ContactMusic — Veteran singer Lou Reed had the time of his life recording an album with Metallica likening the experience to receiving a Ferrari for free The ageing musician teamed up with the heavy rock group to record Lulu earlier this year 11 and he admits the r... more info

Pop Justice — 'Bajo Otra Luz' hitmaker Nelly Furtado has started releasing authentic black and white 'teaser' videos in preparation for her new album 'T.S.I', which is due out next year. (Rap-Up) (http://www.rap-up.com/2011/12/28/nelly-furtado-makes-soulful-music-... more info

ContactMusic — Scottish singer Lulu has recorded a bedtime story to put millions of children in the U K to sleep on Christmas Day 25Dec11 The Shout hitmaker will share the story of a hedgehog who forgets to buy gifts when she reads One Christmas Night by Christina ... more info

Guardian Music — Migenes/Lear/Riegel/Mazura/Metropolitan Opera Orchestra/Levine (Sony, 2DVDs)Pride of place among the recent DVD releases from Sony's Met Archive series goes to this performance of Lulu. It was taped in 1980 during the first US run to use Friedrich Ce... more info

411 Mania — Are they better than Lulu? more info

Stereogum — Given that the ill-fated Lou Reed collab Lulu was, by some order of magnitude, 2011′s most hated album, this is a pretty good moment for Metallica to remind the world that they are motherfucking Metallica. “Hate Train,” an outtake from the 2008... more info

Guardian Music — Singer describes Out of the Game, his forthcoming album produced by Ronson, as 'manly', 'sexy' and 'pop'Rufus Wainwright has almost finished his most "radio-friendly" album yet, produced by Mark Ronson. Out of the Game, described as "manly", "sexy" a... more info

Guardian Music — Royal Albert Hall, LondonWho, having witnessed Gary Barlow lose the solo chart battle to Robbie Williams in the late 1990s, could have imagined the resurgence of recent years? Probably not even Barlow, who spends a good part of this sold-out show –... more info

Pop Justice — The heart-stopping combination of Pixie Lott, Nicole Scherzinger and Cee Lo Green all did stuff at The Royal Variety Performance in Manchester last night. (Daily Mail) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2070431/Royal-Variety-Performance-20... more info

Stereogum — When Loutallica met with director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler) in the Bay Area last month, they were supposed to shoot a video for “Iced Honey.” Instead they made a video for single “The View.” Not that it matters if you watch ... more info