Guardian Music — Armed with a hoard of antique instruments, this multi-tasking band create ornate pop full of sepia-tinted nostalgiaHometown: Portland, Oregon.The lineup: Micah Rabwin (vocals, guitar, musical saw, keyboard), Sean Ogilvie (vocals, keyboard, guitar, ac... more info

Rawkblog — Dispatches from a week I mostly took off: Real talk about the state of music criticism. A sweet live Toro Y Moi video. An Elliott Smith documentary is beginning to make the rounds. Live-Tweeting the American Music Awards. [Turkey photo by David Green... more info

Guardian Music — Susanna Karolina Wallumroed, from Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, performs her version of Thin Lizzy's 1976 hit Jailbreak exclusively for Observer Music MonthlyElliot SmithAndy Gallagher more info

Guardian Music — Susanna Karolina Wallumroed, from Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, performs an exclusive live version of her song HangoutElliot SmithAndy Gallagher more info

Rawkblog — An Elliott Smith documentary, Searching For Elliott Smith, is beginning to make the festival rounds — the first such movie to examine the life and untimely death of the troubled, peerless musician. Some of Smith’s friends and colleagues have been... more info

The Playlist — In late 2003, this writer and another friend spent a few weeks doing some old-school serious reporting and digging to write a feature on the death of L.A. indie-songwriter Elliott Smith. Half the work isn't even represented here, but countless interv... more info

Guardian Music — Last week was all about a cry for help. This time we want you to suggest songs about reaching maturitySometimes I feel like a motherless child. Particularly when my mum is on the phone telling me off for not remembering my aunt's birthday. Fortunatel... more info

The Playlist — Details have arrived on the soundtrack to Jason Reitman's humanist, downsizing dramedy, "Up In The Air," that stars George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and a startlingly good Anna Kendrick.We already mentioned much of the music featured in the film —... more info

Rawkblog — Live: The Main Drag (pictured) at CMJ 2009, Grizzly Bear at the Hollywood Palladium. New Music: Ravens & Chimes’ “Hearts of Palm,” Reverie Sound Revue’s “You Don’t Exist If I Don’t See You,” Adam and Darcie’s totally wonderful Calif... more info

Rawkblog — On November 3, 2003, just days after the untimely death of Elliott Smith, friends and colleagues including Beck, Beth Orton and Lou Barlow took the stage at the Henry Fonda Theater to pay tribute to Elliott. Audio recordings of the show have been flo... more info