"Oh, Inverted World..."

Have you ever watched a movie and just... felt it? Or listened to a song, and felt the words and the instruments move through your body like a current. The feelings touch every fiber in your body and spark something real. The connection that you have with something like music or a movie is just so fantastic... You try, with all that you have, to describe it. I, of course, just watched Garden State. If you haven't seen it, stop reading this blog. Stop now. Go to the video store and rent it. If they don't have it, go to another video store. You do not stop until you find that movie. Every time I watch this movie, I want to (and well, do) cry. And not for the typical reasons that someone cries in a movie. The love story, the deaths, the ultimate triumph of the protagonist. Granted, those are all ingredients to a brilliant movie. But they aren't in the meat of the story. The truth and the message of the story. That is what makes me cry. The connection that this movie can make with just about everyone. What a wonderful feeling it is to know that you aren't alone in this confusing world. What an amazing feeling it is to know that it is okay to be weird and silly and awkward and loud and quiet and anything you want to be. If there is one thing, only one, that I must choose to derive from this movie, it is hope. A huge reason for the feelings that come from this movie is the soundtrack. This movie is solely based around one of the greatest bands of all time (granted, I am biased... they are one of my favorite bands of all times): The Shins. Which is why I have two homework assignments for anyone who could possibly ever read this blog, whether it be this week, next month, or years from now. First, rent Garden State. Watch it, and learn from it. Second, go to either http://www.theshins.com/ and watch the videos that they have under "Media" or youtube.com and search Sub Pop Records and listen to every Shin video they have. Breathe in the pure glory of the songs. Sink them in. Let the lyrics move through you! Let all of it take you over and give you the answers to life. That is what Garden State and The Shins have done for me. I hope they can do the same for you, too.

Love, Bre

The Shins: My Personal Favorites:
"New Slang"*
"Australia"
"Gone For Good"
"Know Your Onion!"
"Those To Come"
"A Comet Appears"
"The Past And The Pending"
"Caring is Creepy"
"Red Rabbits"
"Sea Legs"
"Saint Simon"*