end of the road

Even the director of this film, recounting the tale of how road manager Phil Kaufman stole and burned Gram Parsons' corpse, was surprised when Parsons' wife and daughter okay-ed the use of his music. Parsons' "A Song For You" and "Love Hurts" and The Flying Burrito Brothers' "Wild Horses" evoke the era, along with Country Joe and Eddie Floyd. Gillian Welch tackles "Hickory Wind", and Starsailor handle "Hot Burrito No 2" bombastically. But The Lemonheads, Wilco and trend-whores Primal Scream just seek cred by association. Twangy.

Moody Blues man's mid-'70s missives, produced mostly during the group's five-year break

On-the-road documentary trailing Nashville's own Lazarus Man

Long-awaited return of New England philosophy major-cum-troubadour

Her ninth studio album, and first after leaving Arista, her home since 1975

Eccentric Scottish art-punk trio unleash fifth album

First album of original material for eight years

First UK release from powerful and strange Michigan singer-songwriter

With none of the inventiveness of 1990's brilliant Tourfilm—but sturdier than the disappointing Road Movie (1995)—this engrossing July 2003 gig from Wiesbaden, Germany, is pure Greatest Hits stuff. The usual stadium-thumpers are good, but true highlights are Stipe's own favourite, "Country Feedback" (no longer delivered with back to the audience), "She Just Wants To Be", "Walk Unafraid" and a dusted-off "Maps And Legends".

Smarter-than-it-looks biker flick