Culture Diary, Week Commencing 22/08/2011

Mon 22/08

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks - Mirror Traffic
More superior, stilted, americana from slacker icon and Pavement alumni Malkmus. Ably supported by his Jicks (minus Janet Weiss, off forming her own super-group, Wild Flag), this is his 5th post  -Pavement record, and arguably the best. More a continuum than revolution (or even evolution), Mirror Traffic  (produced by Beck) is proof, if it were needed, that there's life after the 90's best band, if you want it.
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/14/138957392/first-listen-stephen-malkmus-and-the-jicks-mirror-traffic

Thurs 25/08

The Thespians @ The Shipping Forecast, 19:30, £4
Spiky post punky-pop from the Liverpool-based band whose debut album The Crash was released earlier this year. Featured recently in Bido Lito! magazine, The Thesps enjoy a growing reputation in certain quarters, and for £4 and with support, they're worth a look if you're at a loose end this Thursday.
http://www.theshippingforecastliverpool.com/2011/07/bido-lito-harvest-sun-presents-4/

Fri 26/08

The Skin I Live In
Set in a possible near future, Pedro Almodovar's eagerly awaited latest tells the story of a maverick plastic surgeon, working on a 'skin' that cannot burn. The twist is that he has a guinea pig, in the form of the beautiful Vera (played by Elena Anaya), held against her will. It stars Antonio Banderas, back working with Almodovar for the first time in years, and is described by the director as "a horror story without screams or frights."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcEdhBx6U9c