This is the end

Sad news for fans of intelligent, perceptive, well-written online music criticism: Stylus is no more, founder and editor-in-chief Todd Burns having decided the time has come to shut up shop. I had no idea this was even on the cards until Ian, a long-time Stylus contributor, broke the news when we met up in Toronto last month. Read associate editor Derek Miller's closing thoughts for what the magazine meant to him personally.

On a happier music note, congratulations to the Capsule girls on their nomination for the much-coveted Brummie Of The Year 2007 award organised through the Birmingham It's Not Shit site. This year Capsule have been responsible for bringing numerous excellent bands to the second city, many of them as part of the biggest Supersonic Festival yet. You can vote for them here - though it should be added that my loyalties are definitely divided, with Brum's blogger extraordinaire Pete Ashton also in the running...