Last night I put the new Atmosphere album on my ipod, and went out for a walk. I usually bike, but I wanted to give this album my full attention. My steps were slow and purposeful as I dissolved into my headphones. I think I love Atmosphere because they manage to perfectly capture what I can only describe as midwestern ennui. Only a few songs on each album speak to me personally, but the wholeness of each album captures the essence of this struggle so many of us seem to be caught in. This latest album is amazing–and even brought tears to my eyes at points–but that’s not really what this post is about.

It’s about this midwestern ennui. Somewhere between listening to this album for the first time, walking the cool streets of Chicago, and staying up all night in conversation with friends, I felt a release. My alarm is going off as I write, and I might get called in to work in 3 hours, but I feel good. So what is it? It’s not depression–though we all have our dips–and it’s not the struggle alone. I think it’s this lost feeling that a lot of my/our generation seems to experience. The relief doesn’t come from understanding our roles in this mess of a society, or finding direction for our lives, because we don’t expect to accomplish these things any time soon. The relief comes from connecting with others in the struggle, like meeting a stranger through the fog. That’s why I listen to this music. That’s why I stayed up all night in conversation. That’s why I could give a damn about getting enough sleep for another day of another day, because tonight I felt a connection and managed a brief escape.