Cold War Kids - Mezzanine, SF, 12.10.08 Something Is Not Right With Me Coda

The new Cold War Kids album (Loyalty to Loyalty) has a ridiculous amount of references I could apply to my life. First of all, there's a song called "Something Is Not Right With Me" which is painfully obvious (3rd doc appointment this week on Friday!). Something is not right with me; how was I supposed to know?
Then there's Relief, which, along with a deeply soothing deep bass throb throughout, contains the line, "You made it out alive, oh what a relief," which applies to various chunks of my existence.
Avalanche in Apartment B may have relevance beyond the fact that I live in Apartment B, just like Golden Gate Jumpers would be more relevant if I were suicidal but is still nice because, hey, who doesn't love the Golden Gate Bridge? And I live within WALKING distance. If you like walks that take an hour or two. Still, great ending - "If the sharks don't get you first, the crabs will have their way with you." And yet Nathan Willet makes it sound so, so sweet.
I take issue with the chorus of Mexican Dogs although I understand it. "Like Mexican Dogs / Nobody gave us names." See, I was down in Mexico with the Environmental Law Caucus in January of '07 and whilst frolicking through San Felipe we encountered a pair of perros (peros?) - cute li'l doggies who would cuddle with themselves when no one was there to cuddle with them. Anyway, long story short, somehow Emily and Angela and Rishi and Jen and Craig managed to come up with names for the dogs. I don't remember if I helped or contributed to the naming, but nevertheless somebody gave THEM names.
Dreams Old Men Dream is a classic I-totally-need-your-lovin' euphoriac guitar ballad you could see John Cusack blasting out of a boombox held above his head. Aside from the way Welcome To The Occupation appeals to my mommy-and-daddy issues, and until I grow up I'll love the chorus: "And I give up / raising your kids, America / You treat 'em like an obligation / Welcome to the occupation." But more importantly, this verse tickles my political pickle in a big and righteous way. "Whistleblowers, we know how you feel. Public servants surrender their free will. But you can't be in politics and work in the circus, you have to choose just one. YOU HOLD THE NAIL, I'LL SWING THE HAMMER, THAT'S HOW THINGS GET DONE."
Damn right it is.




P.S. I, too, am Against Privacy. Expect my call soon.