We Like it Lossless! — Sacred Bones / 20101 part(s) FS, enjoy more info

Guardian Music — Tom Waits, Billy Bragg and Zola Jesus are among those to salute Don Van Vliet, who died last week aged 69Following the death of Don Van Vliet last week, musicians have united to praise the man who performed as Captain Beefheart. Tom Waits, Zola Jesus... more info

NME — Plus Billy Bragg and The Zutons also give Don Van Vliet a shoutout more info

melophobe — Every year, it seems, the number of end of the year lists grows; all across the blogosphere you can find music fans offering their thoughts on the best and worst albums from the preceding twelve (or, increasingly, eleven) months. Also increasing on a... more info

Guardian Music — Part of a plan to bring arty affectation back to the charts, this synth duo's ethereal 'night pop' drifts between eras and genresHometown: South London.The lineup: Catherine Pockson (vocals) and Bob Matthews (keyboards).The background: Alpines are on... more info

melophobe — Rob da Bank over at BBC Radio 1 had a hell of a 2-hour show on Saturday. I don’t think I stopped moving the entire time, and my ass actually started to tingle from chair dancing. Not only did he kick it off with some amazing house songs, he feature... more info

Stereogum — L.A.’s Chelsea Wolfe composes fractured, noisy, abstract, experimental and exploratory gothy doom-folk that reminds me a bit of Portal Of Sorrow, Marissa Nadler’s collaboration with Xasthur. Maybe Zola Jesus, at least in some overall “vibe” w... more info

Guardian Music — The Observer's pop critic reviews a year in which teen pop triumphed over rockFor those listening out for high notes in a withering music industry, the arrival of Take That's Progress album provided some succour. The reunion between Robbie Williams a... more info

From Mato, From London — Villagers Dublin (IRL) Cantautor con presupuesto, Conor J. O’Brien ha hecho un disco de acústica condecorada de pianos y cuerdas. Íntimo y personal, susurrado al oído y emocionante a la vez. Te gustarán si te gustan Neil Young, Elliott Smith, T... more info

Guardian Music — This highly touted singer creates music full of brooding intensity and simmering sensuality. It just sounds all too familiarHometown: London.The lineup: Anna Calvi (vocals, guitar), Mally Harpaz (guitar, harmonium, percussion), Daniel Maiden-Wood (dr... more info