Have a top weekend whatever you get up (which always sounds like you're about to "get up to something" but it's not meant like that...) Billboard reports: "Dawes will be playing an assortment of shows this year, continuing to promote its 2011 sophomore album "Nothing Is Wrong." But the group's Taylor Goldsmith says job one in 2012 is writing and recording the quartet's third album."

Rolling Stone reports: "Country legend Merle Haggard is recovering from pneumonia at a hospital in Georgia, according to the singer's spokeswoman. Haggard was admitted to the hospital on January 17th after illness forced him to cancel a gig in Macon, Georgia only moments before hitting the stage. In addition to suffering from double pneumonia, doctors discovered a number of other serious ailments, for which he is now being treated."

Pitchfork reports: "As reported on Monday, Wilco starred in a recent "Popeye" cartoon strip. Turns out it was a precursor to an entire animated video for Wilco's song "Dawned on Me", from The Whole Love. The clip was created by King Features in partnership with the band's dBpm Records and directed by Darren Romanelli. There's also an accompanying website, wilcospinach.com, that teases Wilco-brand spinach "coming soon".

We've decided to have another of our freebie things thanks to the very kind people in Omnibus Press - this time it's a copy of the splendid new Eels biography which is a lovely thing to behold - we've got one in the office and it kind of glows when you look at it.