Reviews

The Hellacopters and Syd Straw aid MCS guitarist on fourth solo LP

Saucy punk-metal benchmarks from '96 and '98

Bad taste personified, they said. Comic genius, in other words

Critic-charming, visually sumptuous tribute to the work of Sirk

Along with Insomnia and the inexplicably-unreleased Death To Smoochy, this eerie thriller serves to rehabilitate Robin Williams. His cloying wacky zaniness jettisoned, he's a broody bugger as the middle-aged loser who becomes obsessed with a cute family whose holiday snaps he's developed for years. Like a chubbier Travis Bickle, he feels his fantasy figures owe him emotional payback. He freaks, rivetingly.

A terrific primer on Scott-Heron's lyrical, funky jazz bluesology, Robert Mugge's semi-concert documentary was first broadcast on Channel Four in 1983. Two decades on, the charismatic proto-rapper still comes over as a warm and eloquent performer, wry social commentator and effortless stand-up comedian.

Since The Last Seduction, John Dahl hasn't quite delivered the skilful thrills we hoped for. This pacy revamp of Duel and Breakdown is a lunge in the right direction, though. Paul Walker, Steve Zahn and Leelee Sobieski star as brash young things who turn yellow when a trucker they've taunted chases them cross-country, vengeance in mind. Fast and furious.

Third album from the other duo Dorfmeister (one half of nu-acid jazz stars Kruder & Dorfmeister) calls home

Mini LP from Oxfordshire quintet follows 2002's fine Don't Bring Me Down

The soundtrack from Eminem's gamble-that-paid-off movie has done so well that second helpings have arrived. No verbals from the man himself here, but an irresistible set of just-left-of-familiar hip hop. Among the most inventive work-outs are OutKast's "Player's Ball" and Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Shimmy Shimmy Ya". Accompanying the movie's 'romantic' interlude—a wordless hump against a factory wall—is "You're All I Need" from Method Man and Mary J Blige.