Latest from Entertainment Reviews

Album Review: Crystal Bowersox <i>Farmer's Daughter</i>

Rating: 3.5/5

Album Review: Various <i>NYC Salsa: The Incendiary Sound of Latin New York</i>

Rating: 4/5

Album Review: Amanda Palmer <i>Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under</i>

Rating: 3/5

<i>Review</i>: Joe Cocker, George Thorogood and the Destroyers

Album Review: The Greenhornes <i>****</i>

They come, they perform, and they move on to the next gig. That's what they do.

Album Review: Wire <i>Red Barked Tree</i>

Rating: 4/5. Verdict: The old gang is back, and conjuring up their very best in a new way

Movie Review: <i>The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell</i>

The chief problem with <i>The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell</i> is Gazza. As played by William McInnes, he's meant to be bit of a dag who needs to grow up, despite being a husband and father of two running his own business.

Album Review: The Decemberists <i>The King Is Dead</i>

Rating: 3/5. Verdict: Portland folkies' sixth album is solid, but lacks true grit

Movie Review: <i>Secretariat</i>

A conventional and heartwarming film, this is the true story of the great horse Secretariat, who made history in 1973 as the first horse in 25 years to win America's coveted Triple Crown.

Concert Review: Kenny Rogers, <i>Vector Arena</i>

Album Review: Wanda Jackson <i>The Party Ain't Over</i>

Wanda Jackson dazzled Kiwi crowds when she played here last year and she's about to do it again, this time with a new album, <i>The Party Ain't Over</i>.

Book Review: <i>The Lake of Dreams</i>

Unfinished business is the theme of the new novel from best-selling author Kim Edwards.

Album Review: Various <i>The Sound of Dubstep 2</i>

It's official then, this week dubstep well and truly went mainstream in New Zealand with this 44-track collection.

Album Review: Various <i>Bossa Nova and the Rise of Brazilian Music in the 1960s</i>

This moves from haunting samba on Jorge Ben's <i>Lalari-Olara</i>, to the cool and wild wig-outs of Zimbo Trio's <i>Zimbo Samba</i> and Sergio Mendes' <i>Primitivo</i>, through to the sparkling delights of Roberto Menescal's <i>Inverno</i>.

Concert Review: Joe Cocker, George Thorogood and the Destroyers <i>Dunedin Town Hall</i>

Cocker Happy? Yes they were. There cannot be anyone who does raw emotion like the lad from Sheffield - Joe Cocker.

Movie Review: The Fighter

Christian Bale took the Golden Globe for best supporting actor (drama) for his role in this deeply enjoyable boxing drama, and must be a shoo-in for the Oscar, too. But he's no support act: this is his film from start to finish.

Album Review: Gilles Peterson Presents ... <i>Worldwide</i>

This collection is a tribute to the best tracks premiered on the London DJ's influential radio show over the years - so kind of like a greatest hits collection, if you like.

Album Review: Iggy Pop & James Williamson <i>Kill City</i>

This reissued remixed album was originally Iggy's first post-Stooges studio effort in 1974. Though it wasn't released until three years later, after the Bowie-mentored <i>The Idiot</i> and <i>Lust for Life</i>.