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Critics' Choice

Film

Derek Malcolm

quote It’s amazing to learn they did any research at all — unless it was into farting and foreskins quote

Year One Theatre

Henry Hitchings

quote This will appeal to those who grew up with the book as well as to anyone seeking family-friendly entertainment quote

Carrie's War Music

Rick Pearson

quote With a smile that splits her face, the frizzy-haired singer fills her songs with playfulness and wide-eyed wonder quote

Regina Spektor

Reader reviews

Film

Russell. Hertfordshire

quote If you are feeling totally fed up with your lot at the moment with the economic squeeze - go see this film quote

Sunshine Cleaning Theatre

Heather, London

quote I thought this was an excellent, powerful production. The staging and acting were superb, it is well worth going to see quote

Observe The Sons Of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme Music

Debbie & Bill Holmes

quote Absolutely AMAZING show that went like a train for three hours solid and didn't waiver once! quote

Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band

Downloads of the week

By David Smyth, Evening Standard 03.11.06

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Two of the world's biggest bands unite for Music Rising, cult Eighties music show The Tube returns in barely recognisable guise and MIA is offering the first fruits of her next album as a free download...

TRACK OF THE WEEK

U2 and Green Day - The Saints are Coming
Two of the world's biggest bands unite for Music Rising, the charity set up by U2's Edge to help bring musical instruments back to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. They're covering a track by Scottish punks The Skids, whose lyrics are eerily appropriate despite being written in 1978. It's in download stores this week.

IN THE NEWS

The Tube
The cult Eighties music show returns in barely recognisable guise as an online radio show, with new presenters Emily Rose, Konnie Huq and Blur's Alex James. They're promising to "mix a whole bucket of music show with a tablespoon of contemporary art, a teaspoon of rocket science and a pinch of bottom". Download it from 6pm today at
www.channel4radio.com

THE BUZZ

Ross Copperman
For more than two years the iTunes store has been giving away a Single of the Week. This unknown pianist from Virginia is the most downloaded to date, his bombastic song As I Choke having been picked up some 36,000 times. It's still available there, though now it costs 79p.

THE SITE

The Filter
Technology evangelist Peter Gabriel's latest venture is this neat piece of software, which rifles through your iPod's contents and automatically creates playlists to suit your mood. That means never again accidentally putting on Radiohead while jogging.
www.thefilter.com

SNEAK PREVIEW

MIA
The Sri Lankan rapper and former Mercury nominee is offering the first fruits of her next album as a free download. XR2 is a characteristically spare, brutal sonic assault, with frantic horns and a mumbled rap about the good old days.
www.myspace. com/mia