Guardian Music — A selection of some of our favourite film, music, art, stage and books articles from the Observer New Review in 2011, in case you missed them first time aroundArt and designGrayson Perry: How I went behind the scenes at the British MuseumTurner prize... more info

Guardian Music — From James Brown to Martin Carthy, the best festive tunes don't always have to spread Christmas cheerFor the past five years, rather than cards, I've given family, friends and colleagues an annual CD of Christmas music. I sometimes wish I'd never sta... more info

Guardian Music — Scores of artists have covered this song, but none can match the vulnerability and grandeur of the 1964 originalI first heard of Little Anthony and the Imperials via Tom Waits, who namechecked them on Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis, a wi... more info

Spinner.com — 60. My Morning Jacket, 'Holdin on to Black Metal' 59. Naked and Famous, 'Punching in a Dream' 58. Sleeper Agent, 'That's My Baby' 57. The Civil Wars, 'Barton Hollow' 56. Iceage, 'New Brigade' 55. Lights, 'Everybody Breaks a Glass' 54. Diarrhe... more info

Guardian Music — Shoreditch Church, LondonThis was essentially a cabaret devised by composer Gavin Bryars that celebrates and contextualises the songs of Tom Waits and his wife, Kathleen Brennan. Originally produced in tandem with Opera North, it was first seen in Le... more info

Guardian Music — Aloe Blacc, On tourRappers who choose to act are brave; those who choose to sing possibly more so. For Aloe Blacc (real name: Egbert Dawkins III), singing has been the right decision. Formerly an MC with Emanon, it's his pipes that have been winning ... more info

Here Comes The Flood — photo: Stephanie Keith Brooklyn band Life in a Blender have been around for twenty-five years, creating their unique blend of vaudeville, rock and Americana. Their seventh full-length is entitled Homewrecker Spoon. Songwriter Don Ralph has a sardoni... more info

Guardian Music — To most people the Travelodges of the world lack any sort of exoticism, but there's more to them than meets the eyeTom Waits told me, a few years back, about his fondness for hotels named after obscure American presidents. "Take me to the Taft!" he'd... more info

Guardian Music — The second night of the festival saw four singer-songwriters take the stage, including James Vincent McMorrow and Lisa HanniganTo singer-songwriters, the terrain ahead must often appear crowded, and the second night of Other Voices saw four such prac... more info

Guardian Music — Next week we'll be counting down our top 10 albums of the year … but here's how the rest of our critics' top 50 looksStarting on Monday we'll be counting down Guardian critics' top 10 albums of 2011. To get you in the mood, here's how our writers v... more info