Album

Life-threatening illness sends Rea back to his roots

Tenth album from veteran rapper sounds as fresh as his first

It's the 20th anniversary—already—of the groundbreaking TV pop show where enigmatic New Order vocalist Barney once furrowed his brow, stared at Paula Yates' arse and said to me: "Cor, I wouldn't half mind shagging that." Ah, melancholy '80s indieland, where the boys were poets and the girls were, if they had any gumption at all, somewhere else having a life. A splendid 37-track compilation this, as much for Wham! and Frankie as for Echo And The Bunnymen, Iggy Pop, U2, The Human League and The Jam.

Godlike genius in "plastic funk" scandal

Retrospective becomes elegy for skiffle king who died in November, aged 71

Early '70s New York singer-songwriter in retrospect

Nutty Boys' best-of and musical tie-in

Joni looks back with a symphony orchestra

Outstanding tenorist tears it up

Electronic siren songs