Reviews

Erlend Øye – Unrest

Kings Of Convenience man goes electronic on solo debut

Pavement – Slanted And Enchanted: Luxe & Reduxe

Indie landmark gets elaborate two-CD reissue

They Might Be Giants – Dial-A-Song—20 Years Of TMBG

Wacky Brooklyn combo who defy taste and fashion but can write a song about that, too

Old Jack Swings

Superb, moving road movie with Nicholson on brilliant form

The Studio One Story

The history of Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's legendary Jamaican studio is told through interviews, copious amounts of music and historical footage. There are also plenty of interesting diversions, such as a chapter on how vinyl records are made in a Kingston pressing plant. Early performances by the likes of The Skatalites and Ernest Ranglin are the icing on the irie cake. DVD EXTRAS: Additional interviews with many of the artists featured, plus 16-track CD and 90-page booklet. Rating Star

Metropolis

Lovingly restored version of Fritz Lang's silent sci-fi classic with another 20 minutes' worth of footage, plus the original music score, so even if you know the movie well you're in for treats and surprises. If you don't, you'll discover incredible visuals, the sexiest robot ever made and a core message—capitalism without compassion sucks—that's as fresh now as in 1926.

Buddy Miller – Midnight And Lonesome

Nashville-based Miller's stock has never been higher: Emmylou Harris' musical director for the past five years; superb 2001 collaboration with wife Julie narrowly edged out by Dylan's Love & Theft at the Grammys. Four albums in, this is his finest solo foray yet, remarkable for Miller's skilfully-woven fretwork and plaintive moonlit moan. A couple of throwaway rockers aside, its ambitious scope reins in cajun, dirty blues and old-time country.

Crooning Glory

Big easy listening on second full-length album from Sheffield songsmith

Hunkydory – Over The Rainbow

An authentic children's band from Lewes, East Sussex, Hunkydory signed to that safe haven for eccentrics, él records, in 1988. These five precocious children sang and played all their own instruments, with the bulk of the material being written and arranged by one of the band's dads. When él's funders Cherry Red heard the material they got cold feet, and withdrew funding. Fifteen years on, this time capsule is a perfect, irony-free companion to the bubblegum escapist fantasies of sibling Siesta acts Death By Chocolate and Lollipop Train.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Thug World Order

Fourth album from Cleveland's fast-rapping soul gangstas
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