Uncut

Bobby Womack has revealed he's suffering from brain disorder Alzheimer’s. The 68-year-old, who released his first single in 1954, has admitted he struggles to recall the names of his songs and those of his collaborators. He said: “The doctor says there are signs of Alzheimer’s. It’s not bad yet but will get worse. He added: "How can I not remember songs I wrote? It’s frustrating. I don't feel together yet. Negative things come in my mind and it's hard for me to remember sometimes."

Following on from yesterday's Top 75 new albums of 2012 post, here's our Top 30 compilations, reissues and box sets of 2012, with links to the original reviews where possible. Have a great Christmas and New Year, folks!

Ladies and gentlemen... please enjoy our Top 75 new albums of 2012, with links to the original reviews where possible. Tomorrow, we'll post the Top 30 best reissues, box sets and compilations.

Jack White has become the latest musician to make a guest cameo in US TV series Portlandia, the sitcom lampooning life in the alternative Oregon city.

Grizzly Bear have posted a tongue-in-cheek Christmas video for fans – watch it by scrolling down. The clip operates as an advert-cum-incredibly low bugdget music video, featuring a range of stock images including prawn rings, tacos, tomatoes, wine glasses, card-playing dogs and more set to smooth jazz versions of album tracks arranged for solo piano, sax and operatic voice.

A provocative musical advent calendar...

Here we are at the end of another year, finishing off our first issue of 2013 and looking forward to the Christmas break, which starts for us on Friday. We’re off then until January 2, when we will no doubt return refreshed to face the New Year. This is therefore the last newsletter for a couple of weeks, so I’ll take the opportunity now to thank you for all your support and enthusiasm over the last 12 months, which has been much appreciated by everyone at Uncut. We hope all our readers enjoy their own Christmas holidays and wish you all the best for the coming year.

Bob Mould has revealed a clip of his band performing live with Dave Grohl as he seeks funds to launch a new career spanning documentary.

Patti Smith has suggested she will release a new book next year, a sequel to her 2010 release Just Kids.

The Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon claims that Pearl Jam have inspired his band's plans for their next album. The New Jersey four-piece, who only recently released their fourth album Handwritten, already have ideas for their fifth LP according to frontman Brian Fallon. He told Rolling Stone: "I want to do the No Code record [Pearl Jam's fourth album], that one. They did these three rock records, and [then] they all of a sudden went left turn. And everybody went, 'What the hell?' Then later, five years, they went, 'This is amazing.'"