Guardian Music — Ruby Lounge, ManchesterJens Lekman's life seems to be a succession of romantic disasters. After each rejection, he works out until he can do 100 push-ups ("but I think I could do 200") and then pours it into "miserable" songs. With his funny cap and ... more info

Guardian Music — The Digital Music Index shows just how popular illegal downloading – particularly of Ed Sheeran – has becomeIf you're like me and the vast majority of people in the UK, on Monday morning you discovered many people in your area risked legal action... more info

Guardian Music — The prime minister's wife apparently told the singer she loves her no-holds-barred song 212, the rudest chart hit in recent memory. Warning: filth aheadIf New York rapper Azealia Banks is to believed, Samantha Cameron potters around No 10 singing the... more info

Guardian Music — Indie pop might have been melodic, but it was also a real rebellion – against macho rock and the celebrity machine. Now one of its most talented exponents has a new albumIt was easy to mock, and that was one reason we liked it: it was a kind of mus... more info

The Hip Hop Chronicle — Today after NY Times journalist Zaldie Smiths feature story on iconic rapper Jay-Z was published. A few comments made by Jay-Z during his sit down with Smith raised eyebrows from fans and critics alike. They concerned the political stance of the Occu... more info

Guardian Music — Today's newsstands are a riot of colour, fireworks and Paralympic euphoria. But the Independent also found room to show its musical sensibilities. Its front page leads with a nod to The Smiths, with the headline: "There is a flame that will never go ... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — Michael Chabon talks to the San Francisco Chronicle about his new novel, Telegraph Avenue. "With this book, for the first time, I was able to integrate all of my influences and passions - it's a naturalistic novel, but I'm free... more info

Guardian Music — Who can blame him? He's a singer-songwriter who came of age in a time when ideology was dumped in favour of triangulation"I thought that if you had an acoustic guitar/Then it meant that you were a protest singer" sang the Smiths in 1985. Lots of peop... more info

Guardian Music — Shepherd's Bush Empire, LondonThere is, naturally, more than one access point to Ireland's Two Door Cinema Club. To some they're the grassroots, hype-free success rejuvenating guitar music from the wafty jangle up. To others, they're the ubiquitous a... more info

Chorus.fm — It'll be a glorious day when the word "twinkle" is stricken from the records along with the term "skramz." On *Innards* (http://www.absolutepunk.net/artists/showlink.php?do=showdetails&l=49592) second LP, I've Lost Everything, they've brought the nai... more info