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Music
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The musician and actor, 46, talks about her controversial debut with her father, Serge Gainsbourg, the death of her sister Kate and #MeToo -
The Melbourne band make fresh-sounding indie rock from familiar sounds on their intoxicating debut album
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The Brit-winning, Stormzy-collaborating soul star has conquered the shops of Walsall. With the release of her debut album Lost & Found, she sets her sights on the world -
4 out of 5 stars.
Kanye West & Kid Cudi: Kids See Ghosts review A psychedelic return to godlike power
4 out of 5 stars.One week on from the underwhelming, muddled solo album Ye, West is newly galvanised by Cudi’s stoner wisdom -
Not considered beautiful by China’s exacting pop star standards, Wang has developed a cult following of fans who find her relatable and an inspiration
Festivals
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From the Mighty Hoopla’s queer, pop-focused celebration to Download’s annual joyous metal onslaught, there’s an event this summer for everyone -
What makes a banging festival anthem, besides a simple chorus that vast crowds can belt out in unison? Here are the tracks you can expect to hear all summer
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The Cradle of Filth frontman shares his festival stories - from tent peg nightmares to his dream boyband lineup -
Got a festival-related problem? Our agony uncle solves your dilemmas and despairs, from dodgy burgers to teeth cleanliness concerns -
Festival season means live coverage of unpredictable, drunk or stupid stars on and off stage. It doesn’t always work out -
Festival lineups are filled with middle-aged stars and former headliners. But how can musicians stay relevant in a millennial music age?
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Simon Hattenstone was told Mariah Carey would only talk about her Christmas tour. But the singer opens up about controlling men, family troubles and her diva demands -
The singer and songwriter has been curating the Meltdown festival, and is planning to record the first Cure album in 10 years. But will it be fuelled by magic mushroom tea? -
With their twisted Catholic imagery, the Swedish band were one of the most mysterious in metal. But after lawsuits and infighting, their masks were ripped off … -
As The The tour for the first time in 18 years, its frontman explains how his brother’s death motivated him to write again
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4 out of 5 stars.
Beyoncé & Jay-Z: OTR II review Heart-stopping scenes from a marriage
4 out of 5 stars.On the opening night of their collaborative world tour, the biggest couple in pop are glorious and charismatic – even if the romantic story arc plays down their trauma -
4 out of 5 stars.
Camila Cabello – from Elvira to Havana in goth-pop masterclass
4 out of 5 stars.Dressed in a gothic ensemble that belies her mojito-friendly pop, the former Fifth Harmony member showed just how far she’s come with a joyful, energised performance -
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2 out of 5 stars.
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4 out of 5 stars.
The The – long-awaited return reopens brilliant teenage diaries
4 out of 5 stars.
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3 out of 5 stars.
Jorja Smith: Lost & Found – soulful debut from R&B prodigy
3 out of 5 stars.British singer’s anticipated first album works through the pain of youth, love and relationships – but at times feels sparse -
4 out of 5 stars.
Lykke Li: So Sad So Sexy – despair you can dance to
4 out of 5 stars.The Swedish sad-pop hero musician has had a rocky time and her new album is full of vulnerability yet it swaggers -
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Fifty years since the release of her debut album, Sean O’Hagan argues that Joni Mitchell’s very best albums contain a depth of songwriting that remains unsurpassed
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In focus
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A range of star-packed festivals, ranging from R&B to rock, offer unusual collaborations, stage theatrics and stunning locations -
4 out of 5 stars.
Kendrick Lamar Pusha T: Daytona review – Kanye ably props up rap's best drug storyteller
4 out of 5 stars.Despite his success, Pusha T is still rapping about drug dealing – but the sheer pleasure of his flow, and Kanye West’s productions, smooth over any quibbles about authenticity -
4 out of 5 stars.
Taylor Swift Taylor Swift review – as stadium-sized shows go, it's something of a triumph
4 out of 5 stars.Manchester Etihad Stadium
Reputation can sometimes seem boilerplate – but onstage, blowing it up into a preposterous spectacle really works -
The winner of the Dylan Thomas prize explains how his poems are infused with the rhythms and rhymes of garage, grime and hip-hop
By genre
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3 out of 5 stars.
Under orders not to upset new neighbours, Field Day got strict with its headliners – pulling the plug on an overtime Erykah Badu – while serving a jazzy lineup of fresh stars -
4 out of 5 stars.
Hip-hop Kanye West & Kid Cudi: Kids See Ghosts review – a psychedelic return to godlike power
4 out of 5 stars.One week on from the underwhelming, muddled solo album Ye, West is newly galvanised by Cudi’s stoner wisdom -
The Melbourne band make fresh-sounding indie rock from familiar sounds on their intoxicating debut album
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4 out of 5 stars.
R&B Beyoncé and Jay-Z review – still crazy in love after all these years
4 out of 5 stars.A spectacular set of hits and more hits proves a fascinating showcase of the ups and downs of the world’s foremost musical marriage -
From Troye Sivan’s ode to bottoming to Oneohtrix Point Never’s joyous electronic cheese, here are 50 tracks you shouldn’t be without this month -
With their twisted Catholic imagery, the Swedish band were one of the most mysterious in metal. But after lawsuits and infighting, their masks were ripped off …
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As BTS reach No 1 in the US and other K-pop stars start gaining traction in the west, here is a glossary for the uninitiated – from agencies to zaniness -
Can the new, open-access audio ‘publishing platform’ attract more than just superfans of its indie-rock creators? -
As the founder of the Last Poets, Nuriddin, who has died aged 73, was a hero to everyone from Tupac Shakur to Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis
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With the legendary BBC studio relocating to east London, we look back at decades of priceless recordings, including Bing Crosby’s final work and Adele’s masterful Dylan cover version -
The last founding member of the visionary German band left alive, the 81-year-old recalls how he rejected his Nazi father to find freedom in music -
Musicians reveal the songs they turn to when the sun hits the sky – listen to their hot tracks below
Johnny Marr A middle-aged musician nursing a hangover is a dead duck