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Music
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Singer’s lawyer demands sister Jamie Lynn stop ‘referencing Britney derogatorily’ during promotion of memoir, and files allegations of misconduct against father -
Meek Mill, Kelly Rowland and more sign letter supporting proposed change in New York state law
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With references ranging from drug users to the Japanese avant garde, Tom Heyes has transcended a dull life in the north-west through explosive choreography and streams of consciousness -
Did the iconic three-note sequence come from Stravinsky, the Muppets or somewhere else? Our writer set out to – dun, dun duuuun! – reveal the mystery -
The 80s pop star was placed in an induced coma, but brother says ‘she is tough and is responding to stimuli’
Best music of 2021
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Guardian writers fish out their favourite lesser-known tracks of the year from an emotional ballad to mellow rap -
Live streams – and TikTok – came into their own, 1969 burst on to the screen, and everywhere, the sound of one producer’s Midas touch -
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The bassist and saxophonist recreate an old photo and look back at a mortifying incident in a German sauna -
The folk-rockers have weathered divorce and trauma to become one of the US’s best bands. Loved up with one another on tour, they explain their need for imperfection – and why recording is like sex -
The Londoner reflects on her old-school ascent to jazzy indie greatness, her Turkish heritage and reaching out to refugee kids -
He has found critical and commercial success, while behind the scenes the frontman has battled with his self-confidence and severe stage fright. He explains why he still loves being in the band
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4 out of 5 stars.
D Double E Grime originator unites the generations
4 out of 5 stars.Despite inspiring grime’s biggest stars, this is only the first nationwide tour from the east Londoner – a victory lap that draws on decades of Black British music -
3 out of 5 stars.
Kanye West and Drake review The end of an overcooked beef
3 out of 5 stars.In a much-hyped livestreamed gig, Drake’s prosaic pop-rap is shown up by the magnetic stage charisma of his new friend -
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3 out of 5 stars.
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4 out of 5 stars.
Madness Still nutty after all these years
4 out of 5 stars. -
4 out of 5 stars.
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3 out of 5 stars.
Alexis Petridis's album of the week FKA twigs: Caprisongs – wild invention let down by weak songs
3 out of 5 stars.Darkness turns to light in Tahliah Barnett’s follow-up to 2019 LP Magdalene but, even so, it’s an adventurous but undercharged effort missing hooks and cohesion -
4 out of 5 stars.
Folk album of the month Ben McElroy: How I Learnt to Disengage from the Pack – shining a light in tough times
4 out of 5 stars.A shivering seabed of sound, haunted by barely there vocals and stitched together with lo-fi production – McElroy has made a beautiful early year listen -
Obituaries
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The late Ronettes singer had one of the most distinctive voices in pop music – and her discography should be celebrated beyond her girl-group hits -
Singer and bassist who helped inspire British heavy metal dies in sleep at Cardiff hospital -
The versatile songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist had hits with his own group Mtume as well as for Stephanie Mills, Roberta Flack and more -
Baritone had been performing with the band in the UK in December before tour postponed due to illness
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As Heart of Gold turns 50, revisit Alexis Petridis's 2012 interview with Young about his autobiography, Waging Heavy Peace
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By genre
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Saturday’s countdown looks set to be an odd one, with more mainstream music than usual – and a Tame Impala cover from a children’s group -
From his Afrocentric jazz with Miles Davis and Lonnie Liston Smith to his chart hits for Roberta Flack and Stephanie Mills, we celebrate the best of the late musician -
Singer and bassist who helped inspire British heavy metal dies in sleep at Cardiff hospital
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4 out of 5 stars.
The left-field singer makes a bid for the mainstream with hook-centric pop that centres on self-knowledge not trauma -
A last-minute stage switch meant a huge festival crowd who turned out to see the chart-storming Shark were instead greeted by a little-known indie rocker -
With references ranging from drug users to the Japanese avant garde, Tom Heyes has transcended a dull life in the north-west through explosive choreography and streams of consciousness
You may have missed
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Tis the season for novelty hits, charity records and, now, songs about baked goods. But though everyone wants a festive No 1, they rarely stay up longer than the tinsel -
In this extract from his new memoir Devil in a Coma, the alt-rocker recalls how Covid-19 put him in hospital for months this year – and gave him a series of hallucinogenic visions -
UK rap’s biggest star goes on tour, Wet Leg drop a deadpan debut and Rosalía gets into reggaeton. Here are the albums, concerts and tours the big hitters have in store
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His condom punchline went viral on the first ever UK drill No 1. Now, inspired by his mum’s graft and witchcraft, the 19-year-old has four Top 10 hits to his name -
Jacob Lusk was an American Idol contestant who had never found his true musical identity. Now, his astounding voice powers a trio who are steeped in the richness of Black musical history -
Born in Lagos and raised in the US, she swapped medical training for arias – and has learned to embrace the pressure of being a leading voice
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Adele’s divorce album is a slyly subversive fit for a Vegas residency