Laetst releases reviewed

VARIOUS
Style Wars
Public Art Films
****

This reissue of Tony Silver's fascinating 1983 look at the world of New York subway graffiti writers is a timely reminder of hip-hop's streetwise roots. Back in those days, hip-hop was just beginning to take baby steps beyond its South Bronx birthplace, and the graffiti that appeared on subway cars was perhaps the most prominent mainstream manifestation of that culture. For every b-boy who digged seeing his or her tag criss-crossing the city, there was always a policeman, subway manager or city official who detested these giant rolling artworks and what they represented. The ease and skill with which Silver captures the energy and enthusiasm of the subway kids covertly working on their metallic canvases still impresses, as does the vintage footage of seminal breakdance crews in action. Aside from the original flick, this two-DVD set also features various out-takes, interviews with leading artists and a whole slew of graf galleries. www.stylewars.com Jim Carroll

VARIOUS
Shelter from the Storm
20th Century Fox
**

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which last year devastated areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, the six US television networks worked together to produce this one-hour commercial-free simulcast. It's certainly a mixed bag: in between the emotive news footage are celeb introductions (Bruce Willis, Jennifer Aniston, Jack Black, Julia Roberts, Morgan Freeman, Cameron Diaz), celeb telethons (Jack Nicholson, Dennis Quaid and others manning the phones) and mostly static, staid in-studio performances (Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Garth Brooks). The only signs of sparks are from Neil Young, Kanye West, Foo Fighters, Dr John, and U2 & Mary J Blige, whose co-vocal take on One lifts an already over-familiar song into the realm of pure inspirational soul. There are no DVD extras, virtually no sense of occasion (One is performed in an empty arena) and a distinct feeling that goodwill has been superseded by budget dictates. Pity.