Reviews

Trinidadian soca selected by Damon Albarn and his Honest Jon's partners

Psychedelic pomp from east London quintet

Brilliant Latin folktronica from Argentine ex-comic

Like his contemporary Rodney Crowell, head Blaster Alvin seems to have reached a reflective career intersection. His first all-new LP in six years revisits youthful memories of the titular LA club where he became spellbound by Big Joe Turner and T-Bone Walker. As a result, it's his bluesiest, toughest record since '91's Blue Boulevard.

Expansive seventh LP from NYC blues-punk trailblazers

Folk-rock that nods to both the present and the past

Songwriting duo who made up the important bit of Crowded House

Val Kilmer excels in David Mamet's hardboiled political thriller

Although Vol 1 delivered gloriously demented energy, crazy-paving style and a skyscraper body count, Tarantino purists lamented the lack of wordy dialogue and funky gristle that would have made it a full Quentinburger with cheese. Well, here it all is in Vol 2. Sure, Uma'n'Keith (Carradine) share enough sassy lines and high-kicking homicides to hold you, but the conclusion still whimpers when it should bang.

In 1968, Raybert productions—a Hollywood hotbed of drugged-out '60s fornication—saw fit to hand would-be-Fellini Bob Rafelson The Monkees as a vehicle for his auteurist debut. This was the result.