Guardian Music — Ten years ago, I awarded this cultural cornerstone 1.5 out of 5. My opinion remains the same – it still sounds dull and frustratingA popular pub game among music hacks is The Review I Got Wrong, where each player takes turns to admit when they were... more info

The Vinyl Villain — It's things like this that make me realise I really am getting old.A tune comes randomly on the i-pod. It's a track by one of my all time favourite bands - a one-off single that doesn't appear on any LP, so I find it hard to immediately pin down the... more info

Guardian Music — Glanusk Park Estate, Brecon BeaconsBeginning in 2003 for an audience of 300, Green Man quickly became the UK's leading alternative folk festival. But after the crossover critical success of the likes of Joanna Newsom and King Creosote, it has moved ... more info

Guardian Music — Throbbing Gristle, Tindersticks and the Sadies are among the final additions to the Nightmare Before Christmas ATP (3-5 Dec, Butlins Minehead, atpfestival.com) ...Scouting For Girls replace the Zutons and their injured bassist at Harvest At Jimmy's (... more info

NME — December festival will also feature 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Deerhoof and Mike Watt more info

KEXP Seattle — For the last two years over in the U.K., Dublin’s Conor J. O’Brien has been making a name for himself under the moniker Villagers, performing solo and with a backing band in support of artists like Neil Young, Tracy Chapman, and Tindersticks. Whi... more info

KEXP Seattle — I’ll admit it. Tindersticks is one of those highly respected, established, critically acclaimed bands that I just can’t get into. Maybe I just haven’t picked the right albums to start with, but something about their sound just rubs me the wrong... more info

Guardian Music — (Heavenly)If Cherry Ghost's first album was – in the words of Ivor Novello-winning leader Simon Aldred – "Willie Nelson meets Walt Disney", the follow-up is more Tindersticks meet Tony Christie. The quintessential brooding romantic, Aldred isn't ... more info

Guardian Music — Last week was all about the power of the flower, but from here on in, we're living for the weekendAfter a week giving each other flowers, I hope everyone is full of the joys of early summer. Rather that than full of dread at the inexorable approach o... more info

Guardian Music — There are more songs about roses than any other flower. But for diversity's sake, this week's list takes in gardenias, cherry blossoms, poinciana and others – as well as a rose or fourBefore we go any further, a word of congratulation to the world'... more info