Music
by Sam Evans

B. Fleischman
• AVAILABLE: FEBRUARY 21 • PRICE: $15.98
THE HUMBUCKING COIL [Morr Music]

To grasp the point Fleischman is making with this album, we must understand the album title itself. For those of us who don’t have a dictionary of musical terms handy, a humbucking coil is a type of guitar pickup that was invented roughly 50 years ago by an employee at Gibson guitars. It consists of two magnets of opposite polarity. These magnets cancel white noise from other electronic devices, so the sound produced is the pure vibration of the guitar string.

Though the name Daniel Powter isn’t on American’s lips yet, that may soon change with the release of his self-titled album. Already making waves in Europe with singles from this record, the debut album from this Canadian-born artist will give Americans a taste of what they’ve been missing. Powter’s style, which resembles a hybrid of Keane and Jason Mraz, is infectiously optimistic, even poppy. We dare you not to tap your toe or sing along to “Bad Day.”



Head Like A Kite
• AVAILABLE: FEBRUARY 21 • PRICE: $11
RANDOM PORTRAITS OF THE HOME MOVIE [Pattern 25 Records]

A solo offering by Sushirobo guitarist Dave Einmo (produced by Brian Deck of Modest Mouse and Red Red Meat, among others), Head Like A Kite’s debut “Ran-dom Portraits Of The Home Movie” samples audio snippets of Einmo’s own home movies shot on Super 8 reels and mixes them with attention-grabbing drum beats and odd, yet likeable melodies. The album is more than audio from family reunions and T-ball games, though; it’s a trip-hop record that achieves its out-of-the-ordinary feel by incorporating unique and enjoyable instrumentation such as the mellotron and koto. He is joined on tracks by Clay Mar-tin (Sushirobo), Graig Markel (Crooked Fingers), Asya (Smoosh), and others.

Movies
by Vince Cogley

Must Love Dogs
RATING: PG-13 • AVAILABLE: JAN. 10 • PRICE: $29.98

“Must Love Dogs” stars the underappreciated Diane Lane (“Unfaithful,” “Under the Tuscan Sun”) as a recently-divorced teacher struggling in Dating 101 again. She pairs with the versatile John Cusack (“Say Any-thing,” “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “High Fidelity”), who plays Jake, a neurotic boat builder. The two go through the usual relationship rigmarole, adapting to each other’s quirks and overcoming hurt feelings. Christopher Plummer buttresses the film as Lane’s father, and Dermot Mulroney (“My Best Friend’s Wedding”) stirs the pot as the separated (not divorced) father of one of Lane’s pupils. The quirky “The Truth About Cats and Dogs” is a more appealing romantic/pet comedy, but “Must Love Dogs” doesn’t belong in the dog house.


Chicago: Razzle-Dazzle Edition
RATING: PG-13 • AVAILABLE: NOW • PRICE: $29.99

“Chicago” took the film world by storm in early 2003 and rode its success to six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress in a Sup-porting Role (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Set in the roaring ’20s, “Chicago” follows Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger), a starlet and wannabe starlet, respectively, whose paths cross when both land in the clink for murder. It’s tempting to say one of the trio of Zeta-Jones, Zell-weger, and Richard Gere (shyster Billy Flynn) steals the show, but they gel (not to mention sing and dance) surprisingly well. The Razzle-Dazzle Edi-tion includes extended musical performances, commentary from Director Rob Marshall and Screenwriter Bill Condon, and Zeta-Jones’ and Queen Latifah’s deleted duet.


Transporter 2
RATING: PG-13 • AVAILABLE: NOW • PRICE: $28.98

In the spirit of “The Bourne Identity” and “Ronin,” Louis Leterrier’s “The Transporter” had a distinctly European feel and showcased lead actor Jason Statham (“Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels,” “Snatch”) as a bona fide action hero. Statham returns as Frank Martin for the sequel, so expect another explosive go ’round. “Transporter 2” abandons the European locale for sunny Miami and finds Martin as a U.S. government official’s chauffer. When kidnappers make off with the official’s son, Martin quickly returns to “business as usual.” Newcomer Kate Nauta plays Lola, a scantily-clad, femme-fatale assassin who attempts to foil Martin’s efforts. Leterrier leaves subtlety on the cutting room floor, providing enough fight scenes and car chases to satisfy the most discriminating action film aficionado.


Red Eye
RATING: PG-13 • AVAILABLE: JAN. 10 • PRICE: $29.99

Seasoned Director Wes Craven established himself with films such as “The Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Scream,” so it shouldn’t come as shock that he takes his talents to the sky in this aerial thriller. Up-and-coming actress Rachel McAdams (“The Notebook,” “Wed-ding Crashers”) convincingly stars as Lisa, a hotel desk manager returning home on a late-night flight. The flight quickly turns from pedestrian to petrifying when her next-seat neighbor Jackson (Cillian Murphy of “28 Days Later”) reveals he’s involved in a terrorist conspiracy to assassinate a high-ranking government official. The tension is palpable, but McAdams provides a believable performance in a film with its share of unbelievable moments. “Red Eye” proves Craven can succeed at frightening audiences without ratcheting up the gore factor.


Frightfully Good Flicks
The Brothers Grimm
• AVAILABLE: NOW • PRICE: $29.99

Director Terry Gilliam puts an ironic spin on the lives of two of our most be-loved childhood storytellers. The film paints Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm (played by Matt Damon and Heath Ledger) as 18th century con-men who swindle rustic villagers with the ruse of ridding their hamlets of an assortment of ghouls. When a bona fide supernatural force terrorizes a quiet, unassuming hamlet, Will and Jake realize they’ll need more than their usual parlor tricks to emerge victorious. Monica Bellucci (“The Matrix Reloaded,” “The Passion of the Christ”) fans will be pleased to see the versatile actress has a small, but pivotal role. It’s a good blend of humor, action, and not-too-scary moments that most older children shouldn’t find too creepy.