music
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Laura Jane Grace on being transgender in the age of Trump: 'Panic isn't the answer'As she publishes an intimate new memoir, the Against Me! founder shares her thoughts on the presidential election, parenting and the healing power of punk -
40-11The Guardian music critics’ favourite albums of the year, counting down to reveal 2016’s best release
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Anne-Marie, Dua Lipa and Rag'n'Bone Man – meet the critics' choice shortlistTwo aspirant purveyors of bright and shiny pop, plus the face of the East Sussex blues revival. Who’s going to be this year’s most-likely-to? -
Fabric to reopen in January with special weekend of eventsThe London club, which faced permanent closure earlier this year, will reopen with weekend of family-focused events early in 2017
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The band rebuilding London’s indie sceneThanks to their guttural guitar music, the fun-loving foursome are leading a new wave of bands with no time for the blokeish arrogance of yore
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Bruising’s I Don’t Mind: Leeds rockers mope through the maniaPlus, there’s double trouble from Jake Bugg and The Rolling Stones create a stocking filler for dads everywhere
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Adele tickets appear online for £9,000 despite singer's efforts to stop toutsMusic industry figures raise concerns that proposals to clamp down on industrial-scale touting are inadequate
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Reflex action: Duran Duran lose court battle over song rightsMusic publisher successfully prevents members of pop group from reclaiming US rights to band’s songs
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Lady Gaga tells London fans kindness more important than fameSinger says money, beauty and celebrity have been put on a pedestal, and the happiest people are in the poorest parts of the world
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In the spotlight at lastThe A-listers’ go-to vocalist previews tracks from his debut album in a powerful hometown gig
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The Lemon Twigs review – mullets, high kicks and sumptuous harmoniesMichael and Brian D’Addario dress like they’re in a 70s panto, but any suggestions of pastiche are demolished by the humbling beauty of their songs
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Darkness and Light – musical weirdness and lyrical bleaknessEmulating his idol Marvin Gaye, the singer has fashioned the personal and the political into a heartfelt musical statement
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Starboy – the attentive boyfriend you can’t ignoreThe musically omnivorous Abel Tesfaye has mainstream stardom in his sights with this overlong but persuasive album
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How Nickelback became pop’s ultimate punchlineCanadian police have warned criminals that part of their punishment will include having to listen to the ’Back. From Sting to Phil Collins, some acts just can’t escape being the butt of our jokes
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From Lil Yachty to DRAM, 2016's best hip-hop is all about black joyWith references to Super Nintendo, Pixar and healthy vegetables, this year has seen a new breed of rap superstars who are content to swap scowls for smiles
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video
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Crowded House audience joins in at Sydney Opera House reunion concert – videoThe audience at the final night of Crowded House’s Opera House reunion harmonise the chorus of Four Seasons in One Day, gently coached by frontman Neil Finn
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Flume, Jimmy Barnes and Jessica Mauboy: highlights from the 30th Aria awards – videoStars of Australian music perform and Crowded House are inducted into the hall of fame at the Sydney ceremony
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Ben Lee: Arias a great chance to look back on collaborations and feuds – videoAustralia’s musical finest squelch around on the red carpet to reveal their personal award picks and what the Arias mean to them
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Stars of Australian music: a look back 30 years of Aria performances – videoA flashback to some of the most memorable performances at the awards ceremony over the years
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Crowded House's Neil Finn: 'There's a song or two I'm a little bit sick of' – videoCrowded House members Nick Seymour and Neil Finn open up to ABC interviewer Leigh Sales on forgetting lyrics and striking a balance between playing their favourites and the crowd-pleasers
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Green Day protest at AMAs: 'No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA' – videoGreen Day protest against President-elect Donald Trump at Sunday night’s American Music Awards in Los Angeles
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'All I've got to put in a song is my own experience'
Sombre prophet, mordant wisecracker, repentant cad: Leonard Cohen is back with a great new album, Old Ideas – and more wit and wisdom
interviews
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'If I stay silent, nothing will change'She’s been threatened with rape and was beaten in the street, but Paradise Sorouri refuses to stop singing about the horrific injustices inflicted upon Afghan women
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Pop art, fanzines and Channel 4 – the making of Foxbase AlphaWith the band’s debut album having been given the 25th-anniversary treatment, founder member Bob Stanley explains how the record came about
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'There’s nothing more unflattering than someone who’s chasing'The country music star talks about remaining relevant while authentic and the changing nature of the industry as he releases his new album Gunslinger
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‘People don’t get why we are here again … they know how it ended’A lot of drink, drugs, rehab and bitterness have gone under the bridge since the band split in 2005 – but they’re back with a new album, Night Driver. Are they not worried it might turn bad all over again?
quizzes
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How well do you know the life of Freddie Mercury?It’s the 25th anniversary of the death of the Queen frontman on 24 November – test your knowledge of his life and times
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From Jessie J to Jerry Lee, how well do you know this week in music history – quizIt’s our weekly test of your knowledge of pop arcania – come and have a go if you think you know enough
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Quiz – how well do you know this week in music history?A delinquent Door; a rapping Ramone; a generation of Whitesnakes; and a TV dispatch from our own correspondent
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How well do you know the Mercury prize?As the 25th-annual event approaches, test how well you know the past winners, losers and all-round award show bothers
in pictures
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Robert Smith and the CureSince the 1980s, Melody Maker’s Tom Sheehan has captured the Cure’s ascent from the underbelly of British alternative rock to global stadium headliners. Now Sheehan – who was even enlisted as frontman Robert Smith’s official wedding photographer – has compiled a record of his journey with the band in a new book, In Between Days
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The Beatles in infographicsA pair of graphic designers and self-confessed Beatles geeks have mapped Fab Four trivia including the instruments they played, the outfits they wore and even some of their most famous press-conference quips
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Blondie, Paul McCartney and moreSince the 1970s, Ross Halfin has photographed the biggest names in rock and pop, capturing seminal shows by the Who, AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. Shots from his career will be exhibited at The Indulgence Show in London
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Backstage with the Royal Opera's Barber of SevilleThe Guardian goes backstage at the Royal Opera’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia and follows baritone Vito Priante, who sings Figaro
you may have missed
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The pop rebel who refuses to stay silentLast week she was widely attacked for apologising to refugees on the UK’s behalf. But, just as her candour and directness mark her music, she has never been afraid to speak her mind
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Why Phil Collins' comeback could save pop musicHis return to live performance will infuriate as many as it delights, but only a hardened bete noire can haul today’s pop out of cheery mediocrity. And maybe those derided solo hits weren’t so bad after all…
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‘I love pop music. But I also love super DIY hardcore punk’Appearing on the most streamed track of all time, Lean On, made the Danish singer an instant global star. But is she ready to abandon her anarcho roots?
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10 subjects songwriters should avoidSome songwriters can turn any subject into gold. Most aren’t so fortunate, so here are some subjects best steered clear of – and feel free to add more
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When numerology and rock collideBon Iver joins the pantheon of music number nerds fascinated by figures and their occult connections, from Mozart and the Beatles to Led Zep and Wu Tang
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'It's called a Trautonium – and it can electrocute people!'Denmark’s Agnes Obel takes music where it has never gone before, layering 250 tracks on top of each other, and duetting with a male cyborg version of herself. Where does it all come from?
The Weeknd ‘Drugs were a crutch for me’