Guardian Music — It's a hardy soul who'll get through all 21 discs, but Blur's complete works make for a fascinating listenThere's something oddly final about lavish CD box sets. Their completeness seems to say: "This is it." Those curious about Blur's future – alr... more info

Guardian Music — Production with 250-strong cast and crew made up of local people shines spotlight on working-class family lifeAt the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden they are staging grand classical works created by Verdi and Berlioz that follow the fortunes of king... more info

Guardian Music — When it comes to picking songs about addresses, you know where it's atLocation, location, location … last week we asked for your favourite songs about addresses. Musicians and songwriters have projected drama and mystery on to various buildings, or... more info

Powerpopulist — We've been enjoying these, so why shouldn't you? Limitless, undying thanks to the favebloggers for hosting and posting.PT Walkley - Go Away - Indie Rock CafeThe Go! Team - Ready To Go Steady - Motel de Moka - #10I Was a King - Happy - Austin Town Hal... more info

Guardian Music — From their gently angsty, indie beginnings, the Shins are becoming a more mainstream rock concern – albeit at a costThere is a theory that a great band is not merely a collection of musicians, but a mysterious, alchemical thing, somehow greater tha... more info

Popdose — 30 years ago, XTC seemed poised for their commercial breakthrough. Appearances were deceiving more info

Guardian Music — (Field Music)On first play, the Sunderland Brewis Brothers' fourth album sounds baffling. There are innumerable time signatures and gear shifts – a dozen just in the opener, Start the Day Right. However, perseverance brings rich rewards, as the com... more info

Totally Fuzzy — Land Lovers have notions on being a pop band. They certainly play melodic enough songs with snappy words and some foot-tapping beats. They come from the tail-end of 2008, where they are about to release debut lo-fi homespun album Romance Romance. Th... more info

Guardian Music — Kirkstall Abbey, LeedsWith Kaiser Chiefs promoting a comeback album titled The Future Is Medieval, holding two enormous outdoor gigs at a 12th-century ruined Cistercian monastery in their hometown felt like a conceptual masterstroke. But perhaps ther... more info

Totally Fuzzy — Skylarking is XTC's eighth studio album, released on 27 October 1986 and produced by American musician Todd Rundgren. Skylarking is a "life-in-a-day" semi-concept album which displayed songwriting and arranging heavily influenced by The Beatles,... more info