Webfeed

The Guardian: Film & music

Friday 18 February 2011

The Levellers take it to the next level – the return of crusty

The Levellers are touring their Levelling the Land album, high point of what became known as 'crusty' 20 years ago. Alexis Petridis looks at the music's roots and why today's political landscape is making it relevant again

F&M playlist

Our music team pick the songs or albums, old or new, they just can't turn off
Make the bomb blasts count

Anne Billson: 'I hear you control your explosions,' Sharon Stone purrs to Sly Stallone in The Specialist. I wish more film directors could control theirs

After Oasis, Beady Eye begin their journey

Liam Gallagher might have parted angrily from his brother, but Beady Eye assure Chris Salmon the "big spirit" of Oasis lives on in their new music

Was Charlie Chaplin a Gypsy?

Newly discovered letters to written Charlie Chaplin suggest he may have been born into a Gypsy community in the West Midlands. Rob Fitzpatrick investigates
Readers' Reviews

The best of your comments on the latest films and music, compiled by Michael Hann
From Idlewild to a wild island: Roddy Woomble on Mull

From city life as singer in a frantic rock band to family man on a remote Scottish island, Roddy Woomble's move to Mull has left him a changed man. By Rob Fitzpatrick

British-Asian cinema: the sequel

Twelve years on from the hugely acclaimed East Is East comes its sequel, West Is West. Sarfraz Manzoor examines the new directions British-Asian film-makers are taking

Hip-hop: who represents South Africa?

Rob Boffard: Hip-hop thrives in Africa. But does it create the agenda or rely too heavily on US influences?

Confessions – review

An overcooked, overwrought and unconvincing revenge horror film set in a Japanese school. By Peter Bradshaw
Inside Job – review

How did the financial crash of 2008 happen? This documentary, narrated by Matt Damon, does a good job of explaining a complex story of credit and discredit. By Peter Bradshaw

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

A music documentary set around the 2010 concert tour of the teen phenomenon. It's, like, awesome, says Peter Bradshaw
Day for Night – review

Jacqueline Bissett and Jean-Pierre Léaud star in François Truffaut's entertaining 1973 film about the making of a film. By Peter Bradshaw
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son – review

It's back to the XXXXXXXXL dresses for Martin Lawrence for the third time. Better not call this unfunny comedy threesome a trilogy, though, warns Peter Bradshaw
François Truffaut – the man who loved actors

Film-makers usually come off badly when films get made about them. François Truffaut is the honourable exception, says Alex Cox

Click to download: Jessie J, Adele, Smooth Radio

Click to Download: Chris Salmon looks at the different ways pop stars – Jessie J and Adele in particular – present themselves online while promoting their big releases
The Secret Sisters: The Secret Sisters – review

The Secret Sisters' obsession with authenticity gets in the way of the real fun, writes Alexis Petridis
Banjo or Freakout: Banjo or Freakout – review

Dave Simpson detects an unsettling edge to Banjo or Freakout's indie dreampop
Yuck: Yuck – review

Yuck are shamelessly unoriginal, which doesn't stop Michael Hann adoring their debut
Ringo Deathstarr: Colour Trip – review

Michael Cragg peruses a manual on How to Recreate Shoegaze, as seen from Texas
The Low Anthem: Smart Flesh – review

Its unusual recording location makes a sonic attempt on the Low Anthem's new album, says Maddy Costa
Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx: We're New Here – review

A legend meets a young buck, with atmospheric and soulful results. By Charlotte Richardson Andrews
Frankie & the Heartstrings: Hunger – review

Unquenchable enthusiasm makes the Sunderland band's debut a winter tonic, says Caroline Sullivan
Earth: Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1 – review

Drone metal pioneers Earth return with their best album to date. Jamie Thomson is stunned

Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust – review

Naxos's rare Scenes from Faust is a real bargain, with first-class soloists and a profoundly idiomatic Antoni Wit as conductor, writes Andrew Clements
Holst: The Planets; Beni Mora; Japanese Suite – review

Chandos resumes its Holst survey after the sudden death of Richard Hickox with a fine if unduly cautious second disc under Andrew Davis, writes Andrew Clements
Gruber: Busking; Nebelsteinmusik; Violin Concerto No 1 – review

Despite ranging across four decades, these three concertos are all instantly identifiable as products of the same quizzically original mind, writes Andrew Clements
Bacewicz: Piano Sonato No 2; Piano Quintets Nos 1 & 2 – review

Bacewicz wrote mostly for violin but these recordings from a centenary concert in 2009 – featuring dazzling work from Krystian Zimerman – show she was a fine pianist, too, writes Andrew Clements
Humperdinck: Dornröschen – review

Humperdinck's take on Sleeping Beauty reconfigures it unconvincingly as a version of Parsifal, writes Andrew Clements
Fox pop: English Touring Opera gives Roald Dahl back to the kids

A new version of ETO's Fantastic Mr Fox casts 250 children. Roald Dahl would approve, says Nick Shave

Cornershop on their new album, six years in the making

Cornershop never knowing make the same record twice. Sure enough, their latest mixes Punjabi folk with lo-fi hip-hop. John Lewis hears how it happened
Verneri Pohjola: Aurora – review

This remarkable venture combines memorable themes with striking ensemble-writing, dramatic brass and percussion sounds and a faintly disconsolate beauty, writes John Fordham
June Tabor: Ashore – review

June Tabor, no stranger to concept albums, presents a fine new set themed around the sea, including a superb version of Shipbuilding, writes Robin Denselow
Colin Vallon Trio: Rruga – review

This is the ECM debut of an all-Swiss piano trio, but its melodic qualities reflect the music of Turkey and the Caucasus, writes John Fordham
Deirdre Cartwright/Kathy Dyson: Emily Remembered – review

This set is devoted Emily Remler, whose death at 32 deprived jazz of one of the most creative developers of bop-to-blues style, writes John Fordham
Ed Bennett: Dzama Stories – review

This is unclassifiable raw-nerve music of energy and imagination, if your own nerves are up to it, writes John Fordham
Jon Boden, the Unthanks and others: Oak Ash Thorn - review

A Who's Who of the new British folk scene chip in on an intriguing album paying tribute to the late Peter Bellamy, writes Robin Denselow

First sight: Lucy Punch

She was pipped by Nicole Kidman for a Woody Allen movie, but had the last laugh
Hail, Hail Rock'n'Roll

"There is something startling to the way Joni Mitchell writes – there is a keenness and a candour, a cool, crisp clarity to her lyrics"