THE YEAR IN LIVE MUSIC: The music critics for the local major dailies have unveiled their picks for the best concerts of 2009. Topping Preston Jones’ list is Leonard Cohen’s marathon show at the Nokia Theatre in April. Meanwhile, Mario Tarradell loved Raphael Saadiq’s set last month at the House of Blues. The only shows making both lists: Paul McCartney at Cowboys Stadium in August and Metallica at the AAC in September.

WEIGHING IN FROM AFAR: While we’re on a listy streak, a couple of out-of-town critics have trained their eyes on Dallas. First up, Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times installs Jaap Van Zweden atop his Faces to Watch: Music list. The DSO maestro makes his Los Angeles Philharmonic debut on April 4. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone isn’t quite sure if you’ve heard of a little outfit called the Old 97’s. The band’s Satellite Rides makes the magazine’s list of the decade’s best under-the-radar albums. It’s a safe bet that if you show up at Sons of Hermann Hall tonight, you’ll hear a few cuts off of that one.

MISSING: ONE GUITAR: Imagine the thing you value most in the world. Now imagine it’s gone missing. That’s the state that Arlington musician Jordan Mycoskie is in. His one-of-a-kind Seagull acoustic guitar was stolen last week – the only guitar he’s played for the last 10 years. And it should be pretty easy to spot – Mycoskie has taken to drawing all over it with a Sharpie. Fort Worth Weekly has more details on the search. Keep your eyes peeled if you’re headed to any pawnshops.