Guardian Music — Our writers are picking their favourite albums. Here, Jon Dennis salutes the sprawling variety of the Beatles' double albumI first heard the White Album on Christmas Day 1978. I was shocked. I immediately phoned my best friend Louis and demanded he a... more info

Guardian Music — Newsreel footage shows the Beatles in Rishikesh, India, where they were taught transcendental meditation by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were joined by Donovan and the Beach Boys' Mike Love, ... more info

Aquarium Drunkard — We all knew this day would eventually come, it was only a matter of time. Earlier this month it was announced the sessions from the Beach Boys fabled Smile sessions would finally see an official release — and in grand fashion. Next month Capitol is... more info

Altsounds — The official release of Matthew Sweet's new album Modern Artis fast approaching. Due out September 27 on Missing Piece Records, the tracks on the new album recalls some of this power pop legend's touchstones: The Beatles, Beach Boys and Big Star. ... more info

Guardian Music — The Sage, GatesheadSince he returned from breakdown-induced wilderness, with rapturously received performances of the Beach Boys's 1966 masterpiece, Pet Sounds, a mini-industry has sprung up around Brian Wilson. There have been endless tours, poorly ... more info

Detroit Free Press — Legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp, whose namesake company dates to 1965, invented the crossover ballet, a meeting of classical and contemporary dance, in 1973 with the Beach Boys as a soundtrack. She went on to make dances for American Ballet Theat... more info

Totally Fuzzy — Skylarking is XTC's eighth studio album, released on 27 October 1986 and produced by American musician Todd Rundgren. Skylarking is a "life-in-a-day" semi-concept album which displayed songwriting and arranging heavily influenced by The Beatles,... more info

Totally Fuzzy — Girls is an indie rock band from San Francisco, California. Made up of two key members, Christopher Owens and Chet "JR" White. The band's lead singer, Christopher Owens, is a former member of the Children of God cult. The New York Times compared... more info

Guardian Music — Meet Brooklyn's freshest, sassiest girl-fronted group. Our new favourite band. Till next week, anyway …Hometown: Brooklyn.The lineup: Samantha Urbani (vocals), Lesley Hann (bass, percussion, backing vocals), Nikki Shapiro (guitar, keyboards, percus... more info

Guardian Music — (Decca)More than the sum of their parts? That's the Jayhawks. Separately, the voices of Mark Olson and Gary Louris tend to be thin; together, their harmonies are as richly American, in their way, as the Beach Boys. Writing together melds Olson's coun... more info