2004 ...

The Doors – Boot Yer Butt!

Comprehensive 'official bootleg' four-CD set compiled by Robbie Krieger

Justin Hayward & John Lodge

Moody Blues man's mid-'70s missives, produced mostly during the group's five-year break

Saving Grace

The mould-breaking Nashville singer-songwriter gets a marvellous best-of

Ian Matthews – Valley Hi

Former Fairport singer's brace of '70s albums for Elektra on one disc

Elvis Presley – Ultimate Gospel

The King's penance ignored

Konk – The Story Of Konk

NY white-funk collective compiled

Intolerable Cruelty

Since the career peaks of Fargo and The Big Lebowski, the Coen brothers' previously astonishing career momentum has noticeably faltered. O Brother, Where Art Thou? had some good things going for it, but is probably best remembered for its soundtrack.

Solomon And Sheba

Po-faced but spectacular Biblical epic starring Yul Brynner (with hair) as the legendarily wise king who risks losing the throne of Israel by making whoopee with the saucy-but-pagan queen of Sheba (Gina Lollobrigida). George Sanders plays the villain (hurrah), the cast-of-thousands battle scenes are impressive and the unintentionally hilarious 'orgy' is an absolute must-see.

The Balcony

Another brave taboo-buster from Joseph Strick, tackling Jean Genet's play in 1964 with the kind of cast that has you pinching yourself: Shelley Winters, Peter Falk and a youthful Leonard Nimoy. In a brothel that's a hideaway from the war outside, Winters is a fearsome madam and Nimoy's a rebel leader. Surreal and grubbily saucy, though the low budget shows its cracks at times.

In America

Intensely felt melodrama collides with saccharine world view in this tale of an Irish immigrant family who attempt to begin life anew in an '80s Manhattan filled with friendly junkies and hackneyed racial stereotypes (see Djimon Hounsou's savage-but-wise African artist). Top performances from Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton are undercut by director Jim Sheridan's squishy screenplay.
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