« Previous | Main Page

	Grade: A- | Genre: Electronic Chill Summary: Thievery Corporation have charted their course in music through creating lush sonic soundscapes to live by. Cosmic Game is their best work since the groundbreaking Mirror Conspiracy and firmly establishes them as the gatekeepers to the kindgom of chill.

When I first heard Thievery Corporation's Mirror Conspiracy during my musical reawakening in 2000, I knew I'd happened across something brimming with greatness. In the span of an album, they defined electronic chill with an uncommon sound that craftily fused world influences (Indian, bossa nova) with traditional mellow trance beats. They recruited the vocal styling of LoLo to verbalize this heady feel and breath it to life. They have returned to the party every year since with a fresh set of thoughts yet none of them have proved as compelling as that first taste that melted into me. They would either loose their grip on their chill (Outernational Sound) or just forget an essential ingredient in the execution (The Richest Man in Babylon). None of these albums were bad, rather they seemed to be neglected stepchildren released from the cellar after years of isolation. They're eyes struggled to cope with the piercing light. Cosmic Game is a welcome return to the formula that initially issued them success, affording us this tantalizing recipe of songs.

One of the greatest actors to grace the silver screen is ready to call it a day. Newman says he plans to make one last film "for good luck". What a film it may be. He is suggesting it may be a reunion with his partner from the Sting and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Robert Redford. "I hate to talk about anything until the papers are drawn up, but we've been looking for something for 20 years and now we're looking harder," Newman said. "I hope something will come of it." He will also look to give up his other great passion - motor racing.

Read the full article on CNN.

It looks like guys are about to get a vibrate mode of their own for their cell phones. New Frontier Media has announced that they will be offering ring moans from featured porn stars. They are also said to be offering sexually explicit wallpaper as well as adult video for download on mobile phones. So if you hear some strange sounds piping in from your co-worker's office, he's not necessarily getting it on with the new cutie from marketing.

Read the full story at MSNBC.

1 Robots $36,500,000
2 The Pacifier $18,060,000
3 Be Cool $10,300,000
4 Hostage $9,837,000
5 Hitch $8,700,000
6 Million Dollar Baby $5,075,000
7 Diary of a Mad Black Woman $5,000,000
8 Constantine $3,655,000
9 Man of the House $1,800,000
10 Cursed $1,560,000

Check Movie Times.

	Grade: A | Genre: Foreign Drama Summary: "Maria Full of Grace" is a stunning portrayal of a young girl's desperate efforts to hold everything together as it all falls apart. Catalina Sandino Moreno is mesmerizing in her debut as Maria and gives the character the strength and "Grace" she deserves.

A Columbian Mule is a drug smuggler trained in various transport methods such as swallowing illegal substances wrapped in rubber balloons the size of large grapes. Mules must swallow dozens at a time without chewing, enter foreign soil, and pass the balloons through their systems in order to retrieve them. It's a risky profession that can yield huge lumps of cash, but is it worth the consequences?

Maria (Morena) is a 17-year-old Columbian teenager dealing with more responsibility than she can handle. She must help to provide for her financially unstable family as her mother is unable to do it alone. However, Maria just quit her dead end job and has now discovered that she is pregnant.

	Grade: B | Genre: Drama Summary: I think this is an important film that needs to be seen, but it's certainly not for the light of heart. It's a tough movie to watch that doesn't offer you any hope. The only satisfaction we get once the credits roll is our knowledge that the Taliban is no longer in power.

Starring: Marina Golbahari, Arif Herati, Zubaida Sahar, Mohamad Haref Harati & Mohamad Nader Khadjeh
Director: Siddiq Barmak

Osama is a highly disturbing film. At its core, this is a scathing indictment on the Taliban regime and its detestable treatment of women. This film has the distinction of being the first to be made in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Director Siddiq Barmark's idea was sparked for this film from reading a newspaper account of a group of women struggling to survive in this repressive regime. This film is unique in that it uses no actors for these parts. This helps to establish the film's genuine feel.

	Grade: B+ | Genre: Drama Summary: If you are looking for a shrewd period piece that flips everything you know about gender and forces you to take a new perspective, this is the film you've been waiting for.

Starring: Billy Crudup, Claire Danes and Rupert Everett
Director: Richard Eyre

Stage Beauty is a deft Shakespearean gender bender that proves incredibly fresh and unique. The film is set in 1660 England during a time when the crown had decreed that all women's theatrical parts would be played by men. We find out that this stems from a fanatic cleric who thought that allowing women to act on the stage would be to resign them to a life of prostitution and debauchery. Strangely, he didn't seem to have a problem with the fact that men would have to become transvestites to fill the vacuum he created. Kynston (Crudup) is the celebrity of her time, declared as the most beautiful woman on the stage as Othello's Desmonda. She has aristocratic groupies overtaken with blinding curiosity to know if Kynston still has his manhood firmly attached. Kynston has studied for countless years to play a woman. Through their passage, he has slowly worked out all of the masculine kinks that make him a man until he is a woman. He has sexual rendezvous with a fellow actor who is more enamored with the aura that surrounds his performance as Desmonda than with Kynston.

	Grade: A | Genre: Black Comedy Summary: "The Last Supper" is a brilliant satire supported by a strong cast. Each display interesting paradoxes in character. You witness the effects that the murders have on them and see gradual changes in their temperament and morals.

Back in a time when movies were a little more timid and story lines were more cautious, smaller indie pix began to emerge and boldly defied conventional wisdom. These films showed us the darker side of human nature and rubbed our noses in it. They were a slap in the face so that we would wake up and take notice.

1995's The Last Supper is a little known film that bravely challenges our morals. It's a dark comedy that will have you laughing out loud but at the same time, have you re-evaluating your belief system.

	Grade: C- | Genre: Comedy Summary: You've forgotten about it before you've finished watching it assuming you're still awake.

Starring: Matthew Lillard, Seth Green, Dax Shepard & Burt Reynolds
Director: Stephen Brill

What is it about the no brainer comedy that causes us to seek them out on the video store shelves as if they were the English Patient? An even better question would be if they are so senselessly fun then why are they so damn hard to come by? I think that when it comes right down to it, a smart, original comedy that keeps us laughing and engaged while supporting some goofy, implausible story is pretty hard to write even though it ultimately comes off like two stoners hacked it out in a weekend. Without a Paddle is one of the disappointing ones that probably was churned out in a weekend. You've forgotten about it before you've finished watching it assuming you're still awake.

An academic at McGill University has a simple plan to stop the plague of unauthorized music downloads on the Internet. But it entails changing the entire music industry as we know it, and Apple Computers, which may have the power to make the change, is listening.

Read the full article at Canada's Globe & Mail.

The 3rd prequel to the Star Wars franchise may have a much needed edge to it in "Episode III - Revenge of the Sith." The darker and more violent film will see Anakin "make a pact with the devil," says George Lucas. He also says that it may not be something you'd want to bring your 5 year old to. Could this be the one that finally lives up to the hype?

Read the Scotsman's article.

	Grade: B | Genre: Trip Hop Summary: "Angel Milk" is music to calm the nerves. It's that sound you hear in the background of a trendy coffee shop that evens the mood and has you in your own world.

Telepopmusik is back with a new album, "Angel Milk," focusing more on their strengths of melody and airy voices while taking a step back to honor the influential sounds of Blues and Big Band Jazz.

	Grade: B+ | Genre: Pop Summary: Vanessa was incredible. Her voice was crystal, bold and alluring. Her finesse at the piano and the maturity developing in her songwriting continue to show tremendous promise. Smith's Olde Bar was a fabulous, quaint venue to take all of her in and if it wasn't for select obnoxious members of the audience, this would have been close to perfect show.

Any of you even remotely thinking of dismissing Vanessa based on pop radio driving the spike that was "A Thousand Miles" completely through you, check yourself. Vanessa Carlton is an extremely talented artist who just happens to have a label that pushes her lighter, radio friendly tunes leaving her more introspective fare quietly tucked away on the album. Even Vanessa realizes it. After finishing "Winter", she setup "A Thousand Miles" by saying that this is the song she was going to be playing for the rest of her life but that's ok because it gave her the opportunity to write songs about vampires and unicorns [in reference to "Winter"].

One of the most candidly depressing memoirs ever written will finally see the light of day as a major motion picture. However, Elizabeth Wurtzel's "Prozac Nation" won't be attracting moviegoers into theatres. Instead, it will premiere via cable television on the STARZ! Network in March. Though the film has been complete for quite some time, rumor has it that "Prozac" tested poorly with audiences raising concern for it's potential failure in theatres.

If you don't see the movie, definitely check out the book.

Read the full article on contactmusic.com.

Although most people reading this probably think that Snow Patrol is a brand-new band, the Ireland-born, Scotland-based quartet has quietly been making great music since 1998, when they released their critically acclaimed but commercially ignored (in the U.S., anyway) indie-pop debut, Songs For Polar Bears. In 2001 they followed up with the equally wonderful When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up, which solidified and boosted their underground fanbase but unfortunately did little to provide that big breakthrough that eludes so many U.K. bands trying to make it in America.

Read the full interview on Yahoo Music.

	Grade: B | Genre: Drama Summary: "Ladder 49" is a simple story about simple men who display extraordinary skills and courage. It's not a brainteaser, and it doesn't need to be. The film will instantly draw you in and have you emotionally invested until the last frame.

The comparisons to "Backdraft" are inevitable, so let's just get it out our systems and acknowledge that "Ladder 49" is it's own movie and that lumping the two together is unfair and unjustified. The film is a tribute to the firefighters of Baltimore (and beyond) who willingly risk their own lives so that others may see another day. Director Jay Russell thoughtfully portrays the heroics and selflessness of these brave men and "Ladder 49" is their story.

CMJ Retail Charts / Issue - 904
1. 50 CENT The Massacre
2. MARS VOLTA Frances The Mute
3. JACK JOHNSON In Between Dreams
4. JENNIFER LOPEZ Rebirth
5. JUDAS PRIEST Angel Of Retribution
6. THE GAME The Documentary
7. DOVES Some Cities
8. GREEN DAY American Idiot
9. TORI AMOS The Beekeeper
10. BRIGHT EYES I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Everyone's favorite kick ass babe from Alias seemed ripe with promise to make the plunge into the silver screen after taking home the Golden Globe three years ago. Several lackluster (Daredevil and Elektra) and underappreciated (13 Going on 30) films later, one begins to wonder just how ready she is? Sarah and Tara from Television without Pity size up Jennifer to see if she's got the goods to make it at the next level. Just for the record, I think she's got it but needs a keener eye when it comes to reviewing scripts and choosing roles. Also Affleck has got to go. He's acting quicksand for anyone that is around him.

Read the full commentary at MSNBC and if you need new desktop wallpaper check out the sexy sisters of Alias.

Neilson Weekly Ratings - Zap2it.com
1. ABC PREMIERE EVENT-3/6(S)
2. AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
3. CSI
4. AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
5. AMERICAN IDOL SP-2/28 8P(S)

Did al-Queda have secret plans to kidnap Russell Crowe so that Osama bin Laden could have a cave buddy? The "Gladiator" claims to have received threats as part of a "cultural destabilization plot" just before winning the Best Actor Oscar.

Read the USA Today Article.

With Airport Express, you can enjoy your music library in virtually any room, access data files throughout your home from one PC/Mac to the next, and share a single broadband Internet connection and USB printer without inconvenient and obtrusive cables. Create an instant wireless network on the go. Extend the range of your current wireless network.

Get it at NOW or watch the Amazon video.

When it comes to bashing mainstream rock stations, I am always first in line. The insipid drivel that they play is unforgivable when you look at the amount of genuine talent being neglected. I haven't listened to mainstream radio in years and consider it one of the best decisions I ever made. With that said, it's a bit disturbing to hear that a lot of these venues are bleeding listeners so badly that they are having to switch formats to hip-hop, R&B and Hispanic oriented programming. Philadelphia's Y100, the only source for modern rock in this top 20 market, has recently switched to R&B. This trend is closing a lot of doors for rock bands to promote concerts and their material. There is no question that demographic trends are changing, but I think a large responsibility falls on these stations for waiting for the next grunge to magically appear and not heavily promoting the cutting edge artists that could revive mainstream rock at it's core. The music revolution isn't going to tap you on the shoulder to let you know it's already started.

Read the full article at Rolling Stone and tune into Innovative Radio for the best Internet radio has to offer in cutting edge music.

	Grade: B | Genre: Fantasy/Adventure Summary: Sky Captain is smart, wholesome, family entertainment that Hollywood is running low on. Though the story is generic, everything else is very cool. This film tapped into the kid in me as I launched off with Sky Captain on his adventures to save the world, pesky damsel in distress in tow.

Starring: Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Giovanni Ribisi & Angelina Jolie
Director: Kerry Conran

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is a comic book come alive. I'm not talking about your modern comic book that at times can look like a soap opera in tights. No, this is your classic comic of the 40s and 50s where heroes and villians were clearly defined and a coy innocence still existed in the world.

Could Quentin Tarantino take over creative duties for "Friday the 13th?" The Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction writer/director is reportedly in "early talks with New Line Cinema, where he is scheduled to meet with executives this week." (Reuters) This should be a great move by New Line to revive a franchise that, like its menacing psycho slasher, keeps coming back for more eventhough it's been dead for some time.

Read the Reuters article.

	Grade: A+ | Genre: Reality Drama Summary: Hosted by Sly and Sugar Ray Leonard, "The Contender" is a human drama built on the same foundation that made "Rocky" so popular and widely accepted, pure heart and a desire to rise above expectations.

Starring: Sylvestor Stallone, Sugar Ray Leonard, and 16 boxing professionals
Network: NBC

Every so often, a new film will come along and connect with the human spirit in all of us. The endearing cast of characters will strum your emotional chords as they take you along on their journey of self-discovery and triumph with us cheering all the way. You won't find "The Contender" on the big screen because it's not a movie. It's not even scripted. It is Reality TV the way it should be done. Forget "Survivor" and "The Apprentice," the champions of the "unscripted" are about to get knocked out by this hard-nose and emotionally draining new show by Mark Burnett, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sylvestor Stallone.

Ambrosia Parsley has a quirky ritual. Every Thursday, she takes a stack of daily newspapers to her favorite restaurant for a little bloody mary and huevos rancheros. She finds an interesting story and she writes it up to perform on a segment called "Ambrosia Sings the News" on Air America Network. Shivaree recently scored a record deal with Zoe records and her effort Who's Got Trouble is causing people to take notice. Quentin Tarantino used "Goodnight Moon" in the closing credits of Kill Bill v.2.

Read the full article on Shivaree at Paste Music and check back next week for a review on her latest release Who's Got Trouble?

	Grade: B- | Genre: Vocal Jazz Summary: Katie Melua is an incredibly talented singer and I can't wait to see her mature into the stellar artist that she is destined to become. Eyeing the future, I hope that she makes better selections with her material that challenge and force her out of that comfort zone.

Katie Melua is a 19-year-old import from the UK (originally from Russia) which slides her soft purring voice into the jazz scene with exquisite style and eloquence. She has garnered considerable acclaim in her home country finding her way to number 1 on the album charts dethroning Dido and Norah Jones respectively. She is just beginning to make ripples stateside. Melua is one of those talented artists (like Sondre Lerche or Vanessa Carlton) who are making their impact felt at a young age. I was just beginning to discover music at 19 while Melua is making music to be discovered.

Say it isn't so. CBGB, known for breaking bands like the Ramones and Blondie, may close its doors due to conflicts with its landlord over rent. "For more than 30 years, CBGB has with ragged pride withstood every hand the neighborhood and the music scene have dealt it: punk-rock, death metal, crack addicts, city inspectors and bad plumbing. But it may have met its match in one of the city's most respected charity group."

Read the New York Times article.

That is like peanut butter without jelly. David James Elliott is set to part ways with the military drama after 10 years. Harmon Rabb is "JAG" and he is a walking recruitment poster for the armed services. It's hard to believe that they could make a realistic go of it without him. Elliott has signed a deal with ABC's Touchtone Television enabling him to star in a new or existing series as well as create his own ventures.

Read the full article at E! Online.

Aerosmith's "Dude Looks Like A Lady," was written about Vince Neil of Motley Crue.
- www.absolutetrivia.com

1. The Pacifier - $30,222,000
2. Be Cool - $23,500,000
3. Hitch - $12,500,000
4. Diary of a Mad Black Woman - $12,000,000
5. Million Dollar Baby - $8,505,000
6. Constantine - $6,005,000
7. Cursed - $3,882,000
8. Man of the House - $3,500,000
9. Because of Winn-Dixie - $3,450,000
10. The Jacket Warner - $2,700,000

Check Movie Times.

	Grade: A+ | Genre: Drama Summary: Friday Night Lights is the real deal. This movie is to high school football what Hoosiers was to high school basketball. You'd get no argument from me if you called it the best football movie ever made. It's that good.

Starring: Derek Luke, Billy Bob Thornton, Tim McGraw, Connie Britton, Lucas Black and Jay Hernandez
Director: Peter Berg

This film is loosely based on a true story by H.G. Bissinger about the 1988 Permian Panters of Odessa, Texas. Odessa is a tiny town that lives and dies by high school football. Their church is the stadium and Friday night is when they worship. All the conversation in the town revolves around strategizing the next game and everyone's focus is set on a relentless obsession to win the state championship by any means necessary. Permian has built a tradition of winning that is echoed through ghosts of championships past that haunt the town.

American television can't seem to bring itself out from under the skirt of Reality TV. When one new sitcom debuts, there's two or three more reality series ready to crack the 10 top. Instead of brainstorming and bringing in new talent, American network execs continue to borrow from the British, as evident with the March 24th debut of "The Office." The acclaimed British version hopes to make an Americanized splash stateside, but many are weary of it's potential success. Remember what happened when we translated the U.K.'s version of "Coupling?" The "Office" looks like it could be a hit with all those that deal with the idiosyncrasies of corporate America. We'll wait around the water cooler and see who's talking.

Read the New York Daily News full article.

	Grade: B | Genre: Science Fiction/Horror Summary: The Jacket is definitely worth a spot on your 'to-see' list. What it may lack in originality, it definitely makes up for through Brody's performance and a well-crafted composition by Maybury.

Starring: Adrien Brody, Keira Knightley, Kris Kristofferson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Kelly Lynch
Director: John Maybury

If you stuck Memento and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest into a giant mixing bowl and stirred furiously, you'd have something close to the Jacket. While that is not necessarily a bad thing since it samples idea lines from two high quality films, it doesn't say much for this film's originality. Thankfully the film has Adrien Brody and director John Maybury to put this work on their collective shoulders to make the Jacket more effective than it probably should be.

	Grade: C+ | Genre: Comedy Summary: If you want laugh out loud gags, "Be Cool" is a good choice. If you're looking for something with a little more substance and dept, skip it and rent "Get Shorty."

Starring: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn, Cedric The Enterainer, Christina Milian, Andre 3000, and The Rock
Director: F. Gary Gray

Chili Palmer (Travolta) is back, cool as usual, still getting things done his way. Since "Get Shorty," the former shylock's been a movie producer who is now looking to get in the music business, but deep inside, he is still and always will be a shylock. He's smooth and very capable of getting what he wants, but if necessary, he is able to revert back to the Brooklyn street smarts that got him this far.

"Be Cool" is very aware of itself. It's a sequel that knows where it came from and doesn't shy away from referencing the original.

	Grade: B+ | Genre: Rock Summary: Re-teaming with The Dust Brothers, Beck didn't set out to make "Odelay" part deux, but to reintroduce us to Beck Hanson...the "Loser" that made good and who gave us a "Devil's Haricut." "It's a Latin-tinged tribute to his humble beginnings in East L.A." (Pitchfork)

Ah, the sweet smell of Spring is near. The gray is fading and green is starting to show through signaling a fresh start...a new beginning.

The time is ripe for the coolest white boy*, Beck, to return to his true form with his new album, "Guero." It's been far too long since we've cranked the b-boy beats to "eleven**" and what better way of rushing us towards the summer than Mr. Hanson's own brand of "junkyard funk?"

From a standing position, he jumps straight up, kicks a pad suspended 15 feet above the ground and on the way down spins like a yo-yo and lands on one foot, then effortlessly leaps up and runs across the shoulders of five men like stepping stones on a river. No wires, special effects, no camera techniques, just a live demonstration. Welcome to the world of Tony Jaa, not only Thai cinema's most famous martial arts star, but with his debut film "Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior" perhaps the next big martial arts movie icon to follow in the steps of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li by breaking through in the West.

Read the full article at Yahoo.

Garbage will be releasing their fourth studio album, Bleed Like Me, on April 12th and launches their supporting tour in Seattle on April 8th. Lots of rumors had been swirling about concerning the group's breakup that seemed to change depending on which band member you talked to. Foo Fighter's Dave Grohl lends his drumming talents on the track "Bad Boyfriend".

Check out the full article at Rolling Stone complete with tour dates.

Do you ever wonder why some movie release dates randomly change? Are studios playing leap frog to avoid competition with each other? Does the director need more time in the editing room in order to perfect his vision? "Maybe they're undergoing reshooting. Maybe they'd be better off in spring rather than winter. And maybe they're being dumped." (CNN) However we justify our answers, we can't feel too secure as we cautiously take our seat and hope that we haven't wasted our money. Enjoy the show!

Check out the CNN article.

	Grade: B+ | Genre: Comedy Summary: This is a brilliantly funny stand-up routine by one of the brightest comedic minds performing today. If this disk has a flaw, it's that it closes just when he seems to be kicking it into gear.

It isn't just the way Foxx's voice alters in pitch and speed (he's already discussed the common mistake of going the high-pitched Mickey Mouse route, whereas Tyson's voice "is lower in tone when he's actually speaking"). It's also his mannerisms, the way he squints his eyes, hunches his shoulders, and pushes back his neck as if he's on a swivel-ready for a punch or facing down a bank of cameras at a press conference.

Read the full article on Jamie Foxx's ascent to greatness in Ray at Premiere.

You would think that an artist with Beck's credentials would be too good to associate himself with the March 10th episode of "The O.C." However, quirkiness in tact, he naturally makes it look cool. This is no sell-out, and it gives us a chance to preview new tracks from his soon to be release album, "Guereo." Look for the PM Media Review coming this week.

In the meantime, checkout E!Online's full article.

	Grade: B+ | Genre: Mystery/Suspense Summary: "Shattered" drops the bomb of all bombs and believe me, it's the best ending you'll never predict!

Starring: Tom Berenger, Bob Hoskins, Greta Scacchi
Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Dan Merrick (Berenger) has it all. A loving wife, beautiful home, fancy life-style...but what he doesn't have is his memory. Recovering from a near fatal and disfiguring auto accident, Dan, helped by his wife, Judith (Scacchi), must recover and bring their "Shattered" lives back to normal. He must relearn the life he's always known, but as he progresses, Dan discovers that he isn't such a nice guy, his marriage is in shambles and his "loving wife" is in love with someone else!

	Grade: A- | Genre: Drama/Independent Summary: My Own Private Idaho holds a special place in my heart because it's the first independent film I ever saw (or at least was aware of). For the first time, I realized that cinema could be an art and that a film could make you think, question the world around you. It could speak volumes without ever saying a word.

Before Gus Van Sant made a splash in the mid-90's with high profile, independent minded films like Good Will Hunting and To Die For, he was making curious indie fare for the sharp of taste. His second film, My Own Private Idaho released for the first time on DVD yesterday, still ranks as one of the defining moments of this great filmmaker's cache of work.

CMJ Retail Charts
1. TORI AMOS The Beekeeper
2. GREEN DAY American Idiot
3. THE GAME The Documentary
4. KINGS OF LEON Aha Shake Heartbreak
5. BRIGHT EYES I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
6. IRON AND WINE Woman King [EP]
7. THIEVERY CORPORATION The Cosmic Game
8. OMARION O
9. KILLERS Hot Fuss
10. JOHN LEGEND Get Lifted

Neilson Weekly Ratings - Zap2it
1. ACADEMY AWARDS
2. OSCAR COUNTDOWN 2005
3. CSI
4. AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY
5. AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY

	Grade: C+ (for the ending) | Genre: Horror Summary: I'll admit that the ending did surprise the heck out of me and will even say that it almost makes up for where the film lacks.

Starring: Leigh Whannell, Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Ken Leung
Director: James Wan

I think the first time I "Saw" this film, it was called "Seven." An unidentified killer preying on those whom he deems as morally corrupt...sounds a bit hypocritical, doesn't it? However, the Brad Pitt/Morgan Freeman thriller left me seriously disturbed while losing much sleep for days afterwards. I just couldn't believe that a story like that could come from anyone other than the Devil. "Saw," however, left no psychological marks, and I had no problems drifting into sleep.

Hallelujah! Praise be to Jesus! (and I'm not even religious) Five tracks off Fiona's latest effort Extraordinary Machine have been leaked out on the radio and you know what that means...they're on the Net. If you are crafty enough, you can find them. Jon Brion, the album's producer, has said that the album has been done for some time yet Sony has it sitting on its shelves collecting dust because they don't know how to market it for radio. Translation: it must be brilliant. Ironically enough, this past weekend Seattle's 107.7's DJ Andrew Harms found a spot on radio for five of the tracks off of Extraordinary Machine on his show. Three are still a little rough but "Better Version of Me" and the title track sounds ready for release. Oh my these are so very nice. Surprisingly, Sony hasn't hit Harms with a cease and desist order. Now the question is, how can I get away with playing these incendiary tracks on my radio show without the man coming after me? Hmmm...

Read the full release at MTV.

So you think you know The Godfather huh Cochise? Did you know that the infamous horse head was real? The crew found the horse in a New Jersey rendering plant and had it's head packed in ice and shipped to the set. Also, the Godfather was the first movie in over twenty years in which Marlon Brando was required to audition. The studio heads wanted nothing to do with him, however they relented with the insistence of Coppola.

While it doesn't match up to the real thing, a live album can cure those missed concert blues, and luckily the Morrissey fix is on its merry way. Not one, but two live Morrissey releases will be put on shelves on March 29th. First up is a DVD called "Who Put the 'M' in Manchester", and covering the audio side is a CD informatively titled "Live at Earl's Court".

Read the full article with complete track listings at Soul Shine Magazine.

Well, it looks like we'll have to wait even longer for the latest release by Coldplay.

The guys have said they will release their long-awaited third album in June, as they announced plans to kick off their biggest world tour with U.K. gigs in London, Bolton and Glasgow.

Checkout the full Yahoo! article.

Cullum recently met with Pharrell Williams prompted by Williams hearing Cullum's rendition of "Frontin'". From that meeting the Neptunes have agreed to work on Cullum's forthcoming release. Cullum, the British jazz singing and piano sensation that has been riding high on his breakthrough effort Twentysomething, has also been working with Dan the Automator of Gorillaz. Cullum has already prepared 16 tracks for his new effort and hints that he wants to push out the borders of traditional jazz. Cullum featured several modern classic artists on Twentysomething including Radiohead, Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Buckley and looks to continue along this tangent on his upcoming release. Perhaps we'll see a little AC/DC "Highway to Hell" and Bjork "Human Behavior" among the tracks. Expanding the borders of jazz indeed.

Read the full article at MTV.