Assisted Living - The Mendoza Line - We're All In This Alone - 2000

Anand and I made our way back to the first bar in the area, swimming our way against the stream of fans with appropriate tickets happily walking their way to the stadium. We came to the first bar, which had a sign that said "Home" supporters only. I flashed my Arsenal Jersey under my hoodie to prove that I came to support the good guys.

We actually told the bouncer at the door about what had happened with us and the cop, which actually won us the respect of the bar. The first round was on the house. And fortunately we got to watch an Arsenal victory, with Robin Van Persie converting a penalty to give us the lead.

We drank a lot...I mean, A. LOT. It was the only way to dull the pain of the experience.

The Mendoza Line continue their run of low-self esteem, mumblecore, alt-country/westerburg-esque rock here. You don't listen to this band expecting surprises, just a tasty kind of dissapointment.

All Heart, No Eyes - The Mendoza Line - We're All In This Alone - 2000

If you ever want to do a comprehensive study of low feminine self-esteem I would highly recommend you cull Shannon McArdle's songs from all the Mendoza Line albums. Hopefully, I will actually stick with this long enough to make it to the "I's" just so I can talk about "I'm That" but for the moment I'll make do with this one.

Essientially, any one of her songs work like this: She has a crush on a guy who is willing to use her for sex. She does not feel as if she is cool/pretty/smart/"good" enough for this person. She does not feel as if she deserves his love. She knows that he is using her, but would rather be used than be alone. And all of this is pinned to the Mendoza Line's slightly lazy alt-country twang.

Just brutal, brutal stuff.