LHB’s Shorties (U2, Christmas Music, and More)

The Irish Independent checks the status of U2's next album, while also noting other legendary hiatuses between records by rock bands.

Pop & Hiss profiles the teen music bloggers behind The Tape and their all-ages Snow in Los Angeles music festival.

Casnoff plans to turn the Tape into a multi-limbed beast of blogging, record label and concert promotion, all while still needing to carpool over the Hill to get to indie-friendly environs. Booking agents should take note, though: Don't be surprised if future installments of Snow turn into a local Coachella for kids who would rather live "Rockville, CA" than watch it.

NPR's Weekend Edition profiles Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richards on the Rolling Stones guitarist's 65th birthday.

The Chicago Sun-Times lists the best Christmas songs of all time, while the Richmond Times-Dispatch recaps the year's holiday music releases and the New York Daily News does the same for Hanukkah music.

At Slate, Jody Rosen, Ann Powers, and Robert Christgau are discussing the year in music.

- David Gutowski