SILVERSUN PICKUPS hit the "Panic Switch" at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Dave seemed impressed.

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS: John Darnielle's next album will have 12 songs named from Bible verses. MOKB has an advance track, "Genesis 3:23."

MONSTERS OF FOLK are currently streaming two new songs, "Dear God" and "The Sandman."

THE BEST SONGS (and albums) OF 2009 (so far):  NPR is streaming songs as voted by its listeners.

AU REVOIR SIMONE stopped by the KEXP studios for a session streaming via NPR.

THE NATIONAL plays "Mr. November" at the Pitchfork Music Festival.

AMY MILLAN talks to The Singing Lamb about her new solo LP, Stars, Broken Social Scene, and more...

ONE-TRICK PONIES: Bands that keep reworking the same song. Of course, if it's a good song...

SONIC YOUTH: Thurston Moore and Lee Renaldo talk to Exclaim about the new album, a new bass player, a new label, Randy Bachman and more...

DAVID BYRNE thanks and criticizes U2 for their extravagant touring.

MEGAN FOX: A dozen male-focused Web sites have sanctioned Aug. 4 as a Megan Fox media blackout day.

MICHAEL JACKSON slept with a child-sized porcelain doll that had a dress on, according to a report that said he spent his final days in a messy bedroom with the heating turned up.

JUDE LAW is going to be a father for the fourth time.

SCARLETT JOHANSSON & RYAN REYNOLDS: Did a marital spat put Reynolds in the doghouse with Warner Bros?

TONY ROMO met another woman at a Jessica Simpson concert.

MISCHA BARTON is apparently back on the road to recovery after she jetted into New York to begin work on her latest TV project.

MADONNA's workout is unhealthy.

NINE: The apocalyptic animated flick has a four minute clip online.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS: At the German premiere of the latest from Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt joked that his partying ends at 6 p.m., while co-star Diane Kruger's leggy arrival stole the show.

THE LORAX is headed to the big screen, targeted for release on the late Dr. Seuss's birthday in 2012.

IRAN responded to growing criticism over political detainees by freeing 140 inmates incarcerated in its most notorious jail following the recent post-election upheavals. Some 150 political prisoners remain inside, according to official figures.

IRAQ: The head of the Awakening Conference is close to an alliance with Premier al-Maliki's list in the next elections. In Kurdish Iraq, hostilities simmer with Iran and Turkey. US Defense Secretary Gates said conditions in Iraq have improved to the extent that the US combat brigade drawdown from the country may accelerate.

WHEN BABOONS ATTACK: Let's go to the video!

VICIOUS KILLER CHIPMUNKS that escaped from a British park four years ago have never been found - and could now have bred into a horde thousands strong. Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, Muriel Long fled her cellar to escape a "killer" Siberian chipmunk.

DOGGIE LOVEDOLL:  For dogs who are often left alone.

HEY, IS THAT A SNAKE in your pants, or just a made-up excuse for reckless driving?

ANN the PYTHON dies at the Memphis Zoo.  Might have been the whole-hog diet.