Reviews ...

Reviews

Urban Cowboy

John Travolta begins his '80s career slide as Bud Davis, a hick who migrates to Houston, falls for the honky-tonk bar scene, marries city girl Sissy (Debra Winger), loses her to recidivist Wes (Scott Glenn), and enters a mechanical bull-riding rodeo. Compelling supporting performances (especially Winger) and authentic bar footage from-director James Bridges (The Paper Chase) compensate for Travolta's squeaky, misjudged central turn.

Madness—Divine Madness

"Don't watch that—watch THIS!". The Nutty Boys' promos were always integral to their position as one of the greatest English singles bands of the 1980s. What's "Baggy Trousers" without a flying saxophonist? What's "It Must Be Love" without the sight of Suggs and chums risking electrocution in a swimming pool? They're all here, from '79's "The Prince" to '99's Ian Dury-assisted "Drip Fed Fred". Priceless.

Chairmen Of The Board – Finder’s Keepers: The Invictus Anthology

Three-CD, 64-track compilation of unsung '70s soul visionaries

Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002

Self-selecting career highlights overview

David Axelrod – Anthology II

Second collection from veteran orchestral fusioneer's recording career

Horace Andy – Mek It Bun

Reggae veteran and Massive Attack vocalist returns to Jamaica for a smoke

Meat Beat Manifesto – Ruok

Pioneering polemicist reinvented as sci-fi Moby

That Old Black Magic

More American recordings with Rick Rubin from everyone's favourite cowboy

28 Days Later – XL

Danny Boyle's arty horror flick started brilliantly, ended badly, and was scored by a fast-rising Brit, John Murphy. But the musical highlight is Blue States' "Season Song", which is both chilling and reassuring. Brian Eno's "An Ending (Ascent)" is also ambivalently touching, while Grandaddy are, as ever, incapable of dullness. Not sure why Godspeed You! Black Emperor's efforts for the film don't feature, but Perri Alleyne's "Ave Maria" should cheer up disappointed crazed extremists.

Julia Fordham – Concrete Love

Comeback album from early Dido prototype
Advertisement

Editor's Picks

Advertisement

PAgeskin