LargeHeartedBoy — Slate reviews Zadie Smith's essay collection, Changing My Mind. At first glance, Smith's collection looks like a bizarre menagerie: A dispatch from Liberia abuts a study of Obama's language; elsewhere are essays about Forster and Kafka and—stu... more info

Pop Candy — Tonight PBS' excellent documentary series, POV, airs Patti Smith: Dream of Life, a  film that took director Steven Sebring more than a decade to make. It's certainly worth watching/recording, and fans may also want to hear Smith and Sebring discus... more info

XFM.co.uk — Michael Stipe and Patti Smith come out for the late Athens, GA singer... more info

Guardian Music — Michael Stipe, Patti Smith and others pay tribute at memorial to melancholic singer-songwriter who died on Christmas dayA memorial service has been held for the American musician Vic Chesnutt, who has died aged 45. Chesnutt, described by REM's Michae... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — Patti Smith @ Carnegie Hall in February (more by Tim Griffin) tonight in NYC * Sure Juror @ Pianos * Slavic Soul Party @ Barbes * Extra Life @ The Stone * Steel Train @ Maxwell's * David Johansen @... more info

MTV.com News — Gaga's Miami show is one of the hottest bills in the country.By Gil Kaufman Lady Gaga Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage It's fitting that MTV's Woman of the Year is going to cap off a tremendous 2009 by playing one of the most anticipated New Y... more info

Undercover, Australia — REM singer Michael Stipe and singer songwriter Patti Smith have paid tribute to the late Vic Chesnutt who committed suicide this week. more info

LargeHeartedBoy — RIP, singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt. Kristin Hersh has set up a fund to help defray his medical expenses. The Daily Swarm collects tributes to the man from Jeff Mangum, Michael Stipe, Patti Smith, and others. Watch a few scenes from Speed... more info

Stopcryingyourheartout.com — War Child Canada's retrospective album, War Child: 10, is available NOW on iTunes and in store. The album marks the 10th anniversary of the charity’s founding in Canada. War Child: 10 features a selection of some of the extraordinary music don... more info

Big Apple Music Scene — Of course there are dozens of options for New Year’s Eve 2010. Here’s a musical guide: Patti Smith is at Bowery Ballroom (sold out). Chuck Berry is at B.B. Kings at 8 pm and 11 pm.Tickets are $98. Mariah Carey is at Madison Square Garden. Ticket... more info