L.A. Times - Entertainment — The album, the act's fourth, was a breakthrough for Phoenix, and single "1901" has become a budding hit, thanks largely to the ubiquitous car commercial that the song scores. more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Pop & Hiss will be handicapping the major Grammy categories leading up to the Jan. 31 telecast. Read our picks, and vote for your own, below. The category: Best alternative album. The field at a glance: The best alternative album... more info

The Playlist — Karen O had quite a 2009. Last spring her band, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, made a strong return with their third album, It's Blitz which is now up for a Grammy award for Best Alternative Album. She worked with celebrated composer Carter Burwell on the soundtra... more info

8/1 — 50 Sonic Youth - The Eternal49 Karen O and The Kids - Where the Wild things are48 Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane & Sugarcane47 Florance and the Machine - Lungs46 Ebony Bones - Bones of My Bones45 Prodigy - Invaders Must Die44 Bibio - Ambivalence Av... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — The London Evening Standard points out the new Blur documentary, No Distance Left to Run. Watch the film's trailer. Podularity interviews Hilary Mantel, author of the Booker prize-wining novel Wolf Hall. Variety profiles Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. A... more info

My Old Kentucky — Our favorite DJ in town, Action Jackson, who is performing tonight at LET GO! At The Lockerbie, set us over his latest mixtape, A Wintry Mix. I like AJ because this is a nice blend of old and new - everything from New Jack Swing to B-more Club...Div... more info

Musicaddictz - Addicted To Music — 100 Best Albums of The Decade01. Kid A - Radiohead02. Is This It - The Strokes03. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco04. The Blueprint - Jay-Z05. Elephant - White Stripes06. Funeral - Arcade Fire07. The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem08. Modern Times - Bob Dyl... more info

Musicaddictz - Addicted To Music — 50. Dave Matthews BandAt a time of dying albums, DMB have had five straight debuts at No. 1. Plus: the bandleader's awesome Ozzy impersonation on 'SNL.'49. Lily Allen"Do you get a little kick out of being small-minded?" England's MySpace success stor... more info

Pop Tarts Suck Toasted — 10. Jay-Z - "99 Problems"; John Elway was the last person to truly go out on top, retiring with two Super Bowl wins in a row and then riding off into the sunset. Jay-Z almost pulled off the feat thanks to an album of stellar tracks and "99 Problems" ... more info

Guardian Music — The votes have been counted and verified and we can now announce that, this year, you lot really did like a bit of Animal CollectiveAs the year draws to a close, the final word on the best music of 2009 goes to ... you! Well, it does if you cast your... more info