Welcome to HNGN's weekly top picks, where we recommend the best and brightest releases in music, TV and movies, fashion and beauty, tech and more. Come back each week for more of-the-moment goodness from Coveted.
MUSIC
By Michael Lello
AC/DC: Rock Or Bust (Albert/Columbia)
AC/DC doesn't do subtlety, and the Australian hard rockers don't do envelope pushing, either. So "Rock Or Bust," the band's 15th internationally released studio album, is exactly what you'd expect, and it's also exactly what AC/DC fans want – heavy, crushing guitar riffs, insistent, driving drums and Brian Johnson's unmistakably gravelly wail.
Sadly, "Rock Or Bust" is AC/DC's first album without rhythm guitarist and songwriter Malcolm Young, who recently left the band due to health issues. His schoolboy suit-clad brother Angus remains, and their nephew, Stevie, has replaced Malcolm. Check out the title track in the video below.
Wu-Tang Clan: A Better Tomorrow (Warner Bros.)
RZA, GZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, U-God, Masta Killa, Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna and a posthumous Ol' Dirty Bastard return for "A Better Tomorrow," Wu-Tang Clan's new studio album. Watch the NSFW trailer for the re-energized hip-hop legends' new release below.
Leonard Cohen: Live In Dublin (Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings)
Leonard Cohen, the debonair and meditative singer, songwriter, poet and novelist, is 80 years old but showing no signs of wear, as documented in "Live In Dublin." The new concert film/album was captured at Dublin's O2 Arena on Sept. 12, 2013, during his sold-out 2012-13 tour promoting his "Old Ideas" album. The three-hour collection features newer material alongside Cohen classics like "Suzanne," "I'm Your Man" and "Hallelujah." Watch the trailer for the concert film below.
Little Boots: Business Pleasure (This Is Music Limited)
British singer Little Boots releases a new EP this week called "Business Pleasure," setting up her third full-length album, which is set to drop in 2015. The track blends bold beats and emotional lyrics as Little Boots - real name, Victoria Christina Hesketh - continues to blur the lines between pop and electronica. Listen to the title track from "Business Pleasure" below.
MOVIES
By Jordan Webb
Wild (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Reese Witherspoon stars as Cheryl Strayed, a woman who embarks on a 1,100-mile hike by herself as a means to cope with a recent tragedy and to rediscover herself. The biopic is director Jean-Marc Vallee's follow-up to Dallas Buyers Club. Watch the trailer below.
Pioneer (Magnolia Pictures)
Set at the beginning of the 1980s Norwegian Oil Boom, the film follows a deep-sea diver who is hired by an oil company to dive 500 meters to help establish a pipeline. Driven by his passion and his sense of adventure, Petter (Aksel Hennie) soon finds himself over his head in this thriller. Watch the trailer below.
Comet (IFC Films)
Justin Long and Emmy Rossum star in this romantic drama that follows the relationship of two unlikely lovers. Billed as a "cosmic love story," the film shows the ups and downs of Dell and Kimberly's six-year relationship through a dream-like nonlinear narrative. Watch the trailer below.
TECH
By John Nassivera
Pebble Smartwatch for iPhone and Android
Pebble's smartwatch, usable on iOS and Android devices, is available now. Users will be provided notifications from email, text, caller ID, calendar and apps. The smartwatch also has a variety of downloadable watch faces and apps available. You will be able to control music from iTunes, Pandora, and Spotify, all without having to charge the device for 5-7 days. Smartwatch fans can get the device on Amazon and other retailers for $99.99.
Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor
This heart rate monitor is designed to record an accurate heart rate while you exercise. The water resistant (30m) device comes with a heart rate strap and a replaceable battery, and uses GymLink to work with gym equipment. The Polar FT4 is available in blue/orange, silver, blue, green and purple/pink at Amazon and other retailers for $57.50.
Narrative Clip Wearable Camera
The Narrative Clip Wearable Camera lets you capture and store awesome photos. All you have to do is double tap the device, and you can put it to sleep by placing it face down. The camera will take two photos per minute, can store up to 6,000 photos and its battery can last for up to 30 hours. You can get the Narrative Clip in black or white at Amazon and other retailers for $229.
DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES
By Emily Morgan
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Twentieth Century Fox)
The surviving human population of a devastating virus and genetically enhanced apes clash again in this sequel to the 2011 film “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” The ape leader Caesar must protect his species while trying to keep peace between the two factions.
Special features on the Blu-Ray/DVD include audio commentary and deleted scenes with optional commentary from director Matt Reeves. Two features take a look at the motion capture technology used by Andy Serkis to play Caesar and another spotlights other visual effects on the film.
The Hundred-Foot Journey (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment)
Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey teamed up for the first time since working together on the 1985 film “The Color Purple” to co-produce this movie starring Helen Mirren.
The Oscar-winning actress plays an outstanding French chef who faces new competition from an Indian family that recently immigrated to France. Mirren co-stars with Om Puri, Manish Dayal and Charlotte Le Bon.
Special features on the Blu-Ray/DVD include a conversation with Spielberg and Winfrey, cast and crew interviews and a set visit guided by Winfrey. Indian Chef Anil Sharma also demonstrates how to make coconut chicken.
Justified: The Complete Fifth Season (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
The FX series will wrap up its final season starting on Jan. 20, but fans can catch up on the penultimate season now on DVD.
U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens must deal with the South Florida family, the Crowes, who are trying to relocate to Harlan. Boyd Crowder partners with Dixie Mafia’s Wynn Duffy as he tries to free his fiancé Ava from prison.
Special features on the Blu-Ray/DVD include audio commentary on two episodes and deleted scenes. Also spotlighted is Elmore Leonard, whose work inspired “Justified,” and there is a featurette on all the characters who died in season five.
Other Movies and TV Shows Available on Blu-Ray and DVD include:
• As Above, So Below (Universal Studios)
• The Congress (Cinedigm)
• The Hero of Color City (Magnolia Home Entertainment)
• Gunshot Straight (Lionsgate)
• Jingle All The Way 2 (Twentieth Century Fox)
• Kite (Anchor Bay)
• Trailer Park Boys: Don’t Legalize It (Screen Media)
• Legend of Korra: Book Three (Nickelodeon)
• Broad City: Season 1 (Comedy Central)
• The Simpsons: Season 17 (Twentieth Century Fox)
• The Strain: Season 1 (Twentieth Century Fox)
Movies and TV Streaming Online
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Paramount Pictures)
Ron Burgundy and the Channel Four News team are back and this time they’re taking on the 24-hour news cycle. Ron and his girlfriend Veronica Corningstone are anchoring the news in New York, but when Veronica gets promoted and Ron doesn’t, he heads back to San Diego with the gang.
He’s not on the West Coast long when an executive producer for a new media outlet called Global News Network comes knocking. Ron climbs his way back to the top, but his fame may not last long.
Netflix and Amazon will have the film available for streaming on Dec. 6.
American Horror Story: Coven (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
Ryan Murphy’s haunting anthology series returns for a third season. This installment centers on a witches coven in New Orleans.
Coven features many stars from the first two seasons, including Frances Conroy, Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe and Robin Bartlett.
Netflix will have all three seasons available for streaming by Dec. 6.
The Skeleton Twins
Former “Saturday Night Live” co-stars Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader reunite on the big screen in this indie flick about estranged twins.
Milo and Maggie Dean have not spoken for 10 years, but manage to cheat death on the same day. When the siblings meet again, they try to mend their relationship and, in so doing, fix their own lives.
iTunes has the film available for purchase.
Check out our complete list of movies available for streaming on Netflix this month and see below for more options on Amazon Prime and for purchase at iTunes.
Amazon Prime
• Goldfinger (available Dec. 1)
• Troop Beverly Hills (available Dec. 1)
• Life After Beth (available Dec. 1)
• Monkey Business (available Dec. 1)
• We Need to Talk About Kevin (available Dec. 1)
• Apocalypse Now (available Dec. 1)
• Saturday Night Fever (available Dec. 1)
• The Deadly Bees (available Dec. 1)
• A League of Their Own (available Dec. 1)
• A Perfect Day (available Dec. 1)
• Air Force One (available Dec. 1)
• 12 O’Clock Boys (available Dec. 1)
• Friday the 13th: Entire Serie (available Dec. 1)
• Madeline (available Dec. 4)
• Stand By Me (available Dec. 4)
• Legends of the Fall (available Dec. 4)
• Fly Away Home (available Dec. 4)
• Stuart Little 2 (available Dec. 4)
• Borgman (available Dec. 6)
iTunes
• Maze Runner
• Magic in the Moonlight
• This is Where I Leave You
• Levitated Mass
• Tusk
• I, Origins
• 100 Foot Journey
• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
• Boardwalk Empire Season 5
FASHION & BEAUTY
By Oulimata Ba
Charming Charlie Accessories Retailer
This accessory lover's paradise offers inexpensive jewelry in every color imaginable. Walk in any of Charming Charlie's locations and you're greeted with a jaw-dropping display of gold, red, silver, purple and green divided into sections by color. Trust me, you won't know which shiny bauble to look at first, as I discovered firsthand during a trip to a Charming Charlie store in Canada last week.
They sell earrings, necklaces and rings to match everything, even that puke-green watch your cousin gave you but you kept anyway.
The award-winning retailer has stores in most U.S. states as well as a fully stocked online store. Prices range from $8 to $40.
Aldo Shoes Accessories
While nothing new, Aldo's accessory line deserves a shout out this week because it offers costume jewelry that, in my personal experience, never rusts or fades. The good stuff at most places is too expensive (which is why the only Swarovski earrings I own were a gift) and many of the more affordable items from elsewhere start turning colors within a month.
Aldo's jewelry, like the shoes, is affordable, so keep that in mind when shopping for your holiday party ensemble.
Gold-Tone Multi-Disc Headband (Guess, $29.50)
Once the jewelry shopping is out the way you can adorn your head with this eye-catching headband from Guess. It's decorated with tiny, round golden discs so you can enter any party like an Egyptian goddess.
Metallic Lip Tar (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, $18)
This is a highly recommended choice for anyone searching for a glamorous holiday lipstick.
OCC's metallic lip tar comes in burgundy, maroon, fuchsia and peach-gold, among other colors, infused with what OCC calls "hi-resolution metallic pigments." I have no idea what that means, but when I tried the lip tar in blackened burgundy with red pearl, it was one of the most insanely bold lipsticks I've ever worn. It's like my lips were turned into a glimmering disco ball -- in a good way.
Like many of OCC's lip tars, this line comes in a mini toothpaste-like tube with a lip brush.
Si (Giorgio Armani Eau de Parfum, $28)
A personal favorite and one of Sephora's bestsellers, this 2013 fragrance offers hypnotic scents of musky blond wood and blackcurrant nectar. But my favorite part of wearing this is at the end of the day when I smell my wrists to see if it's still there -- you know you do it too -- and it smells like spicy vanilla. 'Tis divine.
The smallest size is a 1-oz. bottle for $70, which crushed my perfume dreams. However, Si is available as a rollerball for $28, which I am the proud owner of.
ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR CAR
By Amanda Bernocco
Heated Ice Scraper (Sharper Image)
The winter is a dangerous time for driving. Stubborn pieces of ice are often left on the windshield after a snowstorm, and unnecessary blind spots are created as a result. This is why we love the heated ice scraper that plugs right into your car’s cigarette lighter. The heat from the ice scraper melts the ice stuck on the car and then the rubber squeegee attached allows you to easily wipe away the excess water.
Glove Box Car Jump Starter (Sharper Image)
Can you imagine a world where your car battery dying is such a minor issue that you don’t even need to leave your driver’s seat to fix it? We didn’t until our eyes fell on this glove box car jump starter. The jump starter plugs right into your car’s cigarette lighter and transfers power to your car battery through your vehicle’s internal wiring. The jump starter is small enough to store in your glove box and can recharge a dead battery in only 10 minutes.
Mini Vehicle-Mounted Car Humidifier (Amazon)
This humidifier attaches to the air vents in your car, eliminating any odors, dust or static electricity (which is harmful to your car). Although the 13-centimeter tall humidifier is marketed for a car, it can also be used on a desk in a small, stuffy office.
Heated Steering Wheel Cover (Sharper Image)
There aren’t too many things more dreadful than getting into your car on a winter morning and grasping an ice-cold steering wheel. You need to get your hands on – literally – a heated steering wheel cover to quickly fix this problem. Sharper Image’s heated steering wheel cover has a built-in heating element that keeps the entire top half of the wheel warm with three levels of heat. It fits most standard-sized steering wheels.
Roadside Safety Kit (Sky Mall)
There is nothing more important than safety, which is why we never drive without this 60-piece roadside safety kit in our trunk – just in case. The kit, only 11 inches by 8 inches, manages to fit anything you could possibly need when stuck on the side of the road organized inside. Some of the items in the kit include an emergency blanket, first-aid pouch, tissues, multi-tools, zip ties, safety vest, work gloves, duct tape, help sign, jumper cables, a rain poncho and rope.
(Editing by Nicholas Parco and Michael Lello. Want to be considered for Coveted? Send your product information, with photos, to m.bullerdick@hngn.com or send product samples to Michael Q. Bullerdick HNGN/33 Universal, 33 Whitehall Street - 7th Floor, New York, NY 10004.)
