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The Harder They Come

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The Harder They Come

The late Perry Henzell’s 1973 homage to his Jamaican homeland now looks less a cult movie than a milestone in world cinema. Its storyline is simple – a country boy corrupted by city life – but allows Henzell to paint a vivid portrait of Jamaica in all its beauty, squalor, exuberance and desperation. The result is a blend of Thirties gangster flick and ganja western, propelled by a boss soundtrack and an immaculate lead performance by Jimmy Cliff. NEIL SPENCER

The late Perry Henzell’s 1973 homage to his Jamaican homeland now looks less a cult movie than a milestone in world cinema. Its storyline is simple – a country boy corrupted by city life – but allows Henzell to paint a vivid portrait of Jamaica in all its beauty, squalor, exuberance and desperation.

The result is a blend of Thirties gangster flick and ganja western, propelled by a boss soundtrack and an immaculate lead performance by Jimmy Cliff.

NEIL SPENCER

Apocalypto

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Apocalypto

Mel Gibson’s one of the most disturbed people in Hollywood, which is going some, with a truly worrying obsession with human suffering, as evidenced in the grisly Braveheart and, of course, the largely unwatchable The Passion Of The Christ. What he delivers here, however, while, unsurprisingly gory is also a fantastic action movie set against the decline into bloodthirsty decadence of the Mayan empire that seethes with swarming energy and stunning spectacle.

Mel Gibson’s one of the most disturbed people in Hollywood, which is going some, with a truly worrying obsession with human suffering, as evidenced in the grisly Braveheart and, of course, the largely unwatchable The Passion Of The Christ. What he delivers here, however, while, unsurprisingly gory is also a fantastic action movie set against the decline into bloodthirsty decadence of the Mayan empire that seethes with swarming energy and stunning spectacle.

Ozzy Osbourne – Hard Rain

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Ozzy Osbourne – Hard Rain

As has been well documented, Ozzy Osbourne’s domestic life has been pretty eventful these past few years. Strange then that his first album of new songs in six years focuses on more general grief: global warming, war, capitalism, stuff like that. For a heavy metal record, there is very little rock - co-producer Kevin Churko has worked with Michael Bolton – while the lyrics seem a little gauche. It’s a bit of a shame, as thanks to Zakk Wylde’s guitar, songs like “Trap Door” are good. Sadly, the production makes Ozzy’s vision of the impending end of the human race simply sound bland. FARAH ISHAQ

As has been well documented, Ozzy Osbourne’s domestic life has been pretty eventful these past few years. Strange then that his first album of new songs in six years focuses on more general grief: global warming, war, capitalism, stuff like that.

For a heavy metal record, there is very little rock – co-producer Kevin Churko has worked with Michael Bolton – while the lyrics seem a little gauche. It’s a bit of a shame, as thanks to Zakk Wylde’s guitar, songs like “Trap Door” are good.

Sadly, the production makes Ozzy’s vision of the impending end of the human race simply sound bland.

FARAH ISHAQ

Bob Marley – Exodus

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Bob Marley – Exodus

Whether or not it’s his best, Marley’s fifth Island album was the one that defined him for the global mainstream. For all his iconic qualities as rebel dread, it was Marley the romantic that wooed the world with love songs like “Waiting In Vain” and “Three Little Birds”, while “Jamming”, “One Love” and even the back-to-Africa “Exodus” are jaunty celebrations first, ideological anthems second. In both respects, Exodus perfectly captures Marley the genial optimist and perennial ladies’ man. Marley the visionary is there on ‘Natural Mystic’, an opener as haunting and millennial as ‘Catch A Fire’ or anything else in his canon. By comparison, “Heathen” and “Guiltiness” seem less weighty than at the time. Throughout, the playing and production are exemplary, crisp, and still modern – now you can enjoy them via a memory card or red gold and green memory stick, with DVDs on your mobile phone. Jamming… NEIL SPENCER

Whether or not it’s his best, Marley’s fifth Island album was the one that defined him for the global mainstream. For all his iconic qualities as rebel dread, it was Marley the romantic that wooed the world with love songs like “Waiting In Vain” and “Three Little Birds”, while “Jamming”, “One Love” and even the back-to-Africa “Exodus” are jaunty celebrations first, ideological anthems second.

In both respects, Exodus perfectly captures Marley the genial optimist and perennial ladies’ man. Marley the visionary is there on ‘Natural Mystic’, an opener as haunting and millennial as ‘Catch A Fire’ or anything else in his canon. By comparison, “Heathen” and “Guiltiness” seem less weighty than at the time.

Throughout, the playing and production are exemplary, crisp, and still modern – now you can enjoy them via a memory card or red gold and green memory stick, with DVDs on your mobile phone. Jamming…

NEIL SPENCER

Paul McCartney – Memory Almost Full

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Paul McCartney – Memory Almost Full

For those who like their rock stars brooding and enigmatic, Paul McCartney must be an endless source of consternation. Avuncular, effortlessly tuneful and - shock horror - freshly signed to coffee giants Starbucks new label, each cheery thumbs up represents another nail in the coffin of the myth of the tortured artist. Little wonder Macca’s collaboration with Nigel Godrich - the serious muso’s knob twiddler of choice - on 2005’s Chaos And Creation In The Backyard proved so fraught. With a place in the musical and social history of the twentieth century secure, further self-immolation must seem about as attractive as a career appraisal from Scroobious Pip. The upshot, then, is Memory Almost Full. Played and written entirely by Macca and produced by David Kanye, it comes, like their collaboration on 2001’s Driving Rain, with a breezy determination not to take itself too seriously. Opener “Dance Tonight” (“Everybody’s gonna dance tonight/Everybody’s gonna feel alright”) is a jaunty two-fingers to introspection; ‘Ever Present Past’ a good-natured Beatle-esque nod to ‘the weight’. It’s not all tea and biscuits over at Fab FM. “Only Mama Knows” sees him growling cryptically about “this godforsaken place” amidst smoking amps, whilst a brooding “House Of `Wax” is a cryptic puree of nightmare images and howling, clifftop guitar solos. Yet a quiet humanism prevails throughout. McCartney is no longer striving to satisfy a Lennonesque foil, a quest which began with 1989’s Costello collaboration Flowers In the Dirt. Instead, he downloads random memories in his journey from Speke to superstardom with warmth and more than a dash of wry humour. “That Was Me” finds him leafing through his photo albums (“That was me/ Merseybeatin’ /With the band”), before exploding “It’s pretty hard to take it all in!”; ‘Vintage Clothes’ is a cheeky reminder not to get too lost in the past. Divorce lawyers for Heather Mills, meanwhile, will take succour from ‘Gratitude’ (“I should stop loving you/ Think what you put me through/ But I don’t want to lock my heart away”). Above all comes a sense that McCartney has finally come to terms with his own legend. “I had it my way” he says in “Feet In the Clouds”, as if we were ever in any doubt. As boisterously sentimental as The Cavern at closing time, Memory Almost Full is a reminder that, in the long run, the least serious albums often say the most. PAUL MOODY

For those who like their rock stars brooding and enigmatic, Paul McCartney must be an endless source of consternation. Avuncular, effortlessly tuneful and – shock horror – freshly signed to coffee giants Starbucks new label, each cheery thumbs up represents another nail in the coffin of the myth of the tortured artist.

Little wonder Macca’s collaboration with Nigel Godrich – the serious muso’s knob twiddler of choice – on 2005’s Chaos And Creation In The Backyard proved so fraught. With a place in the musical and social history of the twentieth century secure, further self-immolation must seem about as attractive as a career appraisal from Scroobious Pip.

The upshot, then, is Memory Almost Full. Played and written entirely by Macca and produced by David Kanye, it comes, like their collaboration on 2001’s Driving Rain, with a breezy determination not to take itself too seriously.

Opener “Dance Tonight” (“Everybody’s gonna dance tonight/Everybody’s gonna feel alright”) is a jaunty two-fingers to introspection; ‘Ever Present Past’ a good-natured Beatle-esque nod to ‘the weight’.

It’s not all tea and biscuits over at Fab FM. “Only Mama Knows” sees him growling cryptically about “this godforsaken place” amidst smoking amps, whilst a brooding “House Of `Wax” is a cryptic puree of nightmare images and howling, clifftop guitar solos.

Yet a quiet humanism prevails throughout. McCartney is no longer striving to satisfy a Lennonesque foil, a quest which began with 1989’s Costello collaboration Flowers In the Dirt. Instead, he downloads random memories in his journey from Speke to superstardom with warmth and more than a dash of wry humour.

“That Was Me” finds him leafing through his photo albums (“That was me/ Merseybeatin’ /With the band”), before exploding “It’s pretty hard to take it all in!”; ‘Vintage Clothes’ is a cheeky reminder not to get too lost in the past. Divorce lawyers for Heather Mills, meanwhile, will take succour from ‘Gratitude’ (“I should stop loving you/ Think what you put me through/ But I don’t want to lock my heart away”).

Above all comes a sense that McCartney has finally come to terms with his own legend.

“I had it my way” he says in “Feet In the Clouds”, as if we were ever in any doubt.

As boisterously sentimental as The Cavern at closing time, Memory Almost Full is a reminder that, in the long run, the least serious albums often say the most.

PAUL MOODY

What’s hot from this year’s Cannes Film Festival

Michael Bonner
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For your future consideration, here are Uncut's Top 10 movies from this year's Cannes Film Festival... CONTROL Terrific and moving biopic of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, elegantly directed in crisp monochrome by former NME photographer Anton Corbijn. A star is born in Sam Riley, who's magnificent here as Curtis. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN Bloodthirsty adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel by Joel and Ethan Coen. Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem star in an elemental thriller about drug money and vengeance on the bleak Tex-Mex border. Very dark, with a dash of Peckinpah and echoes of the Coens’ brilliant debut Blood Simple. SICKO Michael Moore’s latest controversial doc-buster is a more solid piece of work than Farhrenheit 9/11, laying out the case against America’s profit-driven health insurance system. Moore idealises foreign healthcare models too much, including the National Health Service, but the film’s headline-grabbing assault on Guantanamo Bay is both moving and hilarious. THE EDGE OF HEAVEN Excellent multi-plot drama from Fatih Akin, the German-Turkish writer-director of Uncut favourite Head On. A modern-day tale of revolutionary terrorists, divided families and untimely death. In the spirit of Babel, but more poetic and less bombastic. PARANOID PARK Director Gus Van Sant follows Elephant and Last Days with this freeform novel adaptation about a murder among the teenage skater boys of Portland, Oregon. Beautifully shot by legendary cameraman Chris Doyle. THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERLY True story of a Parisian socialite who was paralysed by a massive stroke at 43 but still managed to dictate a best-selling memoir just by blinking. Shot with enormous panache by bad-boy artist turned director Julian Schnabel. DAYS OF DARKNESS Black comedy from Denys Arcand, the Canadian writer-director whose last film was the Oscar-winning Barbarian Invasions. Suburban everyman turns to fantasy to escape mounting despair, failed marriage and Kakfaesque job. Very funny and bittersweet, like a French Canadian twist on American Beauty. YOU THE LIVING Only the third feature in 20 years from Swedish director Roy Andersson, a symphony of tragicomic vignettes where Monty Python meets Ingmar Bergman. Melancholy, hilarious and utterly unique. CHOP SHOP Classic social drama, drawn from real life, about an orphan child living and working in a gigantic shanty town of car workshops in Brooklyn. Director Ramin Bahrani cites Ken Loach and Mike Leigh as key influences. THE BAND’S VISIT Culture-clash comedy about an Egyptian police band accidentally ending up in a nowhere town in Israel. Very sweet and moving, with a universal message about mutual tolerance. ** Uncut’s Cannes Consolation Prizes go to Tarantino’s extended version of DEATH PROOF, a revved-up homage to 1970s car-chase movies, which is highly uneven but not as bad as some reviewers claim. Also to Harmony Korine’s MISTER LONELY, an offbeat comedy about an eccentric community of celebrity look-alikes, which contains flashes of genius but too much irritating whimsy. And finally to Abel Ferrara’s GO GO TALES, a commendably barmy but barely comprehensible screwball farce set in a Manhattan pole-dancing club. STEPHEN DALTON

For your future consideration, here are Uncut’s Top 10 movies from this year’s Cannes Film Festival…

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Mick Jones, Carbon/Silicon and The Gangs Of England

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Former Clash legend Mick Jones and his old punk buddy Tony James of Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik recently played a secret gig - a so-called 'public rehearsal' - at Mick's studio on an industrial estate in Acton. http://www.youtube.com/carbonsiliconvideos

Former Clash legend Mick Jones and his old punk buddy Tony James of Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik recently played a secret gig – a so-called ‘public rehearsal’ – at Mick’s studio on an industrial estate in Acton.

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Sinead O’Connor Back With Album And Tour

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Sinead O’Connor Back With Album And Tour

Sinead O'Connor returns to the fray this summer with a new album, single and extensive world tour. O'Connor's new album, "Theology", is released on June 25, preceded by a single, "I Don't Know How To Love Him", a fortnight earlier. The first leg of an extensive world tour kicks off in Los Angeles on June 19. O'Connor arrives in Britain for the T In The Park festival on July 7. The full dates are: JUNE Tue 19th June Los Angeles Silent Movie Theatre (SOLD OUT) Tue 26th June New York Joe’s (SOLD OUT) JULY Sat 7th July T in the Park festival, SCOTLAND (SOLD OUT) Sun 8th July Oxegen Festival, IRELAND (SOLD OUT) Wed 11th July UL Concert Hall, Limerick, IRELAND (With Irish Chamber Orchestra) Sat 14th July TURKEY (Venue TBC) Mon 17th July Malta Festival, Poznan, POLAND Sun 22nd July Festival des Vieilles Charrues, Carhaix, FRANCE AUGUST Thur 2nd Aug Olavest, Torvet, Trondheim, NORWAY Sat 4th Aug Dranouter Folk Festival, De Panne, BELGIUM Sun 5th Aug Interceltique Festival, L'Orient, FRANCE Thurs 9th Aug Smukkeste Festival,Skanderborg, DENMARK Sat 11th Aug Music Hall Theatre, Moscow, RUSSIA Sun 12th Aug Sziget Festival, Budapest, HUNGARY Sat 18th Aug V Festival, Weston Park, ENGLAND Sun 19th Aug V Festival, Chelmsford, ENGLAND Sinead O'Connor is interviewed in the new issue of Uncut, out on May 31.

Sinead O’Connor returns to the fray this summer with a new album, single and extensive world tour.

O’Connor’s new album, “Theology”, is released on June 25, preceded by a single, “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, a fortnight earlier.

The first leg of an extensive world tour kicks off in Los Angeles on June 19. O’Connor arrives in Britain for the T In The Park festival on July 7.

The full dates are:

JUNE

Tue 19th June Los Angeles Silent Movie Theatre (SOLD OUT)

Tue 26th June New York Joe’s (SOLD OUT)

JULY

Sat 7th July T in the Park festival, SCOTLAND (SOLD OUT)

Sun 8th July Oxegen Festival, IRELAND (SOLD OUT)

Wed 11th July UL Concert Hall, Limerick, IRELAND (With Irish Chamber Orchestra)

Sat 14th July TURKEY (Venue TBC)

Mon 17th July Malta Festival, Poznan, POLAND

Sun 22nd July Festival des Vieilles Charrues, Carhaix, FRANCE

AUGUST

Thur 2nd Aug Olavest, Torvet, Trondheim, NORWAY

Sat 4th Aug Dranouter Folk Festival, De Panne, BELGIUM

Sun 5th Aug Interceltique Festival, L’Orient, FRANCE

Thurs 9th Aug Smukkeste Festival,Skanderborg, DENMARK

Sat 11th Aug Music Hall Theatre, Moscow, RUSSIA

Sun 12th Aug Sziget Festival, Budapest, HUNGARY

Sat 18th Aug V Festival, Weston Park, ENGLAND

Sun 19th Aug V Festival, Chelmsford, ENGLAND

Sinead O’Connor is interviewed in the new issue of Uncut, out on May 31.

Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci revisited, plus forthcoming attractions, and scrupulous avoidance of The Smashing Pumpkins

John Mulvey
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Funny that on the same day the new Robert Wyatt album turns up, the post brings three reissues by one of the British bands who learned most from him, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. We went straight to 1995's "Bwyd Time", and it still sounds amazingly fresh. I guess Gorkys have never really been given the credit they deserve. In the mid-'90s, at the height of Britpop, it's hard to overstate how incongruous they were. Here were a bunch of Welsh teenagers dressed as wizards, conjuring up precisely the sort of psychedelic folk blend that became so hip in the hands of Devendra Banhart and his extended family a few years later. The first three Gorkys albums are now being reissued by Sanctuary and have aged tremendously well. "Bwyd Time" is my favourite, because it begins to move away from cranky whimsy and towards a rich pastoral psych like "Miss Trudy" and "Gewn Ni Gorffen". It's a lovely record, and it reminds me of how disappointing Euros Childs' solo albums have been since Gorkys split up. What is worth tracking down, though, is "The Seven Sleepers Den" by Richard James, where James - the shyest member of an extremely unassumiing band - finesses the discreet folk style that he brought to Gorkys. Next week, I should have got my thoughts in order about that Wyatt album (sounded good again this morning), plus I'll try and finally get around to doing something on the Jason Isbell solo set, and the terrific Mike Wexler album. I've also been promised the new Julian Cope thing any day now. And I imagine there'll be some more Smashing Pumpkins fun, fingers crossed. Have a good weekend: it's all about Ryan Sidebottom for me.

Funny that on the same day the new Robert Wyatt album turns up, the post brings three reissues by one of the British bands who learned most from him, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci.

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Cream Ready To Play Again This Summer

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Cream Ready To Play Again This Summer

Jack Bruce has claimed that he will reunite with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker as Cream this summer. The bassist suggested that Cream will play one or more shows this summer. "It came up we're doing something if I wanted to. Obviously, I'm not going to be the one to say no," Bruce said, according to the Associated Press. Cream last played together for a series of shows in 2005, after a hiatus of nearly 40 years. The concerts were widely acclaimed, but relationships between the three members remained difficult. Bruce was talking at the first day of the Rock'n'Roll Fantasy Camp, an exclusive and highly expensive opportunity for members of the public to play with legendary musicians. Besides Bruce, other tutors on the course include fellow bassist and ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, and Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord.

Jack Bruce has claimed that he will reunite with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker as Cream this summer.

The bassist suggested that Cream will play one or more shows this summer. “It came up we’re doing something if I wanted to. Obviously, I’m not going to be the one to say no,” Bruce said, according to the Associated Press.

Cream last played together for a series of shows in 2005, after a hiatus of nearly 40 years. The concerts were widely acclaimed, but relationships between the three members remained difficult.

Bruce was talking at the first day of the Rock’n’Roll Fantasy Camp, an exclusive and highly expensive opportunity for members of the public to play with legendary musicians. Besides Bruce, other tutors on the course include fellow bassist and ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, and Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord.

Arctic Monkeys And Amy Winehouse Triumph At Ivor Novello Awards

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Arctic Monkeys And Amy Winehouse Triumph At Ivor Novello Awards

Arctic Monkeys and Amy Winehouse came out on top at the 52nd Ivor Novello Awards yesterday (May 24). Alex Turner collected the Album Award for "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not", while Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" was named Best Contemporary Song. The Scissor Sisters, Scott Matthews, Madonna and The Feeling were also celebrated at the traditionally conservative industry bash, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Yusuf Islam was acclaimed for Outstanding Song Collection, while Peter Gabriel was given a Lifetime Achievement Award. You can read an exclusive interview with Gabriel in the next issue of Uncut, out May 31. Here are the full list of winners, for your delectation and horror: International Hit Of The Year: Madonna, "Sorry" Album Award: Arctic Monkeys, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" Best Contemporary Song: Amy Winehouse, "Rehab" Best Television Soundtrack: Martin Phipps, "The Virgin Queen" Best Selling UK single: Leona Lewis, "A Moment Like This" Outstanding Song Collection: Yusuf Islam The Ivors Classical Music Award: John Rutter CBE PRS Most Performed Work: Scissor Sisters, "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" Best Original Film Score: John Powell, "Ice Age The Meltdown" PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Norman Cook Best Song Musically & Lyrically: Scott Matthews, "Elusive" Songwriters Of The Year: The Feeling Lifetime Achievement Award: Peter Gabriel The Special International Award: Quincy Jones The Academy Fellowship: George Fenton Related itemsArctic Monkeys NME page

Arctic Monkeys and Amy Winehouse came out on top at the 52nd Ivor Novello Awards yesterday (May 24).

Alex Turner collected the Album Award for “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not”, while Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” was named Best Contemporary Song.

The Scissor Sisters, Scott Matthews, Madonna and The Feeling were also celebrated at the traditionally conservative industry bash, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Yusuf Islam was acclaimed for Outstanding Song Collection, while Peter Gabriel was given a Lifetime Achievement Award. You can read an exclusive interview with Gabriel in the next issue of Uncut, out May 31.

Here are the full list of winners, for your delectation and horror:

International Hit Of The Year: Madonna, “Sorry”

Album Award: Arctic Monkeys, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not”

Best Contemporary Song: Amy Winehouse, “Rehab”

Best Television Soundtrack: Martin Phipps, “The Virgin Queen”

Best Selling UK single: Leona Lewis, “A Moment Like This”

Outstanding Song Collection: Yusuf Islam

The Ivors Classical Music Award: John Rutter CBE

PRS Most Performed Work: Scissor Sisters, “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin'”

Best Original Film Score: John Powell, “Ice Age The Meltdown”

PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Norman Cook

Best Song Musically & Lyrically: Scott Matthews, “Elusive”

Songwriters Of The Year: The Feeling

Lifetime Achievement Award: Peter Gabriel

The Special International Award: Quincy Jones

The Academy Fellowship: George Fenton

Related itemsArctic Monkeys NME page

Primal Scream To Release First Riotous DVD

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Primal Scream To Release First Riotous DVD

Bobby Gillespie and his venerable gang of insurrectionists are to release their first DVD next month. "Primal Scream - Riot City Blues Tour" is centred on live footage from London Hammersmith Apollo, recorded in November 2006. There are also 12 promo videos included in the package, available from June 25. The tracklisting for the concert section is: "Accelerator" "Dolls" "Jailbird" "Shoot Speed/Kill Light" "Suicide Sally And Johnny Guitar" "Burning Wheel" "When The Bomb Drops" "Hole In My Heart" "Medication" "Rise" "Swastika Eyes" "Country Girl" "Rocks" "Damaged" "Loaded" "Moving On Up" "Kick Out The Jams" The promo videos are: "Loaded" "Moving On Up" "Rocks" "Miss Lucifer" "Country Girl" "Dolls" "Some Velvet Morning" "Swastika Eyes" "Kill All Hippies" "Come Together" "Autobahn 66" "Jailbird"

Bobby Gillespie and his venerable gang of insurrectionists are to release their first DVD next month.

“Primal Scream – Riot City Blues Tour” is centred on live footage from London Hammersmith Apollo, recorded in November 2006. There are also 12 promo videos included in the package, available from June 25.

The tracklisting for the concert section is:

“Accelerator”

“Dolls”

“Jailbird”

“Shoot Speed/Kill Light”

“Suicide Sally And Johnny Guitar”

“Burning Wheel”

“When The Bomb Drops”

“Hole In My Heart”

“Medication”

“Rise”

“Swastika Eyes”

“Country Girl”

“Rocks”

“Damaged”

“Loaded”

“Moving On Up”

“Kick Out The Jams”

The promo videos are:

“Loaded”

“Moving On Up”

“Rocks”

“Miss Lucifer”

“Country Girl”

“Dolls”

“Some Velvet Morning”

“Swastika Eyes”

“Kill All Hippies”

“Come Together”

“Autobahn 66”

“Jailbird”

Finnish psychedelia, Robert Wyatt. And the Smashing Pumpkins, again.

John Mulvey
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One last contribution to the Smashing Pumpkins war, which I promise I won't write about indefinitely. In response to some comments about my review here. "Funny lot the Pumpkins fans, aren;t they?" writes Chads. "Could never understand why people take it so personally when you don't like a band they do." Seeing as he also shows a keenness for the exuberant freak-outs of Raccoo-oo-oon, he might also be interested in the "Psychedelic Phinland" comp with which I'm testing the fantastic new Uncut stereo and the patience of my workmates. "Psychedelic Phinland" is a handy 2CD history of the Finnish psych scene of the late '60s and early '70s - though when I say handy, I'm not sure many of us realised that such a thing would be remotely useful to us. Anyway, the first CD contains interesting if straightforward attempts by a country's bands to appropriate psychedelia, garage rock and prog. CD2 is awesome, though, because it locates a bunch of electronic avant-garde types like Pekka Airaksinen and, better still, some very free and lovely nature jams involving recorders, children and, frequently, a terrific band called Those Lovely Hula Hands. Finnish bands, amazingly, are still carrying on this very far-out tradition - check out Avarus at their Myspace for stuff in a very similar tradition. Finally, the new Robert Wyatt album, "Comicopera", turned up today and sounded great on first listen. No radical change of style, though maybe a bit more trumpet, some Cuban-influenced stuff, a voice that's become fractionally deeper with age. I'll write a lot more about this one after a few more listens. Bear with me.

One last contribution to the Smashing Pumpkins war, which I promise I won’t write about indefinitely. In response to some comments about my review here. “Funny lot the Pumpkins fans, aren;t they?” writes Chads. “Could never understand why people take it so personally when you don’t like a band they do.”

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See The Trailer To The Chumscrubber

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See The Trailer To The Chumscrubber
Hillside -a beautiful community in Anywhere, USA - may look like a snapshot of the America Dream but teenager Dean (Jamie Bell) knows better. The Chumscrubber is a surreal cautionary tale about alienated youth – teens and their parents. Directed by Arie Posin and Camilla Belle, Justin Chatwin, ...

Hillside -a beautiful community in Anywhere, USA – may look like a snapshot of the America Dream but teenager Dean (Jamie Bell) knows better.

The Chumscrubber is a surreal cautionary tale about alienated youth – teens and their parents. Directed by Arie Posin and Camilla Belle, Justin Chatwin, Glenn Close, Rory Culkin, William Fitchner, Ralph Fiennes and John Heard, amongst other, the film opens across the UK from June 8. Dertificate 15.

You can watch the trailer for the movie here. Click on the links below:

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Watch Exclusive Footage Of Wilco In The Studio

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Watch Exclusive Footage Of Wilco In The Studio
Wilco, fresh from the release of their new album ‘Sky Blue Sky’ - ‘the sound of six brilliant musicians revelling in the simple art of playing together’ - continue their worldwide tour throughout the summer before retiring for some well-earned rest in the Autumn. Uncut.co.uk has managed t...

Wilco, fresh from the release of their new album ‘Sky Blue Sky’ – ‘the sound of six brilliant musicians revelling in the simple art of playing together’ – continue their worldwide tour throughout the summer before retiring for some well-earned rest in the Autumn.

Uncut.co.uk has managed to get some exclusive footage of Wilco, in the studio, performing ‘What Light’ for you to view. Simply click on the links below.

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CocoRosie Return For Magical UK Tour

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CocoRosie Return For Magical UK Tour

CocoRosie, Uncut's favourite acid-folk-hip-hop-opera duo, return to the UK for a series of dates in June. Bianca and Sierra Casady will be joined by Tez, a French beatboxer, for a series of shows which also promise "interpretive dancing". Crikey. CocoRosie bring the whole shebang to: Brighton Komedia (June 12) Nottingham Trent University (13) Bristol Anson Rooms (14) Glasgow The Arches (15) Manchester Academy 2 (16) London Bloomsbury Ballroom (17) They'll doubtless be playing plenty of songs from their third album, "The Adventures Of Ghosthorse And Stillborn", described by Uncut as "An engaging piece of musical magic."

CocoRosie, Uncut’s favourite acid-folk-hip-hop-opera duo, return to the UK for a series of dates in June.

Bianca and Sierra Casady will be joined by Tez, a French beatboxer, for a series of shows which also promise “interpretive dancing”. Crikey.

CocoRosie bring the whole shebang to:

Brighton Komedia (June 12)

Nottingham Trent University (13)

Bristol Anson Rooms (14)

Glasgow The Arches (15)

Manchester Academy 2 (16)

London Bloomsbury Ballroom (17)

They’ll doubtless be playing plenty of songs from their third album, “The Adventures Of Ghosthorse And Stillborn”, described by Uncut as “An engaging piece of musical magic.”

The Return Of Richard Hawley

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The Return Of Richard Hawley

Richard Hawley is back at the end of the summer with his fourth solo album and an extensive UK tour. The singer and guitarist takes time off from his duties in Jarvis Cocker's band to release "Lady's Bridge" on the Mute label on August 20. It follows his feted 2005 effort, "Cole's Corner", much loved by Uncut. The album is named after a bridge across the River Don in Hawley's hometown of Sheffield. "I used to walk across it nearly every day," says Hawley. "It was a gateway from the poor bit of town to the rich bit." Soon after the album's release, Hawley embarks on a lengthy UK tour. He calls in at: Southampton Guildhall (September 2) Cambridge Corn Exchange (3) Brighton Dome (4) London Roundhouse (5) Birmingham Symphony Hall (7) Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (8) Oxford New Theatre (9) Bristol Colston Hall (10) Sheffield City Hall (12) Edinburgh Queens Hall (14) Glasgow City Halls (16) Gateshead The Sage (17) Leicester De Montfort Hall (19) Bradford St George's Hall (20) Manchester Bridgewater Hall (21)

Richard Hawley is back at the end of the summer with his fourth solo album and an extensive UK tour.

The singer and guitarist takes time off from his duties in Jarvis Cocker’s band to release “Lady’s Bridge” on the Mute label on August 20. It follows his feted 2005 effort, “Cole’s Corner”, much loved by Uncut.

The album is named after a bridge across the River Don in Hawley’s hometown of Sheffield. “I used to walk across it nearly every day,” says Hawley. “It was a gateway from the poor bit of town to the rich bit.”

Soon after the album’s release, Hawley embarks on a lengthy UK tour. He calls in at:

Southampton Guildhall (September 2)

Cambridge Corn Exchange (3)

Brighton Dome (4)

London Roundhouse (5)

Birmingham Symphony Hall (7)

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (8)

Oxford New Theatre (9)

Bristol Colston Hall (10)

Sheffield City Hall (12)

Edinburgh Queens Hall (14)

Glasgow City Halls (16)

Gateshead The Sage (17)

Leicester De Montfort Hall (19)

Bradford St George’s Hall (20)

Manchester Bridgewater Hall (21)

Rickie Lee Jones To Tour In July

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Rickie Lee Jones To Tour In July

Rickie Lee Jones continues her late career renaissance with a series of UK dates in July. Following on from her rapturously-received shows in April, Jones plays Birmingham Glee Club on July 18 and London Queen Elizabeth Hall on July 19. We're also thrilled to announce that she'll perform at the Uncut-sponsored Latitude Festival on July 14. Jones' comeback album, "The Sermon On Exposition Boulevard", has proved to be one of Uncut's favourite albums of the year so far. "Her best work in three decades," we called it in our review. Her band on the tour will be musical director Peter Atanasoff on guitar and backing vocals, Joey Maramba on bass and Pete McNeil on drums.

Rickie Lee Jones continues her late career renaissance with a series of UK dates in July.

Following on from her rapturously-received shows in April, Jones plays Birmingham Glee Club on July 18 and London Queen Elizabeth Hall on July 19. We’re also thrilled to announce that she’ll perform at the Uncut-sponsored Latitude Festival on July 14.

Jones’ comeback album, “The Sermon On Exposition Boulevard”, has proved to be one of Uncut’s favourite albums of the year so far. “Her best work in three decades,” we called it in our review.

Her band on the tour will be musical director Peter Atanasoff on guitar and backing vocals, Joey Maramba on bass and Pete McNeil on drums.

Elvis Songwriter Ben Weisman Is Dead

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Elvis Songwriter Ben Weisman Is Dead

Ben Weisman, who provided Elvis Presley with some of his most enduring songs of the 1960s, has died aged 85. Although Weisman was not one of Presley's hipper accomplices, he was one of his most successful. The Rhode Island native was one of the main creative forces behind Elvis' career in the '60s. He supplied the King with nearly 60 songs, many of which figured in the blockbusting movies that he knocked out at a startling rate through the decade. Weisman contributed "Got a Lot of Living to Do", "Follow That Dream" and "Wooden Heart" to the Presley songbook, and was rewarded with the nickname "the mad professor" by his illustrious client. Weisman died at a care home in Los Angeles. He had recently had a stroke and contracted pneumonia.

Ben Weisman, who provided Elvis Presley with some of his most enduring songs of the 1960s, has died aged 85.

Although Weisman was not one of Presley’s hipper accomplices, he was one of his most successful. The Rhode Island native was one of the main creative forces behind Elvis’ career in the ’60s.

He supplied the King with nearly 60 songs, many of which figured in the blockbusting movies that he knocked out at a startling rate through the decade. Weisman contributed “Got a Lot of Living to Do”, “Follow That Dream” and “Wooden Heart” to the Presley songbook, and was rewarded with the nickname “the mad professor” by his illustrious client.

Weisman died at a care home in Los Angeles. He had recently had a stroke and contracted pneumonia.

Prison Break Season 2 Part 1

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Since the cons escaped, the problem with Prison Break is that it now relies for its drama on plot twists just the wrong side of extraordinary. The political sub-plot of the first season now takes centre stage as Michael and his Death Row bound brother Lincoln are pursued around the US by an army of shady, duplicitous FBI agents. By far the best reason for watching this is T-Bag, the deliciously sick paedophile end serial killer, who, loaded with stolen loot, attempts to settle down and make a family, with only his charm, a shotgun and a bread knife to assist him. Skin crawling barely begins to cover it. EXTRAS: None. BEN MARSHALL

Since the cons escaped, the problem with Prison Break is that it now relies for its drama on plot twists just the wrong side of extraordinary.

The political sub-plot of the first season now takes centre stage as Michael and his Death Row bound brother Lincoln are pursued around the US by an army of shady, duplicitous FBI agents.

By far the best reason for watching this is T-Bag, the deliciously sick paedophile end serial killer, who, loaded with stolen loot, attempts to settle down and make a family, with only his charm, a shotgun and a bread knife to assist him.

Skin crawling barely begins to cover it.

EXTRAS: None.

BEN MARSHALL

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