BASIC INSTINCT 2 Grade: C-
If there is only one reason this potboiler sequel to the 1992 Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas thriller exists, it's to show that Stone can still play sexy at 48. And yes, while she can still seduce the best of chronically stupid men, this is still a laughably bad erotic thriller. Stone returns as the famous femme fatale Catherine Tramell, this time arousing more suspicion and more male hormones in London after a series of murders. A criminal psychiatrist (David Morrissey) is assigned to analyze her but instead falls for her seductive looks as more mayhem ensues. It's a cheesy, deadly dull rehash with the same cool-headed, erotically charged stares. The DVD has deleted scenes and a short making-of documentary. Don't let the "unrated, extended edition" label on the disc fool you: It's 2 minutes more of fleshy shots and nothing else.
- Vince Horiuchi
New Releases
"Weeds - Season 1"
"Perry Mason, Season 1, Vol. 1"
"I Dream of Jeannie - The Complete Second Season"
"Bill Maher: New Rules"
"ER - The Complete Fifth Season"
"Reno 911 - The Complete Third Season"
CD Reviews
DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL, "Dusk and Summer" Grade: B
Chris Carraba's heart-on-sleeve lyrical approach isn't for everybody, but it's gained the diminutive singer/songwriter legions of emotionally charged fans who can tell by listening to his songs that they ache like he aches, and they love like he loves. As Carraba has progressed from a solo, acoustic act into the leader of a full-blown rock band, he's proven an adept pop songwriter, crafting instantly catchy anthems for each of his albums. "Dusk and Summer" is Dashboard Confessional's fourth studio album, and Carraba's most-expansive set to date, whether it's the hard rock kick of "Reason to Believe" or the electronic-abetted, Daniel Lanois-produced "Heaven Here," a song that comes out of left field for anyone who's Carraba pegged as a simple troubadour. First single "Don't Wait" is sure to be a live favorite for years, and the piano-driven "Currents" offers the overtly romantic sentiments Carraba's fans expect.
- Dan Nailen
CHEAP TRICK, "Rockford" Grade: B+
The fact that Midwestern power-poppers Cheap Trick are still putting out albums as good as "Rockford" offers hope that so-called "classic rock" acts can still make new, engaging music. Nothing on "Rockford" is earth-shatteringly great, or particularly experimental. What you get is classic Cheap Trick: tons of memorable guitar riffs from Rick Nielsen, singer Robin Zander not sounding a day older than during the band's late-'70s heyday, and a little more studio slickness than necessary. The crack rhythm section of bassist Tom Petersson and über-drummer Bun E. Carlos is in prime form, driving songs like "Welcome to the World," the hard-charging "This Time You Got It" and the raucous "Come On Come On Come On" into the listener's head. "O Claire" is a nod to The Beatles, one of Cheap Trick's more obvious influences, while the Linda Perry collaboration, "Perfect Stranger," is an effort at a hit single. It probably won't work, but fans of Cheap Trick, even those who gave up on them 20 years ago, should give this album a chance.
- Dan Nailen
Game Reviews
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST (Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Game Boy) Grade: C
If a pirate's life is as tedious and dull as this game, drop me off at the next port. "Pirates" is a straightforward hack 'n' slash title with pretty graphics, some clever dialogue and not much else. Attempts are made to jazz up a genre that's as old as Davy Jones: In the Nintendo DS version (reviewed here), you play as one of three characters - Jack, Will or Elizabeth - and have an array of weapons. Trouble is, each performs exactly the same, and despite having a few unique moves, the easiest way to quarrel is by pressing a single button over and over again. Some animations are great, such as the recreation of Jack's drunken stumbling, but the backgrounds are repetitious. The camera sometimes puts itself at an awkward angle, making character movement difficult. The only crowd this game will appeal to is gamers not yet in possession of a license to commandeer vehicles.
- Sam Vicchrilli
Live Music Reviews
FOUNDER'S TITLE FOLK & BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, Saturday at Snowbird
SNOWBIRD - The Founder's Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival manages to schedule a slate of artists each year that push the boundaries of what most of us consider "folk" or "bluegrass," and that's a good thing. Saturday's tilt included everything from rock to country, making for a stylistically diverse day on the mountain.
Amy Speace, winner of the 2005 KRCL Performing Songwriter contest, used her slot on the main stage to showcase her stellar band, the Tearjerks, and her witty lyrics. Songs like "The Real Thing" and "Shed This Skin" from Speace's "Songs for Bright Street" album proved she's an artist worth keeping tabs on, and her cover of Blondie's "Dreaming" showed how a punk/New Wave classic can turn into a countrified gem in the right hands.
Christine Lavin absolutely killed with a set that was part-folk concert, part-stand-up comedy routine. Whether mocking owners of wind chimes, Dick Cheney's hunting skills or the "Sensitive New Age Guys" she bamboozled into singing backup for her, Lavin was clearly having a blast, and the audience did, too. And when she closed her set with a medley of the Everly Brothers' "All I Have to Do is Dream" with the Pussycat Dolls' "Don't Cha" while spinning a baton, Lavin had the crowd firmly in the palm of her hand.
Saturday's show-closer Greg Brown wasn't as funny as Lavin - although he did have his moments - but his gravel-voiced, bare-bones performance was as enthralling, whether performing his own material or well-chosen covers by the likes of Jimmie Rodgers ("Kentucky Man"), Johnny Cash ("Folsom Prison Blues") or Bob Dylan ("Not Dark Yet").
- Dan Nailen
THE LIST
BILLBOARD 200 TOP 10 ALBUMS
From a national sales sample compiled by SoundScan.
No. Album Artist
1. ''Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & ...'' India.Arie
2. ''Dusk and Summer'' Dashboard Confessional
3. ''Loose'' Nelly Furtado
4. ''Taking the Long Way'' Dixie Chicks
5. ''A Girl Like Me'' Rihanna
6. ''St. Elsewhere'' Gnarls Barkley
7. ''Me and My Gang'' Rascal Flatts
8. ''The Big Bang'' Busta Rhymes
9. ''High School Musical'' various
10. ''Cars'' various
BILLBOARD HOT 100 TOP 10 SONGS
Compiled from radio lists monitored by Broadcast Data Systems and sales compiled by SoundScan.
No. Song Artist Featuring
1. ''Promiscuous" Nelly Furtado Timbaland
2. ''Hips Don't Lie" Shakira Wyclef Jean
3. ''Crazy" Gnarls Barkley
4. ''Me & U'' Cassie
5. ''It's Goin' Down" Yung Joc
6. ''Ain't No Other Man'' Christina Aguilera
7. ''Ridin' " Chamillionaire Krayzie Bone
8. ''Unfaithful" Rihanna
9. ''Snap Yo Fingers" Lil Jon E-40, Sean Paul
10. ''So What" Field Mob Ciara
TOP CD RELEASES
Compiled from icemagazine.com, cmj.com, amazon.com
Album Artist
"The Audience's Listening" Cut Chemist
"Love at Montreux, 2005" Steve Earle
"I Stand Alone" Ramblin' Jack Elliott
"Live at the Fillmore West" Aretha Franklin
"Cold as the Clay" Greg Graffin
"Black Holes and Revelations" Muse
"Impeach My Bush" Peaches
"The Silver Lining" Soul Asylum
"The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras..." Sufjan Stevens
"The Devil Wears Prada" soundtrack various
"Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 22" various
"The Pilgrim: ... Kris Kristofferson" various
"The Eraser" Thom Yorke
TELEVISION RATINGS
NIELSEN TOP 10
A.C. Nielsen Ratings for June 27-July 2:
No. Name of show Network Rating Viewers
(in millions)
1. ''Without a Trace" CBS 7.4 10.9
2.(tie) ''CSI" CBS 7.3 10.6
2. (tie) ''CSI: Miami" CBS 7.3 10.8
4. ''America's Got Talent" NBC 6.9 11.0
5. ''House" Fox 6.4 9.9
6.(tie) ''CSI: N.Y." CBS 6.0 9.2
6.(tie) "Law & Order" NBC 6.0 8.4
6. (tie) "Two and a Half Men" CBS 6.0 8.9
9. ''You Think You Can Dance" Fox 5.8 8.8
10. "NCIS" CBS 5.7 8.3
TOP GROSSING FILMS
Johnny Depp reprises his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," which set a new opening-weekend record.
WEEKEND TOP 10 MOVIES
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
No. Name of Movie Earnings*
1. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's...'' $132.0
2. ''Superman Returns'' $21.9
3. ''The Devil Wears Prada'' $15.6
4. ''Click'' $12.0
5. ''Cars" $10.3
6. ''Nacho Libre'' $3.3
7. ''The Lake House'' $2.8
8. ''Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'' $2.5
9. ''Waist Deep" $1.9
10. ''The Break-Up'' $1.6
* Estimated earnings in millions.
