Reviews

Robin Williams Live On Broadway

The culmination of a sell-out 2002 tour sees a middle-aged Williams return to his maniacal roots, musing on Michael Jackson, the Puritans and Viagra, among other topics. However, his breakneck delivery, camp mannerisms and array of accents (including a dismal Winston Churchill) only emphasise, rather than conceal, the weakness of his material. And the "Joe I'm Pregnant" routine is shamelessly lifted from Sam Kinison.

A Star Is Born—Special Edition

It's not hard to see why the second version of Hollywood's infamous morality tale of the tortured love between a rising starlet (Judy Garland in her best role outside of Oz) and her older, alcoholic has-been suitor (the impeccable James Mason) is generally regarded as the best. George Cukor's Technicolor palette and Ira Gershwin's music are the ideal accoutrements for what is basically camp melodrama at its most sumptuous.

The ‘Burn – Sally O’Mattress

Noel Gallagher-endorsed Blackburn quintet deliver strong debut

Burning Ambition

Incendiary Leyton rappers light the long-awaited way to an authentic UK style

This Month In Soundtracks

DA Pennebaker, that eminent celluloid chronicler of live rock (Don't Look Back, Down From The Mountain), filmed the farewell Ziggy show (July 3, 1973, Hammersmith Odeon), and now Tony Visconti's remixed the soundtrack for a 30th anniversary double CD special edition (the film's out on DVD, too). Bowie's between-song banter is included for the first time, most notably the big bold brouhaha of the bye-bye speech. And "The Width Of A Circle" is present in all its noisy, unedited, 16-minute glory.

Wayne Shorter – Alegria

Latest from thriving '60s jazz veteran

Wayne Kramer – Adult World

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

Turbonegro

Saucy punk-metal benchmarks from '96 and '98

Lenny Bruce – Lenny Bruce Originals Vol 2

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

Far From Heaven

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