Reviews

Lumpen sequel to sci-fi actioner

Compelling true-crime thriller

Underrated, atypical Brit film from Penny Woolcock, smartly mashing up the thrills of Fight Club with the what-are-we-here-for musings of French existentialism. Marc Warren and Alec Newman are competitive males into bareknuckle bouts, drugs and strippers; Sienna Guillory is the single mum they soften for. Confused climax, but till then alarmingly gutsy.

Nine out of ten people will tell you Pam Grier starred in this 1973 landmark blaxploitation 'classic'. She didn't: it's Tamara Dobson as the CIA's tough female agent, taking out drug dealers with athleticism, attitude and a healthy amount of sheer spite. The soundtrack is very cool but in truth the film's pretty rubbish: comic-book at best, lazily indulgent throughout. Bring on Foxy Brown!

Six volumes of highlights from the Sunday night US television show that was the MTV of its day

Double album retrospective from Kidderminster's favourite blues band

In many ways, A Certain Ratio were the bridge between Manchester's punk and house scenes. Originally signed to Factory, they had early support slots with Talking Heads (1979) and seminal New York funksters ESG (1980), helping shape the label's electronic dance ethos alongside New Order (albeit without the same commercial success). Despite reaching only No 53 in the album charts, 1982's Sextet received ecstatic reviews for its taut, abrasive swagger—an uncompromising blend of percussive NY dance-funk, avant jazz and African, Latin and Brazilian influences.

As with the first Raimi Spidey film, the music of choice is heavy-to-middling emo rock. Why so? Why not something more web-like and spindly and pretty with lacy filigree? Guess it must've market-tested well first time round or we wouldn't again be subjected to plodding power-sludge from the likes (and boy are they ever alike) of Hoobastank, Maroon 5, Lostprophets and Jet, the last of whom so desperately want to be The Faces that it can only be days before they pen a lyric that goes: "You're breaking my heart 'cos you're stealing my tart".

Songs of alienation and madness from reclusive Chicago genius

Bubblegum pop from Joey Santiago