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Music
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The singer was taking a good-time sound to the world – but after his song Fem became the anthem of the EndSars protesters, he joined them on the streets -
The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl song, to be played in a censored version on some BBC radio stations, will be ‘stripped of its value’, says Cave -
Boyband who scored first Korean-language No 1 single in the US this week can wait until they turn 30 before doing military service
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Puerto Rican vocalist earns more than 8.3bn streams, with the Weeknd’s Blinding Lights the year’s most streamed song -
Elbow frontman says system is not sustainable and bands are struggling to sustain careers
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Better known in the US, the relatively obscure British pop star is set for wider recognition as he takes on Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and more for the top Grammys prize -
The film-maker on his new documentary about the former Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan and Johnny Depp’s role in it
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Her forthcoming solo album is a love letter to formative years of queer clubbing and 00s Euro-dance, as the singer swaps black clothes and bleak moods for Technicolor euphoria -
In this exclusive excerpt from the Wilco frontman’s new book of creative prompts, he sets out why he thinks inspiration is overrated
Best music reviews
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3 out of 5 stars.
Alexis Petridis's album of the week Miley Cyrus: Plastic Hearts – too plastic, but has heart
3 out of 5 stars.From floaty synth ballads to punky 80s pop, this album’s middling material doesn’t adequately serve this unusual star
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4 out of 5 stars.
Erica Jeal's classical album of the week Regards sur l'Infini – glowing, intriguing French chamber music
4 out of 5 stars.Katharine Dain and Sam Armstrong have used lockdown to produce a memorable, effortlessly polished album -
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Flohio No Panic No Pain – rapper leaves no mould unbroken
4 out of 5 stars. -
Megan Thee Stallion Good News – galloping into greatness
5 out of 5 stars.
Obituaries
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Innovative technician described as a ‘sonic genius’ by long-time collaborator Quincy Jones also worked with Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross and others -
The musician, who died on Saturday, gave the Oils’ music an unexpected sweetness, but his warmth and humour was the glue that kept them together -
His melodically brilliant powerpop chafed against the 90s indie scene – but the singer, who has died of bowel cancer, should also be remembered for songs made after his band’s fame -
Other lives: An inspirational teacher who was a leading light of modernist music
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As Pills, Thrills and Bellyaches turns 30, revisit our feature on the moment that indie and rave collided and a seismic party began
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By genre
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The pop-metallers’ frontman Oli Sykes has gone from ‘school punching bag’ to chart-topping star – but coronavirus brought back his childhood anxieties
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Today we begin our countdown of the best albums of the year, with poetic pop, avant-jazz and confessional disco -
Discover all our four- and five-star album reviews from the last month, from pop to folk, classical and more
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4 out of 5 stars.
Experimental music Flohio: No Panic No Pain review – rapper leaves no mould unbroken
4 out of 5 stars.The south London rapper broadens and deepens her emotional range, while continuing to select unexpected production partners -
Our writers considered hundreds of contenders – and here are their picks of the year. Listen to all 390 tracks they voted for on our playlist -
The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl song, to be played in a censored version on some BBC radio stations, will be ‘stripped of its value’, says Cave
You may have missed
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Other Music fuelled New York’s 00s indie boom, boasting Vampire Weekend and Animal Collective among its fans. Then it closed. A new documentary tells the story of the store’s tragic demise – and its ‘terrifying’ staff
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A new documentary examines the life of a SoundCloud star turned convicted criminal and a culture that makes us ‘all complicit’ in the rise of dangerous attention-seekers -
A prodigious talent, the young cellist was rewarded with a Deutsche Grammophon contract and toured all over Europe. Why has the ‘German Du Pré’ been forgotten today? A new documentary explores her life and legacy
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Contrary to their dismissive framing as manufactured robots, South Korea’s BTS use social media, documentary and storytelling to make themselves into profoundly human stars -
Giorgio Moroder: ‘The lyrics were written by a guy who came to fix my Ferrari. It won me my third Oscar’ -
A new jukebox musical of Carrà’s songs caps a 60-year career for a cultural icon who revolutionised Italian entertainment – and gave women agency in the bedroom
Most viewed
The 50 best albums of 2020 50-41