The lost child
Brilliant and bewitching, she could have been the most famous singer-songwriter of the Seventies. But Judee Sill was different from her Californian peers ... For the first time, Barney Hoskyns reveals the story of death, drugs, Bach and bisexuality behind an unjustly neglected talent.
Friends reunited
Two decades after splitting up, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions re-formed this year, older, little wiser, and no less likely to argue over a curry. Here bassist (turned Observer writer) Lawrence Donegan opens his tour diary of highs (putting 115 mates on the guest list), lows (playing 'Kumbaya' in an Irish pub) and terror (wondering if he'll be beaten up by the hard men of Wet Wet Wet).
From glam to grime, the year in music
Pop has grown more baffling in 2004, says Garry Mulholland, but some brilliant new British acts put America's bling culture in its place - and reminded us that music can truly reflect our real lives and times.
Enigma with attitude
Dylan toured doggedly, puzzled his fans - and wrote a classic autobiography. The best is yet to come, says Sean O'Hagan.
The most beautiful dog in the world
A festive story, by Sharon Osbourne.
This year, to save you from tears ...
From cheap and cheerful rocking fillers to those pricier gifts that say 'you knows I loves you', Luke Bainbridge offers shopping advice for all.
OMM's christmas quiz
Which pop star named their child Chudney Lane? Who helped Homer Simpson fight a sanitation engineer? Here are 44 fiendish questions, where every round goes up to 11.
The 10 Scrooges
There is nothing wrong with musicians making money. But there are times when some take penny-pinching to a truly shameful level ...
Last month's 10
Paul Flynn picked the worst soap stars turned pop singers.
eBay daze
What do you do when your cellar is stuffed with CDs, Britney badges and, of course, a U2 helmet? You auction them on the web, of course. eBay virgin Craig McLean had some trouble shifting his neglected treasures, but he had other things on his mind. Like who buys this stuff? More to the point, why?
Bruce Forsyth
Nice to see you, says Peter Paphides to the Strictly Come Dancing presenter and light entertainment legend. But what's that Chili Peppers LP in your collection?
Retro man
From his hair to the type of car he drives, Terry lives in the past. Put simply, he feels safer when unchallenged by the present, Tom Cox learns.
Loud and proud
John Peel was not just a great DJ, but also a fine journalist. Here, in this exclusive extract from the introduction to a new history of death metal, he recalls his first exposure to the joys of grindcore.
Review of 2004
The year as OMM saw it
2004: the people, the moments
10 best gigs | RIP | Your song | Fashion icon of the year | Chav of 2004
OMM's Albums of 2004
From south London to Tennessee, from Senegal to Newport, Observer Music Monthly's critics make their pick of the year.
Punk and disorderly
A documentary revisiting the music of his misspent youth proves that Jonathan Ross remains a shrewd, dreamy child of the Seventies, says Paul Morley.
Editor's letter
How was it for you? From this perspective, 2004 wasn't a vintage year for music, but there was no shortage of candidates when OMM's critics came to picking our favourite records and gigs of the year.
