Welcome to HNGN's top picks, where we curate the best and brightest releases in music, fashion, beauty, tech and pop culture. Come back every other week for more of-the-moment goodness. – Editing by Michael Lello

MUSIC
By Michael Lello

Alabama Shakes: Sound & Color (ATO Records)
Rootsy blues rockers Alabama Shakes certainly shook things up with their 2012 debut album, "Boys & Girls." Now Brittany Howard and company try to shake the dreaded sophomore slump and sustain that early success with "Sound & Color," their second album. Below, check out the song "Don't Wanna Fight," which is bubbling over with soul, funk and rock flavors.

Passion Pit: Kindred (Columbia Records)
The ubiquitous electronica act Passion Pit – now back to consisting solely of founding member Michael Angelakos – releases its third album, "Kindred," this week, and it's a typically sugary Passion Pit affair. Hear and see for yourself in the video below for the sundrenched single "Lifted Up (1985).

Adam Lambert: Ghost Town (42 West)
Glamberts rejoice! Superstar singer Adam Lambert's third album, "The Original High," won't be out until June 16, but you can hear the first single, "Ghost Town," now. All pre-orders of the new album via Lambert's official website will include an instant download of the new tune; give it a spin before you buy it in the lyric video below.

Blur: The Magic Whip (Warner Bros.)
In the '90s, the Oasis vs. Blur feud overtook the British music press. With Oasis calling it quits in 2009, Blur is the last band standing, and the group returns next week with "The Magic Whip," its first album in 16 years to feature its original lineup: Damon Albarn, Graham Coxson, Alex James and Dave Rowntree. With early Blur producer Stephen Street jumping on board, it's a full-on Britpop revival.

Check out the lads' video for "Lonesome Street" below.

TECH
By John Nassivera

Garmin Vivoactive Fitness Smartwatch

Garmin is releasing a new gadget for fitness fanatics that acts as both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker. The Vivoactive sends you notification alerts through vibrations to your smartphone for text messages, calls and emails.It also features support for third-party apps and a GPS for activity tracking. The smart gadget can track factors like steps taken, calories burned, distance traveled and the number of hours youy sleep each night. Users can wear it in the pool and while taking a shower. Get the Garmin Vivoactive fitness tracker now for $250 – $300 if you're interested in the optional wireless heart-rate strap.

Philips A19 60W LED Bulb

Philips is now selling an A19 60W-equivalent LED bulb in a partnership with Home Depot, trumpeting it as the cheapest bulb of its kind. The bulb puts out 800 lumens, requires only 8.5 watts of power and will last for 10 years, as opposed to basic LEDs, which usually last for about 20 years. You can get the LED now at online stores. Philips is making it available in a two-for-one pack for Home Depot stores during the beginning of May. The best thing about the bulb? It costs just $5.

Belkin WeMo Switch and Motion Sensor
Belkin's WeMo Switch and Motion Sensor is available now for anyone looking for something they can use to control their appliances and electronics from anywhere in the house. For instance, just plug a space heater or lamp into the gadget, and you'll be able to power them on from wherever you are in your home. You'll never have to walk into a cold dark room again. 

The nifty device comes with Wi-Fi compatibility and works with any phone or tablet using the Apple iOS operating system (v5 or higher). Users will also be able to add extra WeMo Switches and Sensors whenever they want. The WeMo is available now at Amazon for $73.68.

MOVIES
By Jordan Webb

Little Boy (Open Road Films)
Desperate to bring his father home from World War II, an 8-year-old boy will do anything he can to end the war. This heartwarming tale of the love between a father and a son captures the surreal wonder of the world as seen through a child's eyes.

The Water Diviner (Warner Bros.)
Russell Crowe stars and directs this World War I film about a father in search of his three missing sons. Crowe plays an Australian farmer who travels to Turkey following the Battle of Gallipolli in hopes of finding his children – who fought in the battle – alive.

Adult Beginners(RADiUS-TWC)
A self-involved entrepreneur blows it on the eve of his company's big launch, forcing him to leave New York City for the suburbs to live with his estranged sister, brother-in-law and 3-year-old nephew, for whom he eventually ends up becoming the nanny. Nick Kroll, Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale star in this R-rated comedy about family and putting your life back together.

FASHION & BEAUTY
By Oulimata Ba

ColourPop.com

This Los Angeles-based makeup company believes the "whole barrier between fancy and affordable is absolute nonsense," and I agree wholeheartedly. Why should I have to drop $30 for quality lipstick?

Thanks to my makeup enthusiast aunt, I was introduced to this unique website that offers troves of bold eye shades, romantic cheek colors and lipsticks all priced between $5 and $8. The $5 "lippie pencil" – a true must-have – should be worn underneath a matching $5 "lippie stix" color that prevents the pigment from "bleeding" over your lips.

Still have lingering doubts? What sold me was the product's webpage which features three individuals of different complexions sampling products on their wrists. It's an ingenious way of determining if a color works on your skin hue, sparing you the agony of buying it only to discover out you made a costly mistake.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate
This inexpensive French cleanser promises to leave your skin plump using a formula rich in shea butter and soy protein. The company has apparently been around since the '80s and is all the rage with makeup artists and celebrities. What makes it worth the while, however, is that it's a cleanser, moisturizer, makeup remover, facial mask and primer in one! Sold at Net-a-porter.com for $16.

Henri Bendel Flutterfly Print Barrel handbag

The graceful butterfly design on this work of art has me recalling comforting childhood times spent looking through a kaleidoscope. While I wish there were more real butterflies floating around New York City, Henri Bendel came close with this blue Saffiano leather bag with gold accents and satin lining, on sale now for $298.80.

JeanStories.com
Avid Coveted readers know I've ranted about feeling betrayed by jean retailers for selling super-thin denim that stretches when worn and never bounces back (Jeans are meant to last!). I can now lay my angst to rest because I'm not alonein this belief. Fashion editor Jane Bishop co-founded an entire website, JeanStories.com, dedicated to denim and filled with tales of what's new, what's vintage and tales of the hunt for that special pair of indigo wash skinny jeans.

JeanStories is the fashion Holy Grail for long-lasting, good quality denim of yore.

GARDENING ESSENTIALS
By Amanda Bernocco

Leaf Mulcher (Sun Joe ) ($149)

Sick and tired of bagging leftover fall leaves? If so, then the Sun Jo Leaf Mulcher is a must-have. It easily shreds old leaves, creating the mulch you were just about to go out and buy and the big box garden supply store. Even better: the mulcher gets rid of your old leaves without the need for plastic bags that wind up in landfills. What could be better? Get it here.

40-Volt Electric Cordless Straight Shaft String Trimmer (Black + Decker) ($149)
We love this electric lawn and garden trimmer because of its efficiency and the way it reduces your carbon footprint at the same time. The trimmer's power output is adjustable so you can use the same tool for all of your trimming and edging needs. Get it here.

Foldaway Garden Kneeler Seat (Gardman) ($29.93)

If you love gardening but hate getting grass stains on your favorite pants, this tool is for you. The foldable design is the main selling point – it can be adjusted to suit a kneeling or sitting position - whichever you prefer. Get it here.

GardenWatchCam with Flash Drive (Brinno) ($229.35)
This 1.3 megapixel time-lapse camera captures your garden's growth so you can see how your plants grew over time and then post some of your own time-lapse photography to the Internet. The device sits on the ground by your plants and can be programmed to snap pictures at various intervals and then stores them on the flash drive. Get it here.

Eight-Piece Garden Tool and Tote Set (Master Craft) ($27.83)
While there are a lot of really innovative gardening gadgets out there, the right tool for the right job leads to success. And nothing does that better than a good basic gardening tool set. This one,which features eight-pieces, comes with everything you need in one small tote that helps to keep you organized. Get it here:

DVD/BLU-RAY
By Emily Morgan

Cake (20th Century Fox)

Jennifer Aniston serves up a powerful, dramatic performance portraying a woman suffering from chronic pain. The role earned the "Friends" star Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations.

Aniston plays Claire Bennett, a woman who struggling with prescription drug abuse who becomes obsessed with the suicide of a young woman from her support group. All that leads to Claire having to face her own demons.

Daniel Barnz directed the film that also stars Felicity Huffman, Adriana Barraza, Sam Worthington, William H. Macy and Anna Kendrick.

Special features on the Blu-ray/DVD include audio commentary by Barnz, interviews with the cast, and a featurette titled "The Many Layers of Cake: Learning to Live Again."

Maps to the Stars (Universal Studios)

Julianne Moore leads a stellar cast in this dark satire about the cost of a Hollywood career told from two different perspectives: a child star and a struggling, older actress.

Moore plays Havana Segrand, an aging actress still living in the shadow of her legendary movie star mother. Mia Wasikowska plays her personal assistant who recently arrived in Los Angeles in hopes of reconnecting with her estranged parents and younger child-star brother Benjie.

The David Cronenberg film also stars John Cusack, Robert Pattinson, Olivia Williams, Sarah Gadon and Evan Bird.

There are no special features on the Blu-ray/DVD.

Getting On: Season 2 (HBO Studios)
The British remake is the HBO comedy you're not watching but probably should be.

The medical comedy takes place in the extended care unit of a down-and-out hospital in Long Beach, Calif. The show stars Laurie Metcalf, Alex Borstein, Niecy Nash and Mel Rodriguez.

In season two, the insecure head nurse Dawn (Borstein) believes she's pregnant, and Dr. Jenna James (Metcalf) runs a hospice scam to collect extra money for her research studies. The six-episode season ends with a surprise wedding.

Special features on the Blu-ray/DVD have yet to be announced.

Other Movies and TV Shows Available on Blu-Ray and DVD include:

The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (20th Century Fox); Big Eyes (Anchor Bay); The Babadook (Shout! Factory); Taken 3 (20th Century Fox); Antarctica: A Year on Ice (Music Box Films); Candlestick (Workbus); God Help the Girl (Anchor Bay); Enter the Dangerous Mind (Well Go USA); John Doe: Vigilante (Arc Entertainment); Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (Alchemy); The Man with Iron Fists 2 (Universal Studios); The Missing (Anchor Bay); Whitney (Lionsgate); You're Not You (Entertainment One); Everly (Anchor Bay); Fortitude (PBS - Direct); [REC] 4: Apocalypse (SPE); Batman vs. Robin (Warner Home Video); Little Accidents (Anchor Bay); Marine 4: Moving Target (20th Century Fox); The Musketeers: Season 2 (BBC Home Entertainment)

Movies and TV Streaming Online

American Sniper

Political controversy surrounding this Clint Eastwood film built quickly throughout the 2015 awards season but it wasn't enough to stop the film from racking up six Oscar nominations and a win. The movie stars Bradley Cooper as the late Chris Kyle, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history.

Left-leaning critics believed the film served to oversimplify war, specifically the operations in Iraq when the film takes place. But Eastwood and Cooper defend the film, seeing as a statement about the difficult road America veterans face – even during their transition back into civilian family life.

iTunes has the film available for purchase.

Selma

Directed by Ava DuVernay, the movie follows Martin Luther King Jr. and his fellow leaders James Bevel, Hosea Williams and future Congressman John Lewis as they organized in Alabama to protest the voting restrictions that disenfranchised mostly people of color. It also showed King's struggle to find presidential support from Lyndon B. Johnson (a cause of controversy for those who argued the president played a critical role in the Civil Rights Movement). The historical accuracy of the film's pivotal scene - in which Oprah Winfrey's character, Annie Lee Cooper, is beaten by a sheriff - was questioned by a sheriff's deputy's son in an exclusive interview with HNGN, as well.

David Oyelow starred as King alongside Carmen Ejogo, who played King's wife Coretta Scott. The film also starred Tim Roth and Tom Wilkinson, who played President Johnson.

iTunes has the film available for purchase.

Sons of Anarchy: Season 7

The final season of the FX series finds Jackson "Jax" Teller still reeling from the loss of his true love Tara and seeking vengeance for her death. His mother Gemma, responsible for Tara's death, must face her own demons in the wake of her actions.

The last season also featured one of the most sexually explicit scenes ever aired on basic cable and finished with a shocking conclusion.

Season seven stars Charlie Hunnam (Jax), Katey Sagal (Gemma), Mark Boone Junior, Dayton Callie, Kim Coates, Drea de Matteo, Tommy Flanagan, David LaBrava, Niko Nicotera, Theo Rossi and Jimmy Smits.

Amazon and Netflix will have all Season 7 episodes available for streaming on April 25.

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.

iTunes

•  The Man with Iron Fists 2

•  The Babadook

•  The Boy Next Door

•  The Wedding Ringer

•  I Am Steve McQueen

•  Death Defying Acts

•  Power Rangers Super Megaforce: Vol. 3 The Perfect Storm

•  Class of 1984

•  Babygirl

•  Paddington

•  Ridiculousness Vol. 10

• The Pyramid

•  Monsters: Dark Continent

•  The Road Within

•  Alex of Venice

•  Dog with a Blog Vol. 6

•  Bella and the Bulldogs Vol. 2

• Girls: Season 4

•  Aftermath

•  Amazonia Eterna

•  The Coven

•  Crystal Skulls

•  America the Beautiful 3: The Sexualization of Our Youth

•  Bleaching Black Culture

•  Diplomacy

•  The Walking Deceased

•  Butterfly Girl

•  Mr. Turner

•  Emptying the Skies

•  1915: The Movie

• Citizenfour (available April 24)

•  24 Days (available April 24)

Amazon

•  Craig Ferguson: Does This Need to be Said?

•  Leprechaun

•  Still Life

•  Ping Pong Summer

• They Came Together

•  Noah

• Son of a Gun