GRIZZLY BEAR has a brand new claymation for "Ready, Able."

PHOENIX hit the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set streaming now via NPR.

MEYER HAWTHORNE, a new old-school R&B sensation, also hit the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set streaming now via NPR.

WHITE DENIM stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set streaming via MPR.

HAR MAR SUPERSTAR also stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set streaming via MPR. (I thought this wouldn't be my bag, but it's pretty alright.)

GUADALCANAL DIARY: From the "Where Are They Now?" file (and MTV's 120 Minutes), we have a semi-live take on "Watusi Rodeo."

AEROSMITH: Joe Perry claims that Steven Tyler quit the band following a recent concert in Abu Dhabi.

THE BEST 50 ALBUMS OF THE DECADE, according to Paste.

NEKO CASE talks drums, guitars and pianos with Seacoast Online. (Thx, LHB.)

LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION: Dev Hynes talks to The Quietus about X-Factor, country rock and being an Englishman in New York.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: The 3-D CGI mo-cap version of A Christmas Carol takes the top slot with 31 million.  That was considerably lower than the 40-45 million the industry "tracking" numbers predicted. With a 200 million budget, Disney has to hope for legs through the holiday season.  Michael Jackson: This is it placed a surprising second with 14 million, and has almost recopued Sony's 60 million in the US, with another 69 million worldwide.  The Men Who Stae at Goats debuted at No.3 with 13.3 million, which seems pretty good for a movie about men staring at goats.  The budget is a modest 25 million, and Overture paid a mere 5 million for the distribution rights.  The Fourth Kind was the fourth movie, with another better-than-expected showing of 12.5 million.  Paranormal Activity rounds out the Top Five with another 8.6 million for the insanely successful video shoot.  Below the fold, The Box opened in sixth place, but still did better than expected with 7.9 million against its 25 million budget.  Overall, the Top 12 did a little better year-over-year, though the 110.6 million total is the lowest since 2006.

CHRIS BROWN wishes Rhianna had kept quiet about him beating her. Never not classy.

TOM CRUISE Scientology employees are forced to watch videos of the star as part of their training.

BRITNEY SPEARS was holed up in a Perth hotel yesterday as a row over her lip-synching concerts threatened to derail her Australian tour.

NEW MOON: Collider has clips and new behind-the-scenes video from the Twilight sequel.

THE 100 BEST MOVIES OF THE DECADE, according to the Times of London.

HIGHER FIDELITY? Stephen Frears and D.V. DeVincentis, who teamed up on the John Cusack breakout "High Fidelity," are attached to "Lay the Favorite," a dramedy set in the world of geeky gamblers.

MR. ROGERS statue unveiled in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh's North Shore.

IRAN caught arming terrorists... again.

IRAQ's parliament passed a long-delayed election law, resolving a key sticking point - who will be allowed to vote in the disputed, oil-rich city of Kirkuk - and helping the US keep to a withdrawal.

KANGAROOS and EMUS overwhelm the tiny Aussie town of Thargomindah.

A BIRD with a "bit of baguette" derailed the world's biggest scientific experiment.

A WYOMING HUNTER bags a deer... then a mountain lion.

THE SQUIRREL THREAT: White squirrels invade Maryland.  Meanwhile, an unnamed rodent stocks up on supplies.

A CHINESE PANDA EXPERT has headed to Taiwan to advise on how to encourage mating by the pair given by Beijing last December to mark the two sides' growing friendship.