I'm back, I think...

... and I bet none of you missed me. Ah, there are so many blogs to choose from these days. So where have I been? To dismiss rumours, no, I have not found better things to do now that I am 21. I did spend a few days celebrating my birthday (not too much, of course), but that isn't why I've been neglecting my blog. You see, it's summer, and life is crazy. I spent some time in Tennessee visiting my boyfriend's family for his cousin's wedding. I've also been working a lot of mornings lately, and that has given me less time to focus on writing. Like I said, it's summer. I have been doing a lot of things that have kept me away from the computer. I do plan, however, to spend more time in my little corner of the internet whenever I have the opportunity. I wouldn't expect daily entries, but I'll still try when I can. Bear with me, folks. It's a busy life.

That having been said, I'm going to try to cover all the bases here. I can't guarantee I'll touch on your favorite news tip of the month, but I'm going to at least get to everything I find interesting. Don't get mad if I miss something.

So, then, what's the haps, paps?

First and probably foremost for a lot of you is the tragic deaths of Michael Dahlquist, John Glick, and Douglas Meis. I will be totally honest with you. Until I read about them today, I had no idea who they were. I had, in fact, never even heard the names. I don't know if that makes me a bad person, but I do know that, even though I never knew who they were, this event goes far beyond being a tragedy. It's a travesty. Dahlquist, Glick, and Meis were killed, no... murdered, in a foiled suicide attempt. On the afternoon of July 14th in Chicago, the seemingly derranged Jeanette Sliwinski drove her car through a red light at speeds of 70 mph, colliding with the back of the car the three were driving in. Sliwinski has been charged with three counts of first degree homicide and two counts of aggrivated battery for the two people who were injured at the scene. You know, the music industry is no stranger to this kind of tragedy. That is, however, no excuse to gloss it over. These were men with hopes, goals, and aspirations that will now and forever remain unfulfilled. The effect of their loss is just now beginning to be felt, but it will continue for a very long time. Take, for example, the band Silkworm, in which Dahlquist was drummer. They have decided they can no longer go on since, in their minds and hearts, he is irreplaceable. Just a week ago they were on their way to something great, and now, in essence and in reality, it's over. What becomes of something like this? I don't what will happen, but in this kind of situation, rather than just focusing on the devastation, I look to the future. Who knows what kid has been sitting in his bedroom playing guitar and listening to Silkworm and is now inspired to start something because of how much he loved them. Maybe there's someone out there who was contemplating suicide but has since had a change of heart because he or she saw what kind of terrible consequences there could be. We'll never know, really. I'm not trying to be sappy or cheesy or anything, but the dreams of these men don't die when they do. They live on in that kid in his bedroom. And that's the beauty of music.

In other news...

The legendary alt-rock band The Pixies are reuniting to record their first album in 14 years. It's a very amicable reunion, says frontman Black Francis. "It's all hugs and kisses, I'm pleased to report." Of course, there's no word on when it will happen, but at least we know it's in the works.

Speaking of new albums, local Columbus band Tiara is readying a new album entitled Chained to the Crown. See donewaiting.com for a look at the album artwork and a few mp3s.

Lest we not forget about Ladytron. I couldn't possibly! The band just signed to Universal Records and will release their latest album, Witching Hour, in September. You have two chances to hear previews from the album, one being the single "Sugar," which came out last month, and the latest single, "Destroy Everything You Touch," which will hit the UK on August 26.

In case you didn't already know, Death Cab for Cutie has Plans to release their latest on August 30. The first single can be streamed on their myspace profile, and to me it sounds like they wrote it intentionally for The OC. Different strokes for different folks, I guess, but it makes me wonder if they really had the same motives for this album, their first on Atlantic, that they did for the rest of their albums on Barsuk. Lead crooner Ben Gibbard insisted when the band inked the deal that they would remain the same band they always were, but that sounds like a far-fetched idea. Come on, they're making so much more money and they're practically playing arenas. That's a far cry from the hole-in-the-wall venues I've been accustomed to seeing them at. But hey, if that's the way they want to go, then that's their business. It's okay with me. I was beginning to dislike them anyway.

Another band you either hate to love or love to hate is making a comeback. Despite rough negotiations, The Spice Girls are now recording new songs to include on their greatest hits album, set for release next year in honour of the ten-year anniversary of their first hit, "Wannabe." How you can have a greatest hits album with only about six singles, two successful albums and one incredibly big flop is beyond me, but I'm secretly (or not-so secretly) looking forward to their return. It's a shame they couldn't reunite as nicely as The Pixies. The girls couldn't agree to a location, so they are recording it in four separate locations across the globe. Hmm, the next Postal Service?

A change of appearance has not kept Sufjan Stevens down. The success of his latest album, a tribute to the state of Illinois, is overwhelming. And, yes, the blogs are going nuts over it (sorry to those of you who are sick of hearing about him). With two states down in two years, the dream of getting all 50 states done seems like it's out of the question. Stevens sat down with The Daily Bruin to discuss the status of the project and whether or not he plans to continue with it. "After about 10, when I run out of ideas, I'll either collaborate or commission other bands," Stevens said. "That's partly kidding, but I might be serious." As for which state will be next, Stevens mentions he was working on Rhode Island and New Jersey while he was working on Illinois. Or maybe it will be Arkansas. He already got a head start on that one when NPR commissioned him to write a song about Brinkley, Arkansas. The song, "The Lord God Bird," is, of course, absolutely fabulous. He doesn't disappoint. I just hope he hits Ohio before he stops doing albums by himself. While we wait, listen to the live recording of Stevens' recent appearance on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, care of Welcome to the M!dwest!.

It's time to say goodbye to Q and not U. The band has decided to call it quits, saying that they have achieved everything they wanted to do as a band and that it's time to move on. I'm not all that broken-hearted about it. It's been a while since I got into them, but it's always kinda sad to hear about a band breaking up.

Tomorrow is a slow day for album releases.
Bloc Party - Pioneers (single)
Wrens - Come Back Lover (reissue)

There's a really funny video travelling through the blogosphere. It's aptly entitled Stop Emo Haircuts. The funny part is that I recognize a lot of the pictures from myspace. You might want to turn down the volume, though. Kinda crappy hardcore in the background.

Upcoming Columbus Shows

7.19 - Dressy Bessy - Little Brothers
7.20 - Howie Day - Promowest Pavilion
7.20 - Luna Halo w/ Modena Vox - Skully's Music Diner
7.22 - Tegan and Sara - Newport Music Hall
7.24 - Cake @ the CD101 Summer Fest - Promowest Pavilion
8.01 - Shout Out Louds w/ The Redwalls - The Basement
8.11 - Ben Folds w/ Ben Lee and Rufus Wainwright - Promowest Pavilion
8.12 - Velvet Revolver w/ Chevelle - Germain Ampitheater
8.13 - Switchfoot - The Ohio State Fair
8.20 - Pretty Girls Make Graves - Little Brothers
8.23 - Thunderbirds Are Now! w/ Kiss Me Quick - Little Brothers
8.30 - Xiu Xiu w/ Das Yellow Swans and Nedelle - Little Brothers
8.31 - Coldplay w/ Rilo Kiley - Germain Ampitheater
9.02 - Over the Rhine - Little Brothers
9.10 - The White Stripes w/ The Greenhornes - Ohio Theater
9.14 - Sufjan Stevens - Southgate House (Newport, KY)
9.24 - The Rolling Stones w/ Beck - Germain Ampitheater
10.14 - The Decemberists - Newport Music Hall

Daily Downloads
from the regnyouth archives

Supergrass - I Should Coco
The Aquabats - The Aquabats vs. The Floating Death
Blur - Think Tank
Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Slow Riot for a Zero Kanada EP