Welcome to HNGN's weekly top picks, where we cull 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.
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MUSIC
By Michael Lello
Neil Young + Promise Of The Real: The Monsanto Years (Reprise/ Warner Bros.)
With songs like the anti-George W. Bush screed "Let's Impeach The President," Neil Young has established himself as a guy who isn't afraid to use his music to sling barbs at the establishment. But this time Young has penned an entire concept album aimed squarely at Monsanto, the U.S. agribusiness corporation, a curious artistic decision for sure.
Backed by the band Promise Of The Real, which features Willie Nelson's son Lukas Nelson, Young is in full 1960s protest mode. Sometimes he connects – like on the gentle, haunting "Wolf Moon," which recalls his "Harvest" era, or in the hippie rock of "People Want To Hear." Is it among Young's finest albums? No. But that's a tough pantheon to crack.
Check out the video for "Wolf Moon" below.
Miguel: Wildheart (ByStorm Entertainment/RCA)
R&B star Miguel returns with his first album since 2012's successful "Kaleidoscope Dream." With guest appearances by Lenny Kravitz and Kurupt, the Los Angeles native aims for the reception he's gotten in the past with No. 1 tracks like "Sure Thing" and "Quickie."
Check out the official video for "Coffee" below.
Good Old War: Broken Into Better Shape (Nettwerk Records)
It's easy to miss a good band in the overcrowded indie-folk world, but Good Old War deserves your attention. The Philadelphia-area songsmiths share some commonalities with fellow Philly rockers Dr. Dog, but where Dr. Dog is a shaggier beast, Good Old War is less experimental and more concerned with melodic hooks. The band's new album, "Broken Into Better Shape," is a collection of catchy tunes perfect for a breezy summer day.
Check out the wistful title track below.
Senses Fail: Pull The Thorns From Your Heart (Pure Noise Records)
Situated snugly somewhere between post-hardcore and emo, Senses Fail have built a loyal following since forming more than a decade ago in New Jersey.
Hear for yourself below in the unabashedly heart-on-sleeve "My Fear Of An Unlived Life."
MOVIES
By Cal Setar
Terminator Genisys (Paramount)
John and Sarah Connor, and yes, The Arnold, are back again for the first in what is expected to be a new trilogy of standalone films.
This time, the year is 2029 and John is the leader of the human resistance. A new SkyNet plot, calling for attacking pesky humans in the past and in the future, forces John to send a hand-picked soldier back to the time before the war to keephis mother, Sarah, safe.
Once the soldier arrives in the past, however, nothing goes as planned.
Minions (Universal)
The Minions exist for one purpose – to serve the most despicable being on the planet. Finding masters has always been easy. Keeping them is the hard part.
In this "Despicable Me" prequel, Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob land in New York City in 1968, 42 years before they meet Gru. The trio are recruited by super-villain Scarlet Overkill and her inventor husband Herb to take over the world, while Gru is recruited by an organization to stop them.
Magic Mike XXL (Warner Bros.)
Three years after Mike Lane left the stripping world, he's finally coming to terms with the realization that he misses the excitement and fun of being on stage.
But Mike also misses the friendship and camaraderie he shared with the best friends he ever had, the Kings of Tampa crew. Good thing the guys just look Mike up as they travel through Myrtle Beach, S.C., because soon after they're all on their way to a stripper convention, and Mike can't help but be swept up in the good times.
Amy (A24)
"Amy" is a documentary detailing the too-short life of six-time Grammy Award-winner Amy Winehouse. More important, it does it in Amy's own words.
Winehouse was a one-of-a-kind jazz vocalist who used her raw talent and heart-wrenching honesty to create pieces which highlighted her issues with relationships and drug and alcohol abuse – issues which were exacerbated once the bright lights of fame began to shine.
Directed by Asif Kapadia, the documentary features extensive and formerly unseen archive footage along with unheard tracks from the late Winehouse.
FASHION & BEAUTY
By Oulimata Ba
Christian Louboutin Nude Collection And Scarabée Nail Polish
Amazon adds two of the most popular '80s dance flicks to its streaming content this week.
Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze star in "Dirty Dancing," the classic star-crossed lovers tale that takes place at an upstate New York family resort in 1963. Grey plays the privileged young woman, Baby, who falls in love with the camp's dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze). The couple must fight family expectations and social pressures to make their love last.
Jennifer Beals made her debut in "Flashdance" as a young woman living in Pittsburgh who works two jobs - one as a welder and the other as an exotic dancer - but she really dreams of joining a professional dance company.
Amazon has both films 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.
iTunes
• Maggie
• Paul Blart: Mall Cop
• Last Knights
• I Am Evel Knievel
• Avalanche Sharks
• Dior and I
• It Follows
• The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• Home
• The Longest Ride
• Ex Machina
• Woman in Gold
• Big Game
• Into the Grizzly Maze
• 7 Minutes
• The Strongest Man
• A Little Chaos
- Underdog Kids
• Teen Beach 2
• '71
• The Forger
• Horsehead
• The Giant Spider Invasion (1975)
• Ping Pong: The Animation (Complete Series)
• Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle
• Ghoul
• #1 Serial Killer
• Creep
• Motivation 2: The Chris Cole Story
• A Dangerous Game
• Advantageous
• Big in Japan
• Duck Dynasty: Season 8
Amazon
• Covert Affairs: Season 5
• Katy Perry: The Prismatic World Tour
• The Mist
• 48 Hrs
• The Bad News Bears (1976)
• The Brady Bunch Movie
• Bulworth
• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
• The Butcher's Wife
• The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
• Dirty Dancing
• Downton Abbey: Season 5
• Dragonslayer
• Drive Me Crazy
• Flashdance
• Friends and Lovers
• Harlem Nights
• Heaven Can Wait
• Heidi
• King Kong (2005)
• Odd Couple
• Star Trek VI
• Stuart Saves His Family
• Thumbelina
• UHF
• The Warriors
• Wayne's World 2
• Glory (available July 2)
• Underworld (available July 2)
• Gandhi (available July 3)
• Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (available July 3)
• Extant: Season 2 (available July 5)
