A pair of '70s cops, undercover, become miserably hooked on smack in this impressively unflinching '92 drama. Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh star, both grittily serving notice that they're prepared to sweat, shiver and sacrifice goody-goody mainstream careers. The despair's draining, but its influence was to prove widespread.

Stylish but disturbing French art thriller starring Vincent Gallo and Béatrice Dalle as victims of a drug experiment that's turned them into...uh, sex-crazed cannibals. Dalle turns up the volume on her usual sexy-but-bonkers routine, Gallo is just bonkers and the whole thing is like an extra-gory werewolf movie without the fur. Not one for the squeamish.

The James M Cain novel The Postman Always Rings Twice (femme fatale seduces drifter into murdering her husband) has often been revisited: this 1942 Luchino Visconti version, a Scorsese favourite, was considered immoral and subversive on release, yet spawned the Italian neo-realist school. Noir to the core, it's long and fatalistic.

Former Fairground Attraction singer tackles Scottish institution

Fourth album from Hounslow's Britpop perennials

First album in 11 years from Belgian "electronic body music" pioneers

Mini album from Birmingham avant-rockers

Follow-up to 2000's Got It Made from NY-Manc punk-hop crew. Includes that album's TV ad tune "Play Some D"

B.A.D. mainman and Roxy DJ's double-CD tribute to reggae's premier label

Wry, off-centre singer-songwriter on good form