Brett Anderson and Mat Osman guide us through 30 years plus of catchy, dramatic alternative rock

The Weather Station ’s Tamara Lindeman talks creative victories and kindred spirits

Welcome to the second of our special Review Of The Year joint interviews. Here, indie provocateur BAXTER DURY and Sleaford Mods’ splenetic frontman JASON WILLIAMSON turn their attentions to the landscape, musical or otherwise, of 2025. Stand by for a bleak, brash, honest and often humorous assessment of the year just gone. Their conclusions? “We’re just flogging this dead horse, aren’t we?” they tell Mark Beaumont

2025 has been a breakthrough year for soul gospel sensations ANNIE & THE CALDWELLS . A major new album, the patronage of David Byrne and ecstatic live shows have expanded their base beyond West Point, Mississippi to the global stage. Catching up with the Southern matriarch, her husband, daughters and goddaughter in Nashville, Stephen Deusner hears how their mission to spread joy to their audiences is the culmination of a lifelong dream. “I have to smile and tell God thank you because He could have chosen anybody to do this.”

Music was an all-consuming escape. Now, every song he writes is a love song At 16, I was just starting to take writing seriously. I became obsessed with lyricism and writing lines and my heroes were a

Lush ★★★★ Gala 4AD. CD/DL/LP Shoegazing pioneers’ early-career ...