to turn into an album, something greater than the sum of its parts; which is something that is severely lacking in modern musical releases.  As an example of how to close a record the right way, my first album ended with this fucking behemoth:

https://bradleywikandthecharlatans.bandcamp.com/track/just-like-jon-fickes

I know, it's long but trust me, it's worth it (that's what she said).  That song is journey and a story unto itself.  It is, without a doubt, one of my favorite songs that I have ever written.  It's hard to make eight minutes and fourteen seconds interesting and listen-worthy, but we actually had to work hard to cut it down to that final version.  "Just Like Jon Fickes" tells the story of a girl who moves to New York City in the hopes of becoming a successful musician.  Eventually it wears her down and she is killed by the weight of her struggles and her failures.  I didn't say it was uplifting, I just said it was a hell of a way to wrap an album as opposed to, say:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph7oZnBH05s

(hopefully, they didn't make you watch the stupid Onerepublic ad I had to.  God, they fucking suck and it's criminal to call that music...)  At least Mr. Joel's video is stupidly entertaining.

Alright, now for the downright puzzling...

What is the deal with the Green Bay Packers?  It's been a tough season to stay positive as a Packers fan, to say the least.  At the outset, our offense was still shit but our defense was amazing.  We won three of our first four before you needed to buy an abacus (can you rent an abacus?  Something to think about) to count the number of injuries we had to our starters.  Down our top three corners, our only three running backs, some lineman, our middle linebackers and, of course, Clay Matthews, who finally got to move back outside and was wreaking some good havoc the first few weeks.  Then, our offense started to look like it might get back on track but has been so bipolar I've needed to take drugs just to watch it.  Trust me, that's the best way to watch this Packers team:  on drugs.

We've been so spoiled as Packers fans that it's hard to accept a non-playoff year but that's what we might be looking at.  At the outset, I thought this team had the look of that 2014 team that should've went to and won the Super Bowl.  Maybe this is the football gods punishing us for botching every single one of a dozen or so plays that, had we made even one, would've closed out the Seahawks in that Championship game.  That was easily the toughest and most inexplicable loss I've witnessed in my life.  But at least we had the playoffs that year.  The Lions, of all fucking teams, are currently leading the NFC North and I can't understand how this happened.  It just seems the injuries were just too much to overcome this year and Aaron wasn't able to drag us to ten wins and a playoff berth despite fielding a defense made up of special teamers and rookies.  And, for anyone who thinks that Aaron Rodgers has lost it, uhh, just remember this play:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttDn8K7QzaU

Or go back and watch this throw you probably missed or forgot:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/09/aaron-rodgers-best-throw-nfl-history-michael-vick-randall-cunningham-jay-cutler

He's still the most talented quarterback in the NFL, which is why it's so maddening to see him do those things then promptly miss a wide open Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb or Davante Adams, who deserves a ton of praise while having this amazing bounceback year after all the shit he took while being injured and losing his confidence last season.  I'm happy for Davante.  I tried to tell everyone last year to cut him a break, now you see why.

Anyway, all we can do is watch and support our Green Bay Packers.  They'll figure it out eventually.  If not this season, then next.  Of course, there might not be a next season (or a country where America used to be) depending on what future President Trump does in his first eight months...  

Stay positive and always remember they can fire you, but they can't eat you...