Guardian Music — Guardian and Observer writers are picking their favourite albums ever – with a view that you might do the same. Here, Dave Simpson explains why Joy Division's Closer is one for all eternityWhen I was still at school, I finished my Saturday job a co... more info

Guardian Music — Continuing our new series in which Guardian and Observer writers pick their favourite albums – with a view that you might do the same – Michael Hann hails a proto-punk classicIt starts with the name: the Modern Lovers. I can't think of a more per... more info

Guardian Music — From Public Enemy to P Diddy, a new documentary charts how rap became a global phenomenon out of anger, sex and blingIt's 1989 and I'm hangin' tough with my £11.99 skateboard from Argos and a bright yellow Sony Walkman in Stanmore, a leafy suburb of... more info

Guardian Music — This New Jersey band blend the lugubrious with the lovely, the ugly with the pretty, to unleash a quirky, fluffy soundHometown: New Jersey.The lineup: Vincent Cacchione (vocals, guitar), Magali Charron (keyboard, backing vocals), Talya Cacchione (bas... more info

Guardian Music — This lo-fi DIY duo from Manchester make metal machine music haunted by the ghost of British industryHometown: Manchester.The lineup: Jack Hardman (vocals, guitar), Mike Benson (drums, samplers).The background: We got praised yesterday – actually, i... more info

NME - The Video Blog — I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only person that did a WTF double take on hearing the news that Lou Reed was teaming up with Metallica last month. Whether inspired or doomed or a mixture of the two it was definitely unforseen, and it got us thinking... more info

White Folks Get Crunk — You guys mixtape’d out yet? “THE ENTERTAINER” – A Skratch Bastid Mix by Skratch Bastid Download at http://www.skratchbastid.com/entertainer 1. The Entertainer Intro – Skratch Bastid 2. Take a Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed 3. (Sittin’... more info

Guardian Music — For those used to Joan Wasser's music arriving with a dark cloud hovering over it, the joyous Chemmie is something of a revelationWhen Joan Wasser (aka Joan As Policewoman) released her debut album, Real Life, in 2006 she'd already performed with the... more info

ContactMusic — Lou Reed and Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello appear on a new album paying tribute to Woody Guthrie. Late folk Legend Woody's daughter, Nora, and bass player Rob Wasserman have assembled a cast of musicians to record the tracks on 'Note of Hope... more info

Stereogum — Last we heard from Morrissey, he was covering Lou Reed in Australia. The cat lover has since returned to England where he’s getting bitten by dogs. The details: Morrissey sustained hand and arm injuries recently after being attacked by a dog in Eng... more info