All our best-of-2011 list shenanigans

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake. Our number one album of the year.

Albums of the year: How our critics voted

The best songs of 2011, as voted for by Guardian writers

The best albums and songs of 2011, as voted for by Guardian readers (with a surprising number one)

Our top 40 album countdown in its entirety

Things to listen to

Music Weekly podcast: review of 2011

Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler live session: How we wrote Home for the Holidays - video

New music: Napoleon IIIrd – Deck the Halls

Old music: Ramones – Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)

In the news this week

R Kelly announces 32 more chapters of Trapped in the Closet

Dutch magazine editor resigns following race row with Rihanna

Lost Captain Beefheart album Bat Chain Puller finally due out

Blur to perform at 2012 Brit awards

Further reading

Trent Reznor: 'I'm not at war with myself as I once was'

Maggoty Lamb's awards for music journalism in 2011

How hip-hop is finally losing its homophobic image

A very happy Christmas to all our readers! Sleeve notes is having a week off next week, and will return in the new year.