411 Mania — After decades in the industry, The Honeydogs have returned with new material. This power pop/alternative country group has been compared to Wilco, The Smithereens, and Big Star. Can 411's Chris Bell find something unique in their sound? more info

ContactMusic — Former R E M bandmates Mike Mills and Peter Buck remembered the late Alex Chilton on the second anniversary of his death at the South By Southwest festival in Austin Texas on Saturday 17Mar12 The two rockers joined Blitzen Trapper and Chiltons Big St... more info

Guardian Music — Music Weekly is on the road this week – quite literally, coming to you from a step somewhere in Austin, Texas, where Tim Jonze and Rebecca Nicholson are jetlagging their way around the SXSW festival.As well as picking out their highlights, from Big... more info

Guardian Music — Jay-Z and Alicia Keys? Inspired. JLS and Dev? Pitbull and whoever? Just soulless, corporate collaborations that are ruining the charts In one small way, Madonna's current single, Give Me All Your Luvin', marks the end of an era. It's the last time fo... more info

Guardian Music — It's a heartrending story: a musician labours on in virtual obscurity, dies suddenly – and then achieves critical recognition This is a counterpoint to my post a while back in praise of Big Star's The Ballad of El Goodo. Chris Bell was the co-leade... more info

Aquarium Drunkard — Released last month, Free Again: The 1970 Sessions highlights a fertile, if transient, period in Alex Chilton’s life and career. As the the decade began the twenty year old Chilton found himself at a crossroads. Having already achieved preternatura... more info

Pop Candy — Each Tuesday I write about my favorite new music release. Got a suggestion? E-mail popcandy@usatoday.com. more info

Popdose — In 1970 Alex Chilton was fed up with is role in the Box Tops and still a year away from Big Star. The music he made that summer was a bridge to the future more info

LargeHeartedBoy — The only new music I plan to pick up this week is the Alex Chilton compilation Free Again: The 1970 Sessions, which contains several unreleased tracks. The week is heavy with vinyl and reissues, notably the remastered edition of... more info

Guardian Music — Big Star's commercial failure bequeathed pop one of its great what-if storiesWith some hugely influential bands who failed to sell many records in their prime you can sort of get the reasons for their lack of commercial success. Take Hüsker Dü – ... more info