Charmed and dangerous
Stunning voice, caustic way with words, two Brit nominations: 20-year-old Amy Winehouse should be our next superstar. But can the music industry cope with such an unusual, indiscreet and provocative talent? Interview by Garry Mulholland.

Like Buddha, like son
Kathmandu singing star - aka Sting - writes of his four man expedition to the heart of a lost Himalayan kingdom. Here he tells how he came close to drowning, walked with monks, talked with a king - and resolved some pressing family issues.

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
It's 40 years since The Beatles, on the back of their first US Number One, flew into New York for a tour that changed the course of a decade. In the words of the band, their inner circle, fans and key players in the American music business, we tell the full story of a fortnight that sent a nation crazy.

Flash-forward: Jaga Jazzist
The new new thing for 2004? Kitty Empire gives her vote to Norway's leading 10-piece jazz band, complete with tuba player - only, don't call them jazzmen to their faces

Death and Glory
Separated by 25 years in death, Kurt Cobain and Sid Vicious are united as icons, two pitiful lives celebrated in a way that is unique to rock music. By Sean O'Hagan.

Beats international
Every year, dance music's biggest names come together to pass on the tricks of the trade to talented young producers and DJs from across the world. Vicky Zimmerman joined the Slovenian breakbeat and Dutch trance specialists in Cape Town for the biggest fortnight of their lives.

The 10 rock comedies
Beware the guitarist with the furrowed brow. Rock is best when it's at its silliest - as the makers of these classic films clearly realised...

Making the law
Mark Kermode turns this month's selection up to 11

Last month's 10
Carl Wilkinson picked rock's greatest party animals.

... Shania Twain
The record-breaking queen of country-pop - raised by her bootstraps - now has a museum in her name... What do you mean, that don't impress you much?

Ian Rankin
The crime writer shares the tastes of his world-weary detective John Rebus - and his son likes Beethoven. Can the Doctor sort him out? By Peter Paphides.

Gonna make you sweat
The swelling strains of a Sondheim soundtrack might not be cool - but they're the only thing guaranteed to get Jay Rayner into his Lycra and onto the treadmill. For those about to work out, we salute you ... no matter what the neighbours think.

Lisa Jewell meets Michelle McManus
Lisa Jewell, best selling author of novels such as 'One Hit Wonder', asks 'Pop Idol' winner and No 1 chart-topper Michelle McManus about travelling by public transport, drinking Jack and Coke, and her ambitions to be a breakdancer.

Song of the month: 'Dead Dogs Two' by cLOUDDEAD
San Francisco's cLOUDDEAD are rappers Doseone and Why? and samplemeister Odd Nosdam and - horror! - they are white and middle class.

The worst of the month: Sarah McLachlan: Afterglow
The last thing we need right now, argues Polly Vernon, is an American Dido (Arista, £13.99 )

This month's 10 best CDs
2004 kicks off with the Scissor Sisters, Franz Ferdinand and folkies The Watersons.

More reviews
Including the next 20 best January releases and the classic album of the month.

A vision for europe
Peter Robinson: We lead the world when it comes to pop, so why do we tolerate this Eurovision shambles?

The posh hippie
Continuing his odyssey, Tom Cox travels to the West Country to meet a man with a Sixties obsession and the spare cash to indulge it.

... Kabul
The Taliban would jail people for owning record players. Now, Afghans can enjoy their own sombre folk music - and the collected works of Modern Talking - without fear of punishment, reports Chris Menist

The God of small screens
Everyone's got a Jamie Cullum CD. Everyone, that is, who understands the higher power of Parky and Aled. Paul Morley says his prayers ...

Editor's letter
It was 40 years ago next week that The Beatles first flew to America, and changed everything.

Guitarist wanted
The band seemed to have all the right influences and a girl singer with attitude - a little slice of Islington cool. But when Rhodri Marsden turned up for rehearsals he heard the two words that chill his heart: 'Let's jam.' After that, the mid-morning whisky and rock's most well-worn chords, things got worse...

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What I'm listening to
Amanda Holden, actress

What I'm listening to
Luke Perry, actor

Sullivan's music trivia

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Take a Brake
OMM reader wins prize; Turin Brakes play gig in her front room.