The latest releases reviewed

THE WHO Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who Universal *****

This brilliant documentary about The Who, one of the most important rock groups of the past 50 years, is aptly titled; there can be very few bands of their era whose story produces such gasps of combined shock, awe and mirth.

Sex, death, drugs and rock'n'roll are wrapped up here in a package where tragedy wakes up with euphoria. While a previous documentary The Kids Are Alrightmeandered amiably over the first 15 years of the band, Amazing Journeyoffically documents events from the start to the present day, picking up along the way inner-circle figures (Daltry, Townshend, the management team of Chris Stamp and Bill Curbishly) and notable talking heads (The Edge, Noel Gallagher, Eddie Veder).

Factor in never-before-seen outtakes and incredible live footage and you have essential viewing for anyone with even half an interest in rock music. www.thewhomovie.com

THE ROYAL SHOWBAND The Royal Showband Story IFI/EMI ***

This IFI archived film isn't really the story of Waterford's Royal Showband- one of the most successful of their kind in the 1960s - but rather an arty eagle's eye view of a part of their success.

Some of the story- boarded aspects reflect the corny gravitas of British kitchen- sink dramas, but it's the on-stage and behind-the-scenes sections that ring true.

Today's hipsters may smile and smirk at the haircuts and music, but there's no denying that the band, on a constant trail of one-nighters traversing the length and breadth of Ireland, worked their cotton socks off in the pursuit of fortune, if not fame.

A curio item in terms of nascent Irish rock music, then, but one with insight, humour and not a little daring.