Equal parts Fellini and Woody Allen, Di Gregorio's follow-up to 2009's Mid-August Lunch doesn't have quite the same freshness - it's slightly less compact, despite its short running time - and is more contrived than the earlier film.

Sometimes in metal and heavy music circles the use of keyboards can sound contrived - and even a little lightweight and wimpy.

In New Zealand, the Roots are known as an alternative hip-hop outfit - and in their 20-year reign they have made some of the finest, and most intelligent music to come out of that genre.

Wellington's freakiest six-piece embody the notion of psychedelia on their sophomore album.

On the face of it, news that nu-metallers Korn were dabbling with dubstep sounded like the worst kind of bandwagon jumping imaginable.

Somehow, on last year's Brothers record, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of the Black Keys managed to sound like two stealth slackers. It had that swaggering, hip-hop-influenced blues rock sound that has become their trademark over the past 10 years.

If you're really going to celebrate a 10-year birthday, as Damon Albarn's cartoon band the Gorillaz are doing, then surely a deluxe double-disc collection of songs is the best way to go?

Red is well known across the ditch as the kelpie/cattle dog who roamed Australia in the 70s looking for his lost master.

Having collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump and Maroon 5's Adam Levine, Gym Class Heroes have some credit with those fan groups, and having Busta Rhymes and Estelle guest on 2008 album The Quilt earned them a few hip-hop fans.

At one point in this minutely attentive study of the fabled restaurant of the title, three of the chefs are at the market and ask the fishmonger for a single fish tongue.

The former Gunners axeman returns to his birth place of Stoke-on-Trent for a homecoming show taking in Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, and Snakepit songs, as well as solo material in this Slash Live compilation.

This compilation, available as both a simple double CD and a lavishly illustrated book of lyrics, follows two volumes of The Great New Zealand Songbook from Auckland music marketing wiz Murray Thom.

Kate Bush's new album may sound fruity but rather than being obscure and difficult, it all knits together beautifully.

There were high expectations for The Checks' follow-up album to sophomore release Alice By The Moon and fortunately, they've outdone themselves.