With Easy on Me, after a six-year recording hiatus, Adele is back in the business of being Adele

Singer-songwriter has a voice that’s as distinctive on record as it is in real life – it’s about time we properly listened

New album has echoes of his old Fab Four tunes – and a big smattering of cheese

The straight-talking pop star cuts out the BS, proving why you want her as your friend and not your enemy

At its best, Love is Dead has an odd golden pop nugget, at it’s worst it’s plodding and formulaic

Beck on his constant reinvention, his new poppy direction, and touring with U2

FOO FIGHTERSConcrete and Gold ***RCA

Hannah Reid on how the band got lost on the road, and working with ‘rock star’ producers

Beyoncé’s nine dominating nods, along with strong showings for Rihanna, Kanye West, Drake and Chance the Rapper, reflect a stellar year for black artists

Manchester’s Shura is happy to be different – and flattered about being compared to Kurt Cobain and Kylie