Reviews

Men In Black II

The law of diminishing returns applies as Barry Sonnenfeld hacks out a scant sequel to the initially promising sci-fi spoof. Will Smith must again save the human race from oddly-shaped monsters and hedonistic worms, and so restores Tommy Lee Jones' erased memories. Lara Flynn Boyle replaces Linda Fiorentino, who bailed. Wisely, it'd seem. Funny in flashes.

Jeff Klein – Everybody Loves A Winner

Following labelmate Jesse Malin's success, twentysomething Jeff Klein's take on warped American mores pitches up in a darker backwater. Opener "Everything I Alright" is a suicidal arsonist's tale built around a grisly-lullaby keyboard loop and guest (and Klein landlady!) Patty Griffin's back-ups. "If I Get To California" rocks like early Uncle Tupelo, and "Another Breakdown" is a huskier Ryan Adams.

Dr Robert – Keep On Digging For The Gold

Unreleased work and rarities from ex-Blow Monkey's 1990s output

Local Rabbits – This Is It Here We Go

Montreal cult band keep their long ears trained on sophisticated '70s pop

Jeff Hanson – Son

Winsome, hormonally-challenged folk-pop

Satyricon – Volcano

Black metal from Norway

Peggy Lee – The Complete Capitol Small Group Transcriptions

Three-CD discovery from original Queen of Cool

Eddie & Ernie – Lost Friends

First CD compilation of duo known as "the acme of deep soul"

Marshall Arts

LA Confidential director brings the best out of rap king

Festen

Thomas Vinterberg christened the Dogme genre with immense style in this 1998 Danish classic with edgy docu-drama camerawork and grainy digital video helping to supercharge a time-honoured narrative progression from cosy family gathering to shock revelation. Partly inspired by a real-life radio phone-in confession, Vinterberg's jet-black farce moves from incest, suicide and racism to cathartic redemption. DVD EXTRAS: Trailer, Dogme certificate, interview/picture booklet. Rating Star
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