Guardian Music — This week, Erykah Badu strips off where JFK was assassinated, while Shakira gets sweaty with a Wimbledon championErykah Badu – Window SeatThe trouble with our virally interconnected, YouTube-dominated world is that a perfectly average song can... more info

Stereogum — We gave you a preliminary rundown of this fall’s ATP NY, but the folks at ATP have thrown Tortoise, Bardo Pond, and Sleepy Sun onto the bill and guest curator Jim Jarmusch added folks to his Sunday showcase. In addition to Jarmusch’s previously m... more info

Guardian Music — The mainstay of classical and folk music, the violin has always been associated with class, virtuousity and sentimentalityWhat is it? The younger sibling of the viola and cello, it's an instrument that exudes class, virtuosity and sentimentality.Who ... more info

The Music Fix — Gig Review: None more doom. more info

Stereogum — There's been plenty of pre-release hype, viral and otherwise. You've known the tracklist and backstory for a while. And after hearing "Horchata," "California English" (in two parts), "Cousins," and the old-timer "White Sky," you wouldn't be faulted f... more info

Guardian Music — There are many reasons to admire Sunn 0))), a cowl-wearing, doom-metal duo. The 0))) in their name is silent, but implies rippling soundwaves. They have recorded vocals inside a coffin. They have a Hungarian collaborator called Attila who growls port... more info

Stereogum — Earlier this week we took a magnifying glass to Pitchfork's Top 100 Songs Of 2009. Most of those songs appeared on albums, which leads us to the site's Top 50 Albums Of 2009. For starters, metal creeps in via Baroness and Sunn O))), but not Mastod... more info

Guardian Music — (Southern Lord)"The emperor has no clothes," comes the cry from those who fail, quite reasonably, to be seduced by Sunn O)))'s doomy, droney studies in not playing the guitar much. However, if this album is a reply to those who say Seattle's kings of... more info

Pitchfork - Tours — 12-14 London, England - Koko01-19 Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia01-20 Stockholm, Sweden - Fylkingen 01-21 Oslo, Norway - Storsalen 01-22 Oslo, Norway - Klubben 01-24 Copenhagen, Denmark Vega *01-25 Bielefeld, Denmark Forum *01-26 Amsterdam, Ne... more info

Stereogum — Welcome to the fourth annual Gummy Awards! The following results are based on thousands of Stereogum and Videogum readers' votes for the best of 2009's music, film, television, and Web videos. Because it's almost 2010, you guys also decided on ... more info