How much money has been thrown away to fund the war in Iraq? The following video is an example of how much of a financial crisis America is really in. Imagine this and multiply it by seven years.
I received an email shortly after 10:00pm this evening from iTunes letting me know that my pre-ordered download of Coldplay’s new album was now available. My heart started to race and a child-like giddiness began to bubble to the surface–it was like Christmas back when I was five all over again! After my anticlimactic experience with Violet Hill, I did not know what to expect. Quickly, with a swift click of the mouse, I was on my way to be treated to Coldplay’s fourth, and arguably their best, album to date.
The marked progression and evolution of their songwriting definitely shines through from the moment Life in Technicolor begins up until Death and All His Friends / The Escapist tapers off to a slow, bittersweet goodbye. Recorded in the churches of Spain and various areas in Latin America, Coldplay’s thematic Viva La Vida… emerges in victory after a thoroughly introspective exploration in religion, mortality and love. Musically, this release sways back and forth experimenting with ambient soundscapes, subtle pianos, distorted, almost Radiohead-esque guitars, more prominent percussion, a much defined vocal palette, sometimes considerably beyond the falsetto, and a large accompaniment of strings. I would love to go into more detail and examine what makes each track tick, but would rather you experience it for yourself. Coming from a devoted fan of the band, they have come a long way since Yellow.
I’m back. I spent three days camping at Pismo Beach with Robbie, Vivien and Erika this past weekend. It has been quite a while since I have had the opportunity to relax, live freely and have fun. I enjoyed… Let me rephrase that–We all enjoyed every second lounging about without “real world” responsibilities distracting us. Most of our time was spent sitting around the campfire, eating, sunbathing, drinking, and simply enjoying each other’s company. Here are a few snapshots that were taken to document our trip. Click the link after the last photo to view pHluid’s complete flickr photostream. Enjoy!
