Unbelievably, the world kept going while I was away. It’ll be impossible to get completely caught up (though if I just ignore everyone’s Sx coverage, maybe not so difficult) but here’s some stuff that I squirreled away over the past few days.

The lineup and schedule for this year’s Over The Top Fest, running April 30 through May 4, has just been announced – highlights will surely include The D’Urbervilles and Oh No Forest Fires at the UKULA Store on May 1, Wye Oak at Sneaky Dee’s on May 2, An Albatross at Sneaky Dee’s on May 3, and capping things off, a solo performance from Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes and Peter & The Wolf at the Mod Club on May 4. There’s also a film festival component that will surely feature all kinds of stuff I’ve never heard of. Which is probably the point.

The D’Urbervilles were half of one the shows I would have dearly loved to been in attendance for this past week (Forest City Lovers being the other half). eye ran features on both bands last week in advance of Friday’s show and Radio Free Canuckistan has the director’s cut of that D’Urbervilles interview. They’re also the feature band of the week at I Heart Music, complete with CD giveaways.

The other show I wish I’d been at was The Gutter Twins at Mod, though that was the same night as the D’Urbervilles/Forest City show so even if I was in town, I’d have still missed out. Hmm. Anyways, NOW and eye both had features on the Dulli/Lanegan project while The Village Voice also has a feature and interview transcript.

Leonard Cohen, possibly still feeling the financial pinch from getting fleeced by his manager, is hitting the road for the first time in a decade and a half starting here in Toronto with a two-night stand, June 6 and 7, at the Sony Centre.

A little more in the here and now, The Raveonettes have got an in-store scheduled at Sonic Boom on March 21 at 6:30PM, before their proper show at the Opera House that same night. Sonic Boom has hosted some crazy in-stores, but I bet this one’s going to be beyond packed. The Chicago Tribune talks to Sune Rose Wagner.

MGMT – pronounced “Em-gee-em-tee” – will be back in town for the third time in four months for a show at the Mod Club on April 15. NPR – pronounced “En-Pee-Ahr” – has a World Cafe session to stream and BBC – pronounced “Bee-bee-see” – an interview to read.

Scout Niblett will be at The Horseshoe on April 23.

As promised, Rilo Kiley are also back for a show at the Phoenix on May 28. Full dates at BrooklynVegan.

If you were hoping to see Neil Halstead solo or Rogue Wave in the area sometime soon, your prayers have been answered… in the form of a nightmare. They’ll be at Burl’s Park in Barrie on August 3 opening for Jack Johnson. I realize y’all like surfing and all, but come on.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review talks to Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers, in town tonight for a show at the Opera House.

Pitchfork has an interview with Beach House, who have a gig at the El Mocambo next Friday night (March 28).

And the following night, after our Nelly Furtado-led Earth Hour, Basia Bulat will be playing Lee’s Palace. On her recent US jaunt, she stopped in for a Daytrotter session, recorded a World Cafe session for NPR and gave an interview to Who Killed The Mix Tape.

She’ll be returning to the tender embrace of the American highway system in April as support for DeVotchKa who will be promoting their grand new album A Mad And Faithful Telling, which was released yesterday and you can stream the whole thing below. The Denver Post and The Scotsman talk to frontman Nick Urata about the new record.

Stream: DeVotchKa / A Mad & Faithful Telling

Sentimentalist and The Times Online talk to Hotel and VV of The Kills, a band I’ve never paid any attention to but whose new one, Midnight Boom, is really doing it for me. Looking forward to catching them at the Opera House on May 6.

Video: The Kills – “Cheap & Cheerful”
Video: The Kills – “U.R.A. Fever”

Incendiary has a two-part interview with The Long Blondes about Couples, out April 8. The Scotsman and Click Music get theirs done in a single shot. They will be at Lee’s Palace on May 22

This Is Fake DIY and Contact Music have conversations with Elbow’s Guy Garvey, who apparently hates iTunes. The Seldom Seen Kid is out April 22.

The Guardian talks to Spiritualized’s Jason Pierce about his near-death encounter and Songs in A & E, slated for a June 3 release. Deaf Indie Elephants has a radio rip of the first single, “Soul On Fire”.

Drowned In Sound tries to decipher a recent blog posting from Patrick Wolf about the direction of his new record.

Cat Power appears to be in a session-y sort of mood – AOL Music has video of a five-song session she did for them, NPR a World Cafe show and An Aquarium Drunkard the audio of a recent Black Session available to grab.

Stars’ Torq Campbell talks to Billboard about possibly pushing the creative envelope on their next album… or possibly creating another record of hooky, boy-girl synth pop. They’re aiming for a 2009 release but may have a stopgap EP out later this year.

NME reports that the new record from Tilly & The Wall has a release date – June 17 – but no title and will remain untitled.