This “weekend” thing. I quite like it.

After sneak-releasing In Our Bedroom After The War digitally last year, Stars are embracing the powers of the internet once again. They’re releasing a new EP out as of today with the release of their Sad Robots EP, available digitally at the dedicated website and physically on their upcoming tour. They’re marking the occasion by making a live MP3 of “Going, Going, Gone”, a Nightsongs-era song, available for free download and there’s another new song which may or may not be from the EP streaming on the band’s MySpace. There’s nothing there as of right now, but the download and EP will presumably go live on the site sometime today. It’s a long weekend. Let the robots sleep in a bit.

Billboard talks to Metric management about the band’s intention to stay indie for their next album.

The new lineup for The Dears have been unveiled and while there was much to-do about the band being deconstructed to just Murray Lightburn and Natalia Yanchak during the recording of their new album Missiles, due October 21, it seems they’ve found a whole bunch more people to play with as they’re once again a sprawling seven-piece. They’ll show off the new record and lineup with a couple of intimate shows at the Music Gallery in Toronto on October 9 and 10, tickets $20, on sale now.

Chart talks to New Pornographer Carl Newman about assembling their Stanley Park Singing Exhibition in Vancouver this weekend. The Georgia Straight also has a conversation while 7×7 San Francisco talks food with bassist John Collins.

The Skinny talks to Jim Sclavunos about the differences between Grinderman and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, both of which he’s a member. The Bad Seeds will be in Toronto at the Kool Haus on October 1.

Filter talks to two-thirds of Portishead about the band’s long, slow return.

Richard Ashcroft discusses The Verve’s own return to active duty with USA Today.

It’s a shame that the night of October 21 is already circled in ink on my calendar to see Frightened Rabbit at Lee’s Palace because the bill for Nu Music Nite at the Horseshoe is also intriguing, pairing up California’s Japanese Motors and London’s White Lies. The former have a sort of Strokes gone California garage rock vibe, their debut is out October 7, and the latter do that Chameleons/Interpol thing that’s kinda played out, but they still manage to make it ear-catching. Their album’s not out till January but you can hear some stuff at their MySpace and they’ll trade you an MP3 of a single for your email address over here.

MP3: Japanese Motors – “Single Fins & Safety Pins”
MP3: White Lies – “Death” (Crystal Castles remix)
Video: White Lies – “Death”
Video: White Lies – “Unfinished Business”

Shearwater stop by AOL’s studios to record an Interface session.

An Aquarium Drunkard interviews Joey Burns of Calexico. Carried To Dust is out September 9.

Paste says “what up” to Fountains Of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger.

Reuters consults with The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn about the art of lyric writing. They’re at the Phoenix on November 11.