THE DECEMBERISTS dropped a video for "This Is Why We Fight."

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter.

STEVE EARLE is advance streaming I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive.

TIMES NEW VIKING is advance streaming Dancer Equired.

THAO & MIRAH are advance streaming their self-titled album.

EMMYLOU HARRIS is advance streaming Hard Bargain.

GEORGE HARRISON & ERIC CLAPTON: "Taxman." Obligatory.

THE DECEMBERISTS' co-founder Nate Query talks to the Colorado Springs Independent about recording with R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, the specter of Chris Squire bass lines, and what might happen if Pete Seeger had an ax instead of a hammer. (Thx, Chromewaves.)

VIVIAN GIRLS: Cassie Ramone talks to DIY about the themes of the new album, taking abuse from Hipster Runoff, and more... (Thx, LHB.)

SHEARWATER: Can you guess what Jonathan Meiberg talked to Songwriters on Process about? I think so.

MORE COWBELL! The 10 Best Cowbell Songs, according to NME. But there's no "Mississippi Queen"?

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Rio perched atop the cineplex with 40 million -- the first movie to open that big this year (5 movies had hit that mark by this time last year, and that was with Avatar still big last January). Animation (Rio, Hop, Rango) has been the big draw this year to date.  Rio has also taken in some 80 million overseas, which means it has recouped its 90 million production budget, if not its total cost (which may be as high as 200 million, once worldwide distribution and marketing is factored in). Rio is unlikley to face serious competition for kids until May 27 (Kung Fu Panda 2). Scream 4 placed with the roughly predicted 19.3 million, which is okay and likely good enough for more sequels, given a 40 million budget. Hop dropped 48 percent to third with 11.2 million, taking a big hit from Rio. Even so, Hop is just opening overseas and will likely turn a tidy profit.  Soul Surfer showed decent leg in the fourth spot with 7.4 million, more than recouping its 18 million budget. Hanna rounds out the Top Five with 7.3 million, likely pressured a bit by Scream 4.  Below the fold, The Conspirator debuted in the ninth slot with 3.9 million, which was better than expected, as was Altas Shrigged (Part 1) doing 1.7 million on 300 screens.

NICOLAS CAGE was arrested early Saturday morning in New Orleans for domestic abuse, after daring the police to arrest him following a loud argument with his wife.

CHARLIE SHEEN is headed back to court after his soon-to-be ex-wife Brooke Mueller refused a drug test.  Reportedly, Mueller was frantically calling friends for drug-free urine and trying to hock an expensive men's watch that day.

EVANGELINE LILLY was spotted with a visible baby bump in Hawaii on Thursday.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA is officially divorced.

CONDOLEEZA RICE will appear as Alec Baldwin's girlfriend on 30 Rock.

MARK RUFFALO: Working a lot for a man in retirement.

THE LONE RANGER: Ryan Gosling is in talks to star opposite Johnny Depp.

LIBYA: Less than a month into the conflict, NATO is running short of precision bombs, highlighting the limitations of Britain, France and other European countries in sustaining even a relatively small military action over an extended period of time. Libyan rebels in their eastern capital of Benghazi said they had begun receiving weapons supplies from unidentified nations that supported their uprising.

SYRIA: President Assad promised to lift the country's emergency laws by next week. He also promised other reforms, including legislation allowing the formation of political parties, but warned that once these reforms are implemented, "there will no longer be an excuse to organize protests in Syria."

EGYPT: The rapid spread of Muslim political parties ahead of September's parliamentary elections has strengthened fears that Egyptian democracy will be dominated by radical Islamic movements. An Egyptian court has ordered the disbanding of the NDP, former President Mubarak's political party; the ruling gives the NDP's money and property to the government and leaves the Muslim Brotherhood the strongest political organization in Egypt.

A POLAR CUB and a blue bucket. Let's go to the video.

AN ELEPHANT at the Oklahoma City Zoo gave birth to a female calf Friday night. Pics and live cam at the link.

A GORILLA cuddles a duckling that had strayed from a nearby moat at Bristol zoo. 

PET AIRWAYS: Travel for your Best Friend.

PITBULL RESCUED from a fire and revived with CPR.