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F&M playlist
Our music team pick the songs or albums, old or new, they just can't turn off
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Amy Winehouse: her fans can show us the pop path
Her death has led to a lot of dutiful music writing telling us nothing new. Why don't we just ask the fans for directions, says Tom Ewing
Features p2
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The movie plots that technology killed
Hollywood's classic murders, stalkings and deceptions would never have been possible had today's technology been around. Joe Queenan rewrites the script for the digital age
Features p3
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Readers' reviews: Postwar British cinema and Selena Gomez
The best of your comments on the latest film and music, compiled by Michael Hann
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Directors, take a hint... follow Kevin Smith to the door
Kevin Smith has repeated his intention to retire from film directing – some others would do well to follow
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My eBay £122 7in confession ...
This is a confession, not to you forgiving readers, but to my girlfriend. I just had to spend £122 on a 7in copy of Do It by Pat Powdrill – and I got a bargain
Features p4
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Biffy Clyro: 'People share their worries with us'
From boiling bathwater in the kettle to unlikely success on The X Factor, they do it all wrong – yet it's all going right. Rob Fitzpatrick on the gutsy ascent of Biffy Clyro
Features p5
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Gianni Di Gregorio: The incidental director
Film director Gianni Di Gregorio only hit on his signature style – gentle, ironic comedies about ageing, romance and bossy mothers – when he turned 60. He talks to Catherine Shoard
Features p6
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Pop music's mavericks: 'I might install speakers in my jacket'
In the conformist age of Simon Cowell and the overhyped indie band, is there still room for the maverick in music? Dave Simpson tracks down pop's most eccentric acts and events
Features p7
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Can opera singers sing pop – and vice versa?
Orlando Gough: It takes years of training for opera singers to master their art. But would those skills help or hinder in singing pop songs?
Features p8
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The Concert for Bangladesh and its charity pop legacy
The Concert for Bangladesh was rock's first big act of philanthropy, and the model for Live Aid. But how much good do these things really do, asks Graeme Thomson
Features p9
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Gabriel Prokofiev gets the Proms into the groove
Next week, the Proms hosts its first ever turntablist. Composer Gabriel Prokofiev tells Nick Shave why this is the shape of things to come
Features p12
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Chris Weitz: once upon a time in East LA
A million miles away from the romance of Twilight, director Chris Weitz reveals how his own family inspired his new film about illegal immigrants
Features p13
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Arrietty – review
The latest offering from Japan's Studio Ghibli is a gentle, entrancing version of The Borrowers, writes Steve Rose
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Our Day Will Come – review
A parable about discrimination featuring Vincent Cassel as a redhead who fights back that – ultimately – runs out of steam, says Peter Bradshaw
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The Light Thief – review
This story about stealing electricity in Kyrgyzstan is an interesting insight into post-Soviet cultural conflicts, writes Andrew Pulver
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A Better Life – review
This Bicycle Thieves-style story about a stolen truck is a heartfelt saga about illegal Hispanic immigrants in the US, writes Cath Clarke
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Horrid Henry: The Movie – review
Despite the big-name cast, this adaptation of the successful kids' books is definitely underwhelming, writes Peter Bradshaw
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Whisky Galore! – review
The Ealing classic about Scottish islanders attempting to liberate a boatload of alcohol comes up sparkling in this wonderful reissue, writes Peter Bradshaw
Features p15
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Randy Weston: The Storyteller - review
A concert recording by this 83-year-old jazz piano hero shows off his characteristic Africanised sound to great effect, writes John Fordham -
The Black Caribs of Belize: Garifuna – review
The music and remarkable history of the Garifuna people, the so-called black Caribs, gets a finely packaged precis, writes Robin Denselow -
The Wronglers with Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Heirloom Music – review
The Texan legend goes back to his roots with a band of bluegrass enthusiasts for some finely played American classics, writes Robin Denselow -
Lassus: Prophetiae Sibyllarum, etc – review
The performances of this wonderfully ingenious resume of Renaissance polyphony are wonderfully persuasive, writes Andrew Clements -
Ian Shaw: The Abbey Road Sessions - review
Cool UK crooner Ian Shaw switches from solo mode to a full band session for his enjoyable new album, writes John Fordham -
Cage: Imaginary Landscapes Nos 1 to 5; Credo in Us – review
Imaginative and witty versions of John Cage pieces, recorded on original instruments by Percussion Group Cincinnati, writes Andrew Clements -
Trojahn: String Quartets Nos 3 and 4; etc – review
The Henschel's performance of Trojahn produces moments that are both disconcerting and striking but always assured, writes Andrew Clements -
Rachmaninov: Symphony No 3 etc - review
A pair of lesser-known pieces add interest to Gianandrea Noseda's latest Rachmaninov disc, but the Third Symphony is still the main event, writes Andrew Clements -
Couperin: Complete Harpsichord Works/Richard Egarr – review
The earliest member of a composing dynasty wrote these harpsichord works, arranged by Richard Egarr in 21 exhilarating suites, finds Andrew Clements -
Liebman/Swallow/Nussbaum/We3 Amazing – review
There's a wealth of saxophone homages and some daintily inexorable drumming here. A purist's delight, finds John Fordham -
Berne/Black/Cline/BB & C: The Veil – review
Live recording of the debut collaboration between Berne, Black and Cline (BB & C), sets the free jazz/funk/guitar improv/noise bar high, says John Fordham
Features p16
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Fountains of Wayne: Sky Full of Holes – review
It's a more sedate Fountains of Wayne on their fifth album, but they're the better for it, reckons Michael Hann -
Submotion Orchestra: Finest Hour – review
An arts council commission for a cathedral arts project results in a decent dance album. By Dave Simpson -
Viva Brother: Famous First Words - review
Viva Brother's crusade to bring 90s lad-rock back has taken on a tragicomic air, says Alexis Petridis
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Click to Download: Biblify, Hype Machine Fast Forward, Pablo Dylan
Chris Salmon: A cleverly coded website can be a great aid in keeping up with the hottest music online
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Joshua Radin: The Rock and the Tide – review
Amiable singer-songwriter Joshua Radin seems to be getting even more amiable, reckons Caroline Sullivan -
Joss Stone: LP1 – review
Joss Stone's starting all over again. She needn't have bothered, Paul MacInnes says -
Cerebral Ballzy: Cerebral Ballzy – review
The world's worst-named band try to revive 1980s hardcore. A partial success, Michael Hann suggests -
Charlie Simpson: Young Pilgrim – review
First Charlie Simpson was in a boy band, then an emo band. Turns out he wanted to be a singer-songwriter all along. by Dave Simpson -
Azari & III: Azari & III – review
There's not enough variety to Azari & III's house nostanglia, Maddy Costa says, and they could do with some self-editing
Features p17
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JJ Abrams
David Thomson: JJ Abrams shouldn't try to be too like Steven Spielberg. As Spielberg seems ready to go on and on, replacing him is going to be a challenge
