Album

Thomas Denver Jonsson & The September Sunrise – Hope To Her

The latest Swedish cowboy, Jonsson was praised early last year for his subtle-sweet EP Then I Kissed Her Softly. Having trodden European boards with Damien Jurado and Rosie Thomas, the 23-year-old's LP debut roots itself in similar earth. There's much of Jurado in his downcast tremble, while Fredrik Wilde's pedal-steel and Carl Edlom's softly cantering piano brighten the corners. "Shades Of Green" and "Black And Blue" shuffle with the kind of milky-moon sadness Neil Young patented on After The Gold Rush. Elsewhere, there are hints of the Palace Brothers and Low.

Barry Blue – Dancin’ (On A Saturday Night)…Best Of

Early-'70s hitmaker gets two-CD best-of and instant-cachet Bob Stanley sleevenotes

Ten-CD companion to last year's 24 Hours live CD box set

The Style Council – On Film

Two discs of promos and live footage remind us that while TSC remain Weller's most misunderstood period, it was by far his most visually creative. Also included is the infamous Jerusalem, where Weller dons a kilt and a Nazi stormtrooper helmet and fakes a northern accent. Brilliantly ridiculous, ridiculously brilliant. (SG)

The Sons Of TC Lethbridge – A Giant: The Definitive TC Lethbridge

Two CDs of psychedelic esoterica from the court of Julian Cope

Fun Boys Three

Bonkers Brooklynites look set to go overground at last on their sixth LP

Alejandro Escovedo – With These Hands

Given Escovedo's current fate (stricken with Hepatitis C), this 1996 reissue is particularly welcome. Remastered with an extra disc of live recordings from that year, With These Hands was a rocking departure from the ex-Rank And File man's solo predecessors. With Willie Nelson, brother Pete (ex-Santana) and niece Sheila E on board, it's a suitably raucous affair, though the full band tends to swamp Escovedo's dusky timbre occasionally. The spare "Pissed Off 2am" and "Tired Skin" (vox/piano only) are more affecting, as is the title track's percussive Latino snap.

Back Street Crawley

Four-CD box of Fat Bob's bits and bobs

Shiva Burlesque

Grant Lee Phillips and Jeffrey Clark, natives of California's San Joaquim Valley, formed Shiva Burlesque in what is now Santa Clarita, 30 miles north of Los Angeles, in 1986. As you can hear from their eponymous debut album, released in 1988 to howls of approval from an enthusiastic fanbase at what used to be Melody Maker, Shiva were in thrall to the looming psychedelia of The Doors and Love.

Paul McCartney – Put It There

Macca talks with his usual earnest charm in this documentary about 1989's Flowers In The Dirt. Casting Elvis Costello as the sarcastic Lennon figure during sessions for "My Brave Face", McCartney leads his band through selections from the album, The Beatles and classic rock'n' roll.
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