Career choices, religion, politics and death: ahead of the release of their third record ‘Modern Vampires In The City’, we find Vampire Weekend in America fighting for their lives.

The record store giant has been bought by investors Hilco but what does this mean for its future? The stores are likely to look very different and will revolve around ‘experience-based’ retail with more in-store appearances. NME investigates…

The rapper suggests that homophobic comments and childish controversy are behind him. Has he realised that the joke might be wearing a little too thin?

Part 1 of a rundown of the best independent record companies of all time. Includes: Sub Pop, XL, 4AD, Death Row and Creation. Let the debates begin…

With Azealia Banks’ debut record still not receiving a proper release, we question whether it will ever see the light of day while also taking a look at some of the albums you’ll probably never hear and why.

Where can you find Biffy Clyro rocking out, Stone Roses prowling onstage, Blur kicking about, Yeah Yeah Yeahs showing off, Grimes wearing animal print, Major Lazer floating about in a see-through blow-up ball and Wu Tang Clan being generally awesome? Coachella, of course.

Album reviews of Noah & The Whale, Neon Neon, Deerhunter, Iggy And The Stooges, Rudimental, Ghostface Killah, !!!, Snoop Lion, Os Mutantes, Seasick Steve and more. PLUS! Live reports from Enter Shikari, Rachel Zeffira, Wavves and Fidlar, Big Ups and Paul Weller plays an instore gig with The Strypes!

ALSO! Interviews with Major Lazer, Gold Panda, Los Porcos (the new band formed from the ashes of Wu Lyf), Two Door Cinema Club, James Skelly, Childhood, Jagwar Ma, Thurston Moore, and Hayley Williams takes the Braincells quiz. PLUS! Toy, Temples, Stealing Sheep and Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs go on a bus to France as part of our Record Store Day 2013 review! ALSO – what’s Macaulay Culkin doing on tour with Adam Green and Binki Shapiro?

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