Welcome to HNGN's biweekly top picks, where we gather the best and brightest releases in music, fashion, beauty, tech and pop culture. Come back every other week for more of-the-moment goodness. - Edited by Michael Lello.
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MUSIC
By Michael Lello
Tedeschi Trucks Band: Let Me Get By (Fantasy Records)
The roots rock ensemble led by namesake husband-and-wife duo Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks this week release their third studio album and the first since the dissolution of the Allman Brothers Band, for which Trucks was a longtime guitar master.
Below, have a listen to the smooth-rolling and soulful “Anyhow,” the first track released from the upcoming record, which showcases Tedeschi's rich and nuanced vocals.
Sia: This Is Acting (RCA)
You might think that experimental pop artist Sia, known as much for her out-there stage presentation as her music, seemingly gave her seventh album the title “This Is Acting” as a nod to her theatricality, but it actually refers to a collection of songs she initially wrote for other artists, like Adele and Rihanna. “I’m calling it ‘This Is Acting’ because they are songs I was writing for other people, so I didn’t go in thinking ‘this is something I would say,’” Sia told NME last year. “It’s more like play-acting. It’s fun.”
Check out “Alive,” the album’s lead single, which Sia wrote for Adele (the British chanteuse rejected it “at the last minute,” according to PopCrush).
Bloc Party: Hymns (BMG)
It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a decade since Bloc Party propelled into indie rock stardom with its brilliantly icy and angular debut record, “Silent Alarm.” A lot has happened since then – frontman Keke Okereke came out, the group released the remarkable follow-up “A Weekend In The City” and continued with some hit-or-miss efforts. The British outfit is back with “Hymns,” its first album since 2012’s “Four” and the first since the departure of bassist Gordon Moakes and drummer Matt Tong and the addition of their replacements, Justin Harris and Louise Bartle.
Check out the video for the EDM-influenced “The Love Within” below:
Dream Theater: The Astonishing (Roadrunner)
Dream Theater continues to bear the torch for classic progressive rock with virtuoso musicianship, mathematics-defying tempos, lengthy songs, and of course, the concept album, one of the hallmarks of the genre. On “The Astonishing,” the prog metal band’s 13th studio album, DT takes it a step further with a 2-CD, two-act concept piece.
Check out the dramatic “Moment Of Betrayal” from the new album below:
MOVIES
By Cal Setar
The 5th Wave (Columbia Pictures)
The Earth lay mostly in ruin after four deadly waves of an attack by an unknown alien force. A young girl, Cassie (Chloe Grace Moretz) is on run, attempting to save her brother and herself as the aliens prepare their fifth and final attack. But who can she trust when if she's not sure the people around her are still people?
Dirty Grandpa (Lionsgate)
Robert De Niro stars opposite Zac Efron in this bawdy comedy romp that follows a groom-to-be (Efron) tricked into giving his perverted degenerate of a grandfather (De Niro), who also happens to be a retired Army Lieutenant-Colonel Special Forces, a trip to spring break. All manner of debauchery ensues as the straitlaced Efron tries to keep his grandfather in line and his wedding on track.
The Boy (STX Entertainment)
Greta, a young American woman, finds herself wishing she’d never taken a job as an au pair in a remote English village after it’s revealed that the family’s 8-year-old son is actually a life-sized doll the parents treat as if it were their real son who was lost to a tragic accident some 20 years prior. Trapped as she is in a strange place with people she doesn’t know, a series of strange occurrences lead Greta to question if it’s really all just unfortunate happenstance or whether the “boy” really isn’t just a doll after all.
PETS AND PET LOVERS
By Kimberly M. Aquilina
Pet Photo Cushion by Pet-Shack (£14.99/approx. $21.43)
No one should be alone on Valentine’s Day, and if you love an animal lover, you know the way to his or her heart. To show off a furry family member or to honor the memory of a pet that has since crossed the Rainbow Bridge, luxury pet boutique Pet-Shack offers (among other personalized gifts) pet photo cushions. You supply the photo and the text, and Pet-Shack creates a 34-cm-by-25-cm pillow “made from top quality upholstery grade fabric.” The cover has a zipper for easy removal and cleaning.
Species Adoption through World Wildlife Fund ($25-$100)
For your beloved who can’t have a pet, perhaps due to landlord regulations or the impracticality of caring for a pet manatee in a tiny apartment along that is also home to four human roommates, you can adopt a species in his or her name! The $55 adoption kit comes with a framed photo and personalized adoption certificate, species card and a plush toy representations. (Sorry, no one will ship a real life aye-aye to you. A stuffed animal is much easier to manage!) With 124 options, the hardest part about this gift will be choosing which group to support. “Your donation will be used in general support of WWF’s efforts around the world,” according to WWF’s website. “[Eighty-five] percent of WWF’s spending is directed to worldwide conservation activities. WWF receives high charity ratings from Charity Navigator.”
Name a Roach through the Bronx Zoo ($10-$25)
Maybe your Valentine prefers more offbeat gifts… or maybe your Valentine deserves a little less than Cupid’s best. Luckily, you can show them how you really feel by adopting a Madagascar hissing cockroach from the Bronx Zoo. Similar to the adoption gifts offered by the San Francisco zoo last year, these "gifts" allow you to express what you really mean to say without saying anything at all! For $10, you can send a digital adoption certificate informing the (un)lucky (ex)lover that his or her name now lives on in cockroach infamy. For $25, you can sweeten the deal to include a printed certificate and chocolates from Nunu Chocolates in Brooklyn, N.Y. mailed to your adored or abhorred. “Your donation will also help us protect these misunderstood love bugs, along with a lot of other animals, both big and small,” according to the zoo’s website. “As they say, roaches make the heart beat faster.”
Yoda Gets a Buddy by Beth Stern (Hardcover $12.78/Kindle $10.99)
Looking for a gift that’s a little less intense? Or perhaps for your littlest valentine to read before bed on Feb. 14? The follow-up to New York Times bestselling author Beth Stern’s “Yoda: The Story of a Cat and His Kittens” is “Yoda Gets a Buddy,” which you can order through Amazon or North Shore Animal League America. “All proceeds of ‘Yoda Gets a Buddy’ will benefit Bianca's Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center,” according to North Shore’s website. “This state-of-the-art feline-focused center will add a second floor to our existing shelter, enabling us to save the lives not only of more cats and kittens, but it will free up space for more dogs and puppies.”
To read what Stern told Headlines and Global News’ Pets Happy Zone about “Yoda Gets a Buddy” before its release, click here. To read more about North Shore Animal League America, the “world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption center,” and its new addition, Bianca’s Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center, click here to read the exclusive.
FASHION & BEAUTY
By Gina Masilotti
Lush Cosmetics Valentine’s Day Collection
Lush is known for fresh, all natural products that are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Each holiday, Lush releases awesome collections of handmade cosmetics that immediately make it to top of a gal's wish list. The 2016 Valentine’s Day Collection includes five limited-edition products that are guaranteed to put you in the mood for love. There’s a Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar, a Roses All The Way bar of soap that actually looks like a real rose, a pomegranate and vanilla-scented shower cream called Prince Charming and a lip product called The Kiss, which comes in both a shiny lip gloss and an exfoliating lip scrub. These products can be purchased separately or all together in the pre-wrapped Love and Kisses gift box for $54.95. There are also four other pre-wrapped Valentine’s Day-themed gift boxes that feature some of these products, along with some of Lush’s other best sellers.
Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Matte Rescue ($28)
If you’re a fan of Benefit’s incredible products, especially its best-selling POREfessional Face Primer, this invisible-finish mattifying gel is about to become your new best friend and the one step in your skin care routine that you never knew you needed. This lightweight primer is the perfect way to keep skin shine-free with a natural matte finish, all while instantly minimizing the appearance of pores. What this water-based gel does is absorb excess surface oil and leaves skin looking and feeling smooth, clean, matte and refreshed. Matte rescue is the last step of your skincare routine, so you put it on after you cleanse and moisturize your face and right before you put on your usual primer. This way, it can blur your pores and imperfections while your primer can still ensure that your foundation lasts all day long.
Juice Beauty PHYTO-PIGMENTS Flawless Serum Foundation ($42)
Juice Beauty’s newest foundation comes in 10 versatile shades and provides buildable coverage for a natural finish while also delivering a noticeably smoother and younger appearance. The formula is derived from plants and features an age-defying serum that will make skin look and feel beautiful without using any artificial dyes or silicones. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who is the creative director of Juice Beauty, swears by this product and the illuminating glow that it gives her skin. “The hydrating age-defying serum provides amazing coverage,” she said, according to Ulta Beauty. “[It] leaves my skin looking radiant.”
Kat Von D Shade + Light Two Tone Blush ($25)
Kat Von D Beauty just came out with a brand new product that’s guaranteed to be an instant hit. This shade and light blush combo comes in seven beautiful duos and is a silky, highly pigmented, matte formula that is perfect for not only your typical blush use but also for color-contouring, highlighting, mixing and blending. The innovative two-in-one blush shapes and defines cheeks for next-level contouring that flatters all complexions and face shapes. Kat Von D’s products have an incredible reputation for being long-lasting and staying in place, and this blush is no different as it’s guaranteed to stay vibrant for a full 24 hours of wear. Available exclusively at Sephora.
TECH
By John Nassivera
Libratone Zipp Mini ($249)
Anyone looking for a new wireless speaker that works with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can pick up the Libratone Zipp Mini. The device projects audio in 360 degrees, and its leather strap lets you hang it anywhere you want. Other features include dual 3.5-inch passive bass radiators, a 3-inch neodynium woofer and a 1-inch soft dome neodymium tweet, and you’ll be able to listen to any radio station that the app streams. The battery will last for around eight to 10 hours, and the interface lets you add up to 16 additional speakers so you can listen to music in different rooms. The Zipp Mini is available now at Libratone’s website for $249.
Asus ZenFone 2 Laser Unlocked Smartphone (3GB RAM, 32GB Storage)
Asus’ ZenFone 2 Laser is unlocked and available now for those interested in getting a new smartphone. The device comes with 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, and it’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S615 processor. Other features include a 5.5-inch IPS display, a 3000-mAh battery and a 5-MP camera on the front and a 13-MP camera on the back, and both cameras can zoom faster than ordinary smartphone cameras thanks to their laser autofocus technology. You can get the ZenFone 2 Laser at Jet.com for $232.99 or Amazon for $229.00
Samsung Gear S2 Smartwatch ($319.99)
Samsung is treating smartwatch lovers with the Gear S2, which lets you get the information you need quickly thanks to its circular face and brezel. You’ll be able to access notifications, news updates, texts and apps at a glance as well as customize the face to give it a unique look. The watch will work with Android devices running on 4.4 KitKat or later and with 1.5 GB of RAM. The Gear S2 is available now at Samsung, Amazon and other online retailers for $319.99.
DVD/BLU-RAY STREAMING RELEASES
By Emily Morgan
DVD/Blu-ray
Bridge of Spies (Walt Disney Studios)
Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg shift their focus to the Cold War in their fourth film together. In the dramatic thriller, Hanks plays James B. Donovan, an insurance lawyer recruited by the U.S. government to defend a Russian spy. He then becomes a negotiator between the U.S. and Russia when an American U2 spy pilot falls behind enemy lines and he must organize a prisoner exchange.
Special features on the Blu-ray DVD include interviews with Hanks and Spielberg, deleted scenes and the real history behind the incredible events.
Chi-Raq (Lionsgate)
Spike Lee adapts the ancient Greek play “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes for a modern-day audience, setting his film among the gang violence of Chicago.
Instead of ending the Peloponnesian War, the women of Chicago’s Englewood neighbor withhold sex from their men in an effort to end the gang violence that plagues the city’s South Side. The title is a combination of Chicago and Iraq to denote the war zone-like feel of the city’s high-crime areas.
Special features on the Blu-ray/DVD were not available.
Downton Abbey: Season 6 (PBS)
Downton Abbey has closed its doors after six seasons that captivated TV audiences on both sides of the pond. PBS’s Masterpiece wraps the Crawley family story in the year 1925 and officially concludes on New Year’s Day 1926.
Special features on the DVD include interviews with the cast, a look at the automobiles showcased on the show and how the characters and the show’s worldview evolved over the course of the series.
Other movies and TV shows available on Blu-Ray and DVD include:
- Goosebumps (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment); Burnt (Anchor Bay); The Wannabe (Entertainment One); The Last Witch Hunter (Lionsgate); Our Brand Is Crisis (Warner Home Video); Suffragette (Universal); Rock the Kasbah (Universal); Truth (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment); Big Stone Gap (Universal); Freeheld (Lionsgate); The Keeping Room (Cinedigm); Effie Gray (Universal Studios); Meadowland (Cinedigm); Man Up (Lionsgate); Hellions (Shout! Factory); Da Vinci’s Demons: Season 3 (Starz/Anchor Bay); Doctor Who: Season 9 Part 2 (BBC Home Entertainment); Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment); Falling Skies: Season 5 (Warner Home Video); From Dusk Till Dawn: Season 2 (Entertainment One); Batman: Bad Blood (Warner Home Video)
Movies and TV Streaming Online
Chelsea Does
Chelsea Handler explores four topics (drugs, marriage, racism and Silicon Valley) in depth in her new docu-series for Netflix. She travels around the globe, conducts interviews covering all different viewpoints and immerses herself in the subjects.
Netflix has all four episodes available for streaming.
Suffragette
Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan) leads an underground fight for women’s equality in the early feminist movement of Great Britain. These women used more violent tactics than the more educated suffragettes to achieve equality at the risk of losing everything.
iTunes has the film available for purchase.
Mad Dogs: Season 1
Shawn Ryan’s (“The Shield”) latest production follows four guys who travel to Belize to celebrate an old friend’s retirement, but a strange and dangerous course of events exposes dark secrets. Chris Cole adapted his British series for Amazon, which has the first season available for streaming.
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. [https://www.hngn.com/articles/164553/20151229/netflix-releases-january-2016-training-day-chelsea-does-parks-recreation.htm]
iTunes
• 400 Days
• All Mistakes Buried
• All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records
• The Angry Guest
• Band of Robbers
• Batman: Bad Blood
• The Benefactor
• Big Stone Gap
• Black Mass
• Bunny Drop: Season 1
• Burnt
• Caprice
• Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)
• Childrens Hospital: Season 7
• Chronicles of the Going Home Club
• Cinema Paradiso
• The Condemned 2
• Contracted: Phase II
• The Diary of a Teenage Girl
• Effie Gray
• The Flag of Iron
• Freeheld
• Friend Request
• Funny Bunny
• Getting On: Season 3
• A Girl Like Her
• Goosebumps
• Howl
• Intruders
• Kagemusha
• Killer Constable
• The Knick: Season 2
• Jafar Panahi’s Taxi
• Jeruzalem
• The Last Witch Hunter
• Learning to Drive
• Life Gamble
• Martyrs
• Moonwalkers
• Nurse Jackie: Season 7
• Our Brand Is Crisis
• Painkillers
• Pokemon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
• Power Rangers Dino Charge: Unleashed
• Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead
• Samba
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
• Spectre
• Speed Racer: Race to the Future
• Suffragette
• Tales from the Hood
• The Veil
• Woodlawn
Amazon
• A Better Life (available Feb. 1)
• Adaline (available Feb. 1)
• Amy (available Feb. 1)
• Batman (available Feb. 1)
• Deliver Us from Evil (available Feb. 1)
• The Fifth Element (available Feb. 1)
• The Fury (available Feb. 1)
• How to Steal a Million (available Feb. 1)
• The Identity Theft of Mitch Mustain (available Feb. 1)
• The Karate Kid (1984) (available Feb. 1)
• The Kings of Summer (available Feb. 1)
• Like Sunday, Like Rain (available Feb. 1)
• Lost in Translation (available Feb. 1)
• Mad Dogs: Season 1
• Man of Tai Chi
• Men in Black (available Feb. 1)
• Mordecai
• Night Watch (available Feb. 1)
• Nintendo Quest (available Feb. 1)
• Poldark (available Feb. 1)
• The Truth About Emanuel (available Feb. 1)
• To Be or Not to Be (available Feb. 1)
• Twelve O’Clock High (available Feb. 1)
• Waking Ned Devine
