After a quick first post, it's time for a real first post. I'm going to steal a few ideas from everyone on this one.

Summer Music And Books

Like Erik, I'm really excited to be able to have 3 months to hang out, listen to music, and read.

The best part of listening to music in the summer is driving around with the windows down. It's real cheesy, but it's kind of a dream of mine to go on a road trip in a convertible, cruising down the interstate, listening to tunes, and of course everyone is wearing sunglasses. That's not going to happen anytime in the foreseeable future, so until then, it's windows down with my imagination going. This is what (in no particular order, oh wow, I'm unoriginal) I'll be jamming too this summer.

1) Le Face - Isolation

This album is sick. Noise punk is huge all of a sudden, which is kind of cool because there is a lot more music out there, but a bunch of bands are starting to sound the same. Le Face rules though, they've got some sweet hooks. It's the perfect mix between the noise, hiss, and pop.

2) Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

All time favorite album. Good anytime, but especially great for summer. "Range Life" is such a great song, it should be the official anthem of summers everywhere. The line "Out on my skateboard, the night is just hummin'..." is so gorgeous and perfectly describes my dream summer, full of hangouts and 100% carefree.

3) Abe Vigoda - 2007 7" / Skeleton

I wore out that Abe Vigoda 7" last summer, and I'm planning on doing it again. There's only two songs on it, but they may be the two most perfect songs I've ever heard. It's not really an album, but it might be my favorite record. Skeleton is great too, tropical noise punk. I can't even begin to describe how perfect of an idea that is. I love tropical music, it's perfect for summer.

4) Os Mutantes - Os Mutantes / Mutantes

Tropicália is a sweet movement that deserves more attention. Os Mutantes are really psychedelic tropical music. Like I said before I love tropical music, I also dig some weird psychedelic shit. Favorites are "Baby" and "Dois Mil E Um". Forgot to mention these guys are from Brazil and speak Portuguese. I'm going to learn Portuguese sometime soon.

5) Prussia - Dear Emily, Best Wishes, Molly

Again, pretty tropical sounding. It's kind of funny that I equate tropical music with summer, seeing as I live in Indiana. Sounds like a tropical version of Danielson. Awesome.

As far as reading goes this summer, right now I'm planning on reading Atlas Shrugged and The Gift Of Asher Lev. If I can get those finished quickly then I'll probably read some John Kennedy Toole.

Other Summer Goals

Hanging out. This is the last summer that all of my friends will be together, and I plan on making the most of it. I feel kind of bad, but my family is definitely going to end up on the back burner summer '09.

Payne's. Here at school I spend a lot of my free time at Greyhouse, this summer Payne's will be my Greyhouse.

Music. I'm going to see Animal Collective twice, Passion Pit, Pitchfork Fest, and maybe Lollapalooza. I'm going to go to every show possible this summer. I'm hoping to get down to Bloomington with Aaron a couple of times. I'm also going to work on playing guitar, and I want to try to worm my way in on some people's bands.

Traveling. Like I said I'm going to a bunch of concerts, but I'm going to head down to Cinci a couple of times hopefully, and over toward Arlington Heights to see Zach.

Riding bikes daily. I've been riding an exercise bike like crazy lately (20 miles today), but I'm hoping to save up enough to put together a sweet fixie.

Blog Goals

I plan on bring the usual blog stuff to the table (music reviews, talking about how shitty my day was, etc.), but I really want to play the zine angle. I'm going to try to carry a tape recorder, and if I meet someone interesting, I'll interview them. I want to document some sweet experiments as well. These are my inspiration:

http://www.theplug.net/index.htm

http://www.viceland.com/index_int_r.php

I hope this blog lasts much longer than summer. Dream come true would be we pick up a bunch of contributors, everyone finds their voice, we get a real website going, and end up doing this part time or something. That's wishful thinking though.

This was way too long, anyways, I'm Austin, I'm 19, I'll be 20 soon. Summer Teen Diary everyone.