Reviews

Real Women Have Curves

Big-hearted coming-of-age story

John Lennon And The Plastic Ono Band-Sweet Toronto

Another dusting-off for the Plastic Ono Band, playing for peace and headlining over Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Yoko climbs out of a bag to shriek along with the atmospheric desperation of "Yer Blues" and "Cold Turkey", and provides the highlight, during "John, John (Let's Hope For Peace)", by throwing Eric Clapton into such confusion he doesn't know what to play.

Metropolis

Lovingly restored version of Fritz Lang's silent sci-fi classic with another 20 minutes' worth of footage, plus the original music score, so even if you know the movie well you're in for treats and surprises. If you don't, you'll discover incredible visuals, the sexiest robot ever made and a core message—capitalism without compassion sucks—that's as fresh now as in 1926.

Buddy Miller – Midnight And Lonesome

Nashville-based Miller's stock has never been higher: Emmylou Harris' musical director for the past five years; superb 2001 collaboration with wife Julie narrowly edged out by Dylan's Love & Theft at the Grammys. Four albums in, this is his finest solo foray yet, remarkable for Miller's skilfully-woven fretwork and plaintive moonlit moan. A couple of throwaway rockers aside, its ambitious scope reins in cajun, dirty blues and old-time country.

Crooning Glory

Big easy listening on second full-length album from Sheffield songsmith

Hunkydory – Over The Rainbow

An authentic children's band from Lewes, East Sussex, Hunkydory signed to that safe haven for eccentrics, él records, in 1988. These five precocious children sang and played all their own instruments, with the bulk of the material being written and arranged by one of the band's dads. When él's funders Cherry Red heard the material they got cold feet, and withdrew funding. Fifteen years on, this time capsule is a perfect, irony-free companion to the bubblegum escapist fantasies of sibling Siesta acts Death By Chocolate and Lollipop Train.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Thug World Order

Fourth album from Cleveland's fast-rapping soul gangstas

Brokeback – Look At The Bird

Tortoise off-shoot, featuring Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier and Mary Hansen

Jerry Lee Lewis

The Killer's country comeback years on 28-track twofer

The Zombies – The Decca Stereo Anthology

Their entire studio output 1964-1966, remastered in stereo
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