LOVE New York

all you need is love...
thats Johnny Greenwood (radiohead) with his kids inbetween the V and E
we followed him for two blocks before I took this picture
what can i say, im a "creep"

I Heard a Rumor that You Quit this Day & Age

Considering that The Killers are my favorite band and in return I am their biggest fan, I thought it appropriate to dedicate this post to their new album Day&Age released November 24.
First of all, I cant say if the CD is their best so far; every one of their albums has such a different sound. This is however by far one of the best albums of 2008. It has a soul searching, 80's reminiscent, poppy sound that you can dance to while thinking about lifes greatest questions, you cant ask for more than that. In an attempt to become the next U2, the killers have made a record that can easily be labeled "epic."
Here is a track-by-track overview of the album:
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Losing Touch
David Bowie couldnt have made this song better himself. A great intro into the CD with its energetic saxaphones and an amazing guitar preformance by Dave Keuning.
"But you made your way back home.You sold your soul, like a Roman vagabond yeah"

_

Human
80's new wave was never sweeter. This song is phenomenal. Great dance song that will be around for ever. One of the more soul searching tracks on the album, Brandon Flowers sings,

"And i'm on my knees looking for the answer. Are we human or are we (dancers or denser)?"

There is still debate on whether or not the word is dancers or denser. Either way, this song is one of the best on the album.

_

Spaceman
Cant help but think of Bowies "Space Oddity" listening to this song. Its a fun upbeat song that has a chorus that is fun to sing along with and rock out to. Amazing drums keep the song energetic while the base keeps your toe tapping. Another one of the best of the album.
"The song maker says, "It ain't so bad." The dream maker's going make you mad; The spaceman says, 'Everybody look down! Its all in your mind!'"

_

Joy Ride
A spunky song with a base that you can almost salsa dance to. Has a Las Vegasy/SouthWesterny sound that makes you want to just hop in your car and "Joy Ride."
"When your chips are down, When your highs are low. Joyride. Move across the night, Like a seperate wind"
_

A Dustland Fairytale
A beautiful narritave with a climax that makes your chest swell. Brings us back to the sound of their second album Sam's Town with its dusty young girl in a small town feel. Flowers does a great job showing he can back his deep lyrics with a strong penatating voice.

"Saw cinderella in a party dress, but She was looking for a night gown. I saw the devil warping up his hands. Hes getting ready for the show down."
_

This is Your Life
A pretty song with both tribal chanting and a harpischord, odd i know, but it works and creats a mesmorizing song with a unique beat that cant be beat.
"And the sky is full of dreams, But you don't know how to fly. I don't have a simple answer, But I know that I could answer...Something better"

_

I Can't Stay
Another one of my favorite songs. A Carribian sounding beat that you can groove to. Its a relaxing song with its delicious combination of steel drums, harp, sax, and acoustic guitar. Mmmmm enjoy it.
"In the dark, for a while now. I can't stay, so far. I can't stay, much longer. Riding my decision home"

_

Neon Tiger
One of the slower and less complex songs, it has a great message as it gently rises into a noisy climax that gets you rooting for the freedom of that fugitive neon tiger.
"But neon tiger there's a lot on your mind. They promised just to pet you, but don't you let them get you. Away, away, away. Under the neon southwest sun"
_

The World We Live In
Another soul searching serenade by Flowers. Its fun to listen to but doesnt quite have that catchy pull most of the other tracks do, its definitely easy listening. Good driving song.

"This is the world that we live in. I can't take blame for two. This is the world that we live in. And maybe we'll make it through"

_

Goodnight, Travel Well

Perfect song to end the album with. It slowly lulls you into a coma of deep lyrics and crashing cymbals. Seven minutes of close your eyes, nod your heat to the beat, and absorb the beautiful music and message as the curtain closes on another amazing Killers album.

"And all that stands between the souls release. This temporary flesh and bone. We know that it's over now. I feel my faded mind begin to roam"
"goodnight, travel well.

goodnight, travel well.

and there's nothing I can say

there's nothing I can do now"

brenden in a basement

Sitting in a basement with my hood on, thinking. Saw twilight last night, lets just say the book is better. Edward looked more like an alien than a vampire.
Current book: “The Kite Runner” - its been a little slow getting into but the character development is astonishing. I'm now best friends with Amir and Hassan.

Sitting in a basement with my hood on, thinking. This semester has flown by. Next week everyone leaves for home and I'm holding down the fort with Moh my Malian roommate and bff. He asked if we would have a thanksgiving of our own. Last night we were watching UFC and Moh got all this energy and put my boxing gloves on and

started harassing Nathan while he was taking out his contacts. Moh looked at me and whispered something, then quietly gestured that he was going to punch Nathan. He pretended to gather all his strength and punch him in the back of the head. He thought he was pretty funny as he swung and missed Nate’s head on purpose. Then he did a few kick moves and shadow boxed for a little and came back and said “oy! Brhunden” (that’s how he pronounces my name) and he gestured like he was going to punch Nathan in the back of the head again. He got in position and looked like he was about to throw the hardest punch of his life, then when he swung, instead of missing like he had intended, he landed the punch square in the back of Nates head causing him to jerk forward, yelling, “what the heck moh!? That kind of crap isn’t funny!” ... haha ... I tried so hard not to laugh, nate was fuming. I saw it a good opportunity to teach Moh a new word, “accident,” and he apologized to Nathan using it. Good times.

Music to listen to: the killers new album "Day & Age" and Tisbury Lane by Mae

brenden inspired

due to recent events inspiration has forced itself upon me. blog blog blog blog.
d'you know that inspiration comes from a greek word (inspirar) that means "to breath life into" my first sentence roughly retranslated would be something to the effect, due to recent events I have forcefully had the life blown into me. hmm thats funny. anyhow, its 12:15 p.m. and I just woke up. I have fifteen to sixteen more pages for english to write that need to be turned in later tonight in class at 5:00. Oy vey.
"Its college!"
yesterdays highlights were moh homework, apple pie, and atonement. love new friends.

New York New York - first day

I sat next to an orthodox Jew on the subway.

Reading hebrew.

Went our for 16 dollar pizza. 

Jon, Ellen, Olive, Josh

Packing for New York!

This morning. Woke up at a house not my own. Ate eggo waffles. Went swimming with a girl. Played with two big black dogs. Watched "In the land of women" or something like that. It had adrian brody in it. I really liked it for some reason. Probably because i identified with poor poor brody. Old friend Jim called me and woke me up this morning, were going to hang when i get back, im having my mom send me my warhammer set so I can battle him royal. Ravenwing (dark angels) for life!

Anyways, im way excited for NY. Plenty of pictures to come.

Raccoon Eyes

Fear and loathing in las vegas was nothing short of stupid. The dark knight was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time however. The IMAX experience intensified the memory for me. Josh threw a party and everyone came dressed as their spirit animal.  Apparently mine was a raccoon. My hair is so short now I look like i'm in the army and just got back from my second tour in Iraq. Music to listen to M.I.A., the song with the gun shots in it. 

Pied piping. Followers of an uncouth tune.

People leading people. Being people. Becoming other people. Chasing tails, but never their own.

Life seems to be a game of self discovery yet all too often we find ourselves playing not to win, but to come in a close second to the anticipated winner we have placed all bets on. Who wants to come in first place if it means finishing alone? There is no map for the trail blazer. Precedence precedes personality it sadly seems. 

The pied piper plays on.

The tune rings clearly in their ears and like clockwork their eager little hands work tirelessly to keep up appearances. Like children asked to copy a pattern or color with in the lines. No one knows no one, they all know someone, but do they know them selves? Imitation... the sincerest form of flattery. Will no one flatter themselves? 

The pied piper plays on.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Good luck loving your neighbor when you don't love yourself. There is a necessary progression. An evolution. Like crawling to walking. You cant write until you can read, but that doesn't mean you have to write what you read. Yet how often do we wait to write until we have read what others have written? 

The pied piper plays on.