Have you ever wanted to learn about classical music without first having to absorb all the theory or wade through lots of tedious music? Well, your most effective introduction to classical music may be the intensely passionate and highly tuneful music of Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky. AMG's Blair Sanderson explains why this great Russian composer might be your ideal guide.

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Latin singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel and pop duo Calle 13 were the primary focus of the 2009 Latin Grammy Awards last night. Gabriel, who performed live for over 40 minutes, received the award for Person of the year, while Calle 13 took home 5 awards including Album of the Year. [Billboard.com]

On the heels of releasing his debut solo album, Strokes-frontman Julian Casablancas is purportedly preparing a laser light show for his upcoming live UK tour. Casablancas told NME that he is planning on delivering a "Pink Floyd" inspired show to his UK fans. Casablancas released the album Phrazes For the Young last month. [NME.com]

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A reader asked in the comments section of AllMusic Loves 2004, our previous feature listing our editors' favorite releases from a given year, "What next? AllMusic Loves 2005!?!?" Yes, exactly. As we said when we looked back at 2000, we are covering each year of the decade until we reach the end. Having passed the midpoint, we grapple with a year highlighted album-wise by the apex of record-collector rock (LCD Soundsystem's LCD Soundsystem), thrilling tongue-in-cheek meta-punk (Art Brut's Bang Bang Rock & Roll), and politicized electro-rooted trunk rattlers (M.I.A.'s Arular). Just as significantly, 2005 featured one of the decade's oddest smashes in Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" and, in Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," a good old-fashioned anthem. In the case of the latter, guilt lies only in the souls of those who think of it as a mere guilty pleasure.

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