Wenzel’s Essentials
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wenzelsessentials.bsky.social
Wenzel’s Essentials
@wenzelsessentials.bsky.social
I’m Wenzel and this is my project to discover and review what books, films and music I find essential! I’ll also talk about games and any media related news!

2025:
Books📚: 36/20
Films🎥: 130/100
Albums🎧: 93/40
Games🎮: 4/12
But that’s what I bought myself for Christmas! If you haven’t treated yourself this holiday season, go for it! Hope everyone has had a good Christmas and happy holidays. And for those who’ve had a shitty year I hope next year will be better for you. The world fucking sucks but you’re not alone ✌️
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
I also bought some other CDs with my initial haul but I’m not expecting these until January.

(left to right)
1. Sametou Sawtan (2025) by SANAM
2. Sasquatch Landslide (2025) by The Dwarfs of East Agouza
3. Siskiyou (2010) by Siskiyou
4. Seek Shelter (2021) by Iceage
5. Soft Hell (2019) by Pill
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Steam Winter Sale 2025:
Haul Two

Along with Haul One I haven’t touched any of these but goddamn I’m so excited I’m gonna try and play some of these this weekend!

If anyone sees any they’ve played from both of my hauls, tell me your thoughts!
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Now on to what I bought from the Steam Winter Sale 2025: Haul One

I tried to get cheaper and lesser known ones and I’ve been really fascinated with Oddworld recently and that was the last one I needed. Ace Combat was stupid cheap and with a new one coming it got me hyped.
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
7. LOTTO (2025) by They Are Gutting a Body of Water

Did not realize this was also shoegaze because this was another blind buy for me. An angsty and harsh sound to this project and understandably so! Enjoyed this and it’s a quick listen as well!

Fav song: american food
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
6. Raspberry Moon (2025) by Hotline TNT

This was a blind buy because I had seen it everywhere but hadn’t listened to it. Conclusion: I dig it! Shoegaze has always been kinda an easy listening genre for me and I really enjoyed the fuzz and distortion of this!

Fav song: Break Right
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
5. Lonely People With Power (2025) by Deafheaven

!!!ACROSS THE VAST WILDS OF TIME!!! I LAID THE GRAIN DOWN THE COASTLINE!!! Up there in my Top 10 albums this year. Such an emotionally intense album with a pristine sound that forced me to stop what I was doing and listen.

Fav song: Doberman
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
4. Pirouette (2025) by Model/Actriz

A hard and sensual album that evokes prima donna energy and I love it. An easy Top 10 album that I had a great time listening to when it first released.

Fav song: Cinderella
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
3. Tranquilizer (2025) by Oneohtrix Point Never

Easy listening, liminal space music is my best description for this. It’s great.

Fav song: it kind of all runs together so I can’t really pinpoint a specific song which isn’t a bad thing! It’s an experience that I just can’t tie to a single song.
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
2. Alpha Zulu (2022) by Phoenix

I loved this album when it came out and I still love it now especially during winter which is why it’s on my current CD rotation.

Fav song: Winter Solstice
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
1. Comfort To Me (2021) by Amyl and The Sniffers

I really got into them last year and this might be my favorite album of theirs??? Love the art as well and since getting back into collecting CDs this year I knew I needed this physically at some point.

Fav song: Hertz
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
but also a bittersweet feeling at how much I loved that movie and the crushing realization that that was 4 months ago and the year is almost over. And I have done nothing that I originally set out to do on here. FUCK.
October 28, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Tuesday 10/07/2025:

Also bought Wednesday’s new album Bleeds on CD as a blind buy since having read it being described as “country shoegaze” and that had me very interested. Currently listening to it as I wait for stuff to install on my Steam Deck and so far very accurate and very good!
October 8, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Tuesday 10/07/2025:

I BOUGHT THE STEAM DECK THAT WAS ON SALE LAST WEEK AND IT CAME TODAY!!! I’VE BEEN WANTING A STEAM DECK FOR SOOO LONG HELL YES!!! I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO PROPERLY PLAY GAMES ON A PC SO THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE! ALSO BOUGHT A BUNCH OF GAMES THAT WERE ON SALE OF COURSE!
October 8, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Friday 10/03/2025:

Stopped by B&N and they had Big Thief’s newest album on sale and a restock of ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF LAST YEAR (Magdalena Bay’s Imaginal Disk).
October 3, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Thursday 10/02/2025:

Just got this in the mail! A CD of Othiel’s WORLDS FASTEST CAR! It released back in May and I only just listened to it last month and it rips! And I (luckily) ended up snagging their last copy lol
October 3, 2025 at 2:35 AM