It's Word 108, and it asks: whatever happened to singing? Also in the issue: Air, The Chemical Brothers, The Blues, Bob Dylan, Beth Jeans Houghton, one-man record labels, Evan Dando, the 2011 Festive Fifty, Underworld, the Best and Worst Scots, Tom Watson, The Byrds, Jesus Jones, Kathleen Edwards, John Walters, Abi Morgan, Mick Farren, Jim Kerr, June Tabor, Jason Hazeley & Joel Morris, Kirsty Young, Christopher Hitchens, the art of bass, Hank Williams, and music's digital future.

Also in this issue: columnists David Hepworth and Andrew Harrison, plus our regular round-up of the very best in new music, books, film and DVD.

And that's not all: our free, 15-track CD featuring the best new music of right now, including tracks Nada Surf, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Luke Haines, DJ Food, Pop Will Eat Itself, Mary Black and more... many more.

Click here to purchase this issue, or subscribe - this month, subscribe to The Word and get 12 issues and 12 CDs for just £40