Cover Story

Britney Returns

In an exclusive interview, the pop star talks about raising her kids, making her comeback record and how hard it is to meet a good man. By Jenny Eliscu

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Spears loosens up for the camera at Rolling Stone's photo shoot
THE RS COVERS: All eight Britney covers and stories
TIMELINE: Spears' rise, fall and comeback in photos
INTERVIEW: Behind the Britney Story — A Conversation With Writer Jenny Eliscu
VIDEOS: A guide to all of Britney's 27 music videos

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

The Last Recount

In Al Franken's race in Minnesota, blue and red tangle for the final time in the Bush era. By Matt Taibbi

BLOG: Taibbi Unbound
ARCHIVE: All Campaign '08 Stories in Rolling Stone

Same-Sex Setback

Don't blame the Mormons or black voters — the California activists who tried to stop Prop 8 ran a lousy campaign. By Tim Dickinson

Special Section

The 2008 Hot List

From a futuristic pop star to Ambien tripping, the 70 hottest bands, actors, drugs, movies of '08 and beyond.

Robert Pattinson
The 22-year-old British actor whose turn as a brooding vampire in Twilight is now causing hormonal pandemonium in movie theaters across America

MGMT
'Shroom-eating synth freaks break out

Leighton Meester
In bed with the Gossip Girl next door

Dhani Harrison
George Harrison's son strikes out on his own

Odette Yustman
Hollywood's hottest new bombshell takes it off

The Answer
Rock gods in training hit the road with AC/DC

L.A.'s Hippie Haven
Inside the David Crosby-worshipping world of Laurel Canyon

Where's Where the Wild Things Are?
Spike Jonze on his highly anticipated next movie

Mickey Rourke
The troubled actor scores a comeback in The Wrestler

ROCK'S HOTTEST NEIGHBORHOOD: The Return to Laurel Canyon — read an expanded feature and get a video tour of rock's best scene
ROLLING STONE'S HOTTEST COVERS: The Hot Issue is 22 years young — check out our gallery of covers from a nude Laetitia Casta through Angelina Jolie and Britney Spears
BONUS Q&A: Robert Pattison

Rock & Roll

Coldplay Hit the Road

Backstage with the band on the Viva La Vida tour.

INDUSTRY: Ticket Battle Shakes Music Biz

IN THE NEWS: Bono Launches Download Service for Africa

EXHIBITION: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Preps Satellite Museum in New York

BREAKING: The Knux — Big Easy Brothers Go Hollywood

THE NUMBERS: Research Shows: Troubled Times Call for Sober Songs

TELEVISION: Elvis Costello Talks Music on Cable

CLIPS: Watch Elton John on Costello's Spectacle

Q&A

Patrick Stump

The Fall Out Boy singer on his first bong hit and his David Bowie impression

DVDs

The Best of the Year

From WALL-E to The Dark Knight to Hancock, the top dozen discs of 2008

WATCH: Exclusive clips from The Dark Knight and Wanted, plus Travers' picks for five sub-par flicks that look great on Blu-Ray more.

Reviews

Kanye West Fails Nobly

The MC attempts his own Blood on the Tracks but ODs on Auto-Tune.

PLUS: New discs from Britney Spears, Cat Power, Scott Weiland, Common, Neil Young, Maroon 5, Coldplay, The All-American Rejects, Megapuss, Charlie Louvin, School of Seven Bells, Tobacco, Anya Marina, Powderfinger

REISSUES: Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia, R.E.M., Death Cab for Cutie, Pavement

ALL REVIEWS

KEY TRACKS: Hear the best of this issue's review section

Movies

Twilight Bites

The movie version of the bestselling book is a big hit — and a bigger letdown. By Peter Travers

PLUS: Doubt, Frost/Nixon, The Wrestler, Australia

BLOG: The Travers Take

Also In This Issue...

Fricke's Picks

The Wild Story of the Move: Late-'60s British quintet the Move
Titans of Power Pop: Indie label comp
2 + 2 = Rock!: Bob Seger System

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

SLASH AND BILLY GIBBONS ROCK FOR LES PAUL: A video report from the special Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute show featuring the Guns n' Roses and ZZ Top guitarists.

THE NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES: As the folk rocker embarks on a tour and preps three new releases, RS looks back at our classic Neil Young features. Read his first cover story from 1975, Cameron Crowe's 1979 profile and more.

KAISER CHIEFS LIVE AT THE SMOKING SECTION: Brit rock's most exciting band plays a rare acoustic gig at the RS offices.

OASIS LAUNCH TOUR WITH RYAN ADAMS: Exclusive photos, band interviews and a review of the first show.

THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME HITS NYC: Check out artifacts from the Hall of Fame's new branch, including classic Madonna costumes and Bob Dylan's harmonica. Plus: Video of the opening-night bash.