Reviews

When papa found the brand new bag called The One—the funk beat wherein the first accent hits at the start of the bar—he revolutionised African-American dance music. The next 10 years ('65-'75) were spent honing the most propulsive grooves ever laid down on tape: "Cold Sweat", "Mother Popcorn", "Sex Machine" and their kind. Prior to his golden decade, Brown and the crack unit that was the Famous Flames were an impassioned rhythm'n'gospel line-up.

Key works of the first New Pop star of the '80s remastered. Must be learnt by heart

Choral pop evangelists return. Lightning doesn't strike twice

Celebratory indie-folk spirituals from the Canadian Belle & Sebastian

Bizarre post-Darkness machine rock from Yorkshire

Latest reissue from original riot grrrls

Black drinking comedy starring Hywel Bennett

Aristo shenanigans from director Claude Chabrol

Richard Linklater's warm-hearted comedy is elevated to late-night stoner classic status by a manic central performance from Jack Black, here masquerading as a substitute teacher in a posh American private school who educates his privileged pre-teen charges in matters RAWK. Great, throwaway fun.

Much-misunderstood 1975 John Schlesinger reading of Nathaniel West's classic parody of Hollywood's corrupting influence in the '30s. Bristling with brilliant scenes exposing the individual's vulnerability in a crowd which worships bland celebrity, it lurches between satire and the truly horrifying. Donald Sutherland and Karen Black (miscast) star, while Conrad Hall photographs.