plus: RealNetworks layoffs. X [ tickets ] reissues. The inspiration of music journalism.

From Backstreet Boys [ tickets ]' Online Direct Team:

Hey Backstreet fans!

I'm sure all of you are aware by now that A.J is currently undergoing treatment for clinical depression. Brian, Nick, Howie, and Kevin are standing strong behind A.J. during this time. Instead of hiding this issue, the guys have decided to remain honest with us, their fans [italics ours]. ...

In lighter news, for a limited time, if you spend over $55, you can receive 20% off of your purchase at the Backstreet Boys Official Store. ... Hurry, this deal won't last forever!

The Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun News reported that 47 people were arrested during a Widespread Panic [ tickets ] concert on Wednesday night (7/25) at the Myrtle Beach Speedway. The majority of the arrests reportedly were for marijuana possession, but others were nabbed for distribution of cocaine, heroin, hallucinogenic mushrooms and Ecstasy.

Streaming-media company RealNetworks announced on Thursday (7/26) that it laid off 140 of its 950 employees, CNet.com reported.

Rhino Records will reissue X [ tickets ]'s first three albums--1980's "Los Angeles," 1981's "Wild Gift" and 1982's "Under the Big Black Sun"--on Sept. 18. The CDs will include previously unreleased material.

According to RollingStone.com, "the original X lineup of bassist/singer Doe, singer Exene Cervenka, drummer DJ Bonebrake and guitarist Billy Zoom will re-group and play a handful of dates, beginning with an August 17 show at the Roseland Theater in Portland."

We live out here in the City of Dreams, and yeah, it's a trial at times, but sometimes you'll be at a club, watching a good local band, and you'll be aware of all the incredible music that has been created in this metropolis, and suddenly L.A. seems both welcoming and worth it.

At which point, a reality-show producer talking on two cell phones at once drives his S.U.V. through the front of the club and people reach up from the wreckage to hand him scripts to read, and suddenly you stop thinking about Frank Zappa or the Blasters and start thinking about graduate school in Minnesota.

We listened to 'NSync's new album the other day, and we noticed the lyrics to the group's hit "Pop":

Sick and tired of hearin' all these people talk about
"What's the deal with this pop life
And when is it gonna fade out?" ...

Why you wanna try
To classify
The type of thing we do?

'Cause we're just fine
Doin' what we like
Can we say the same for you?

You know who their singing to?

Me!

Me and my ilk!

The music writers. The critics. Those who can't do. Or teach. Only comment.

We inspired that song.

And recently we heard Tim McGraw's song "Things Change," where he essentially says, "Quit criticizing my brand of poppy country! After all, Elvis Presley is different from Hank Williams, who are both different from Willie Nelson! I'm the next step! Things change!"

We inspired that one, too.

Us! The late-copy turners, the rock and roll learners, with our hearts melting in pools of gin, as Pete Townshend wrote about us! The ones that Townshend's friend Paul McCartney--thee Paul McCartney--wrote about in his song "Angry": "What the hell gives you the right to tell me what to do with my life?"

And there's probably more that we can't think of right now!

You know that scene in "High Fidelity," where the record-store guys are watching the folk singer and waxing wistfully on how nice it would be if she wrote a song about them, or put their pictures on one of her album sleeves?

LiveDaily Briefly used to do that. (In fact, we used to be fairly certain that Liz Phair wrote her song "Flower" about us, until someone--probably some snotty critic--pointed out that she had never actually met us.)

But thanks to this epiphany, we can stop living in a fantasy world, and bask in the knowledge that we inspire songs.

Remember:

You can't spell "music journalism" without "muse."

(Well, okay, technically, you can spell it, of course, if you want to get all nitpicky about it, but like, you can't say the phrase "music journalism" without the syllable that sounds like "muse." You know what we mean.)

Enjoy your weekend.