Album of the week - No Direction Home

Bob Dylan - No Direction Home (click for review)

For anybody who has been watching the Bob documentary on BBC2.. this is the soundtrack.. and it's fantastic. It covers the same time frame as the documentary which basically gives us a dozen or so early tracks plus a large number of alternate versions of 'Highway 61', 'Bringing it all back home' and 'Blonde on Blonde' tracks.. Feels a bit the same way 'Let It Be Naked' did.. lovely versions of lovely songs.. A very worthwhile purchase.. Oh.. and anybody who didn't watch the documentary.. shame on you.. you will have to buy it on DVD when it comes out..

New entrant for ITV avenue of stars

Sweet Computer Music

Desktop Album Display This is a great bit of software that allows you to drop mini album covers onto your desktop, these then create links to albums of MP3's on your PC (see picture left). This is a lovely way to organise your new and often played albums and more importantly it looks nice..

Album of the Week

Don't Fight the Feeling - Aretha Franklin & King Curtis Live at the Filmore West

To me, this has been one of the most exciting releases in years. It has all three legendary nights by the Queen of Soul and the best rythm section of their time (time=1971 ie pretty damned good). Playing not to the usual soul fans but to Grateful-Dead-and-Jefferson-Airplane-loving-longhairs, it could have gone either way - it went well.

If effortless, unified funky R&B groove was a rolfaroo, then King Curtis and the Kingpins, in their unique and meaningful
creation of said groove, would be mighty Mr Harris himself. Aretha's gospel-drenched soul may have its roots in the church, but her orgasmic rendition of Dr Feelgood would make even Carla blush.

Is that Ray Charles on the cover? The answer is yes; he steps up to join in the fun, and the fun's not spoilt by the fact that he doesn't know any of the words. Respect.

Too many songs to list, see link. Limited to 5000 copies, unlucky.

Funky Teatowel

This is one of Steph's pupils doing his master proud. Note the lip curled in ecstacy. Textbook.

The Best Page in the Universe

Probably worth pointing out the this isn't actually the best page in the universe, however it can be rather funny/abusive.. give it a read! (click the image to go..)

Picturetastic Pun Time

More funny pictures from B3ta.com! (click to enlarge)