From Big Black’s noise to Joanna Newsom’s hush: 10 of Steve Albini’s greatest recordings
Whether as an artist or working behind the mixing desk, from major-label megastars to drone-metal auteurs, here’s a selection of the late musician’s greatest work
March 2024
Pop! goes the curriculum: songs to inspire primary school children
Keir Starmer is on a personal mission to promote music to the under-11s. From rock’n’roll to Jonathan Richman, our writers suggest songs for an alternative schooling
March 2022
Cultural prescription
Astral peaks: music, books, art and more about the majesty of space
From beautiful celestial metaphors to a virtual simulacrum of an entire galaxy, our critics suggest popular culture inspired by the wonders of astronomy
September 2019
Best culture of the 21st century
The 100 best albums of the 21st century
We polled 45 music writers to rank the definitive LPs of the 21st century so far. Read our countdown of passionate pop, electrifying rock and anthemic rap – and see if you agree
February 2017
Shortcuts
Prince is on Spotify but Taylor Swift, Thom Yorke and Beyoncé are holding out
The Sound of LA
September 2016
Readers recommend
Readers recommend playlist: your songs with unusual rhymes
From Bill Bailey’s ode to Billy Bragg to the woes of marriage, here are some of music’s most weird and wonderful rhymes
End of the Road review – the sweetest festival of the season
Sunshine is about the only thing missing in a weekend of stellar performances from Animal Collective, Broken Social Scene and Ezra Furman
This week's best culture
Five of the best... rock & pop gigs
Joanna Newsom | Teenage Fanclub | Bestival | King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard | Festival No 6
February 2016
The lab playlist: 16 great songs about science (and a bad one)
Joanna Newsom, Animal Collective and Bat for Lashes to headline End of the Road 2016
January 2016
Sydney festival 2016
Joanna Newsom review – unadulterated magic at Sydney Opera House
A virtuoso on both piano and harp, the singer brings an electric charge to a stormy Sydney night
December 2015
Best culture 2015
Our favourite music interviews of 2015: Prince, Kendrick, Blur, Björk and more
Goofing out with Joanna Newsome, an endurance event with Blur, and the fear and the fury of Jerry Lee Lewis … meeting the stars held unknown highlights for our writers this year
Observer critics' review of 2015
Kitty Empire: the best rock and pop of 2015
Adele returned and Kendrick Lamar captured black America’s anger. But 2015 will be remembered for Eagles of Death Metal’s slogan
Best albums of 2015
Best albums of 2015: No 10 – Divers by Joanna Newsom
Best albums of 2015
The best albums of 2015
Music blog
The best albums of 2015 – so far
November 2015
Julia Holter; Joanna Newsom – review
Joanna Newsom review – genius at work
October 2015
The best original photographs from the Observer
Original Observer photography: October 2015
Music, film, fashion, not to mention food: there’s more than a touch of glamour in this showcase of the month’s best Observer pictures