- Al Green — I Can't Stop
One of the standout memories of 1999's Glastonbury was Al Green's set on a Sunday afternoon. When he came out on stage, the sky was foreboding and full of grey. by the time he had finished "Let's Stay Together", the sun had chased the clouds away, leaving us with a glorious Sunday afternoon with a legend. This is the title track from his new album, a reunion with Willie Mitchell, the producer for much of his 1970s output.
- Electrelane — Going Out Again
Handclaps! Wailing synths! And more besides!
Best of 2003: 24 Hour Party People (DVD)
It's a great film to begin with, but what elevates the DVD into "must-buy" status is the Tony Wilson commentary, where he spends the whole film talking about the inaccuaracies and complaining how the scriptwriters made him an idiot. It's really funny. As it's a Factory product, the design is impeccable, including a virtual map of Manchester and a fascinating look at Peter Saville's design work. I haven't watched the video commentary yet (featuring members of New Order and Miranda Sawyer), but I'm sure it's good 8-).