At home tonight

Willy Vlautin has made several records as Richmond Fontaine that you've probably never heard, which is a shame if you are a fan of literate modern country in the style of Wilco or Son Volt.

Literate is the key word here. These songs are succinct, poetic dispatches from America's desolate Mid West, full of potent cinematic imagery and equally cinematic characters.

Scattered throughout are 'postcards' from one Walter Denny as he drifts through listless motel rooms, and the whole fabulous, dislocated narrative is set against restless drums, old battered guitars and echoing pedal steel. Splendid.

DVD
Blue Velvet
Sanctuary Visual Entertainment
*****

The definitive weird movie, and still David Lynch's best, this psychosexual thriller takes a closer look at the depravities of small-town America in a way that, 18 years after it was made, still leaves films like American Beauty panting far behind.

Kyle MacLachlan is the ordinary boy who discovers a severed ear, which leads him to masochistic Isabella Rossellini (pictured) and psychopathic Dennis Hopper.

This two-disc special edition includes a remastered version of the film, a new doc and JG Ballard's review from the BBC's archives.