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 and Nicholas Parco.
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MUSIC
By Michael Lello
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds: Chasing Yesterday (SourMash)
As the chief songwriter in Oasis, Noel Gallagher wrote some of the most memorable songs of the 1990s. Since the demise of the Britpop giants amid his acrimonious split with frontman brother Liam, Gallagher has turned his attention to his own group, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. “Chasing Yesterday,” his second album under the avian-inspired moniker, is roughly what we’ve come to expect from him: big, brash songs with melody for miles.
Check out the video for the propulsive “Ballad Of The Mighty I”:
Madonna: Rebel Heart (Boy Toy/Live Nation/Interscope)
More than 30 years since Madonna launched her career, she continues to provoke. On “Rebel Heart,” she explores topics ranging from Armageddon to the Illuminati while bringing in musical themes that go beyond the dance-floor vibe of her previous record, 2012’s “MDNA.”
Will Butler: Policy (Merge)
In Arcade Fire, Will Butler is the lesser-known Butler, standing in the shadow of his brother Win Butler’s imposing figure. On “Policy,” the younger sibling makes a first solo statement that doesn’t veer too far from the Arcade Fire blueprint, especially on “Anna” (see the video below). However, “Policy” employs less grandiosity than your average Arcade Fire album, and Butler’s own voice as a New Age and punk acolyte shines emerges.
Steven Wilson: Hand.Cannot.Erase (Kscope)
As the driving force behind Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson has established himself as the brightest star in the neo-progressive rock world. He’s also carved out a niche for himself as a solo artist. On “Hand.Cannot.Erase,” his fourth solo foray, he continues to combine his mastery of atmospherics and soundscapes that provide eerie backdrops for his characteristically dark lyrics.
See for yourself in this video for “Perfect Life,” taken from the new album:
MOVIES
By Jordan Webb
Cinderella (Disney)
This live-action adaptation of the classic fairytale stars Lily James as Cinderella, with Cate Blanchett as her cruel stepmother and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother. Famed director and thespian Kenneth Branagh (“Hamlet,” “Thor”) directs.
Run All Night (Warner Bros.)
A hit man (Liam Neeson) must decide between family and friends when his estranged son kills the child of his longtime mob boss (Ed Harris). Neeson reteams with director Jaume Collet-Serra (“Unknown,” “Non-Stop”) for their third action flick together.
It Follows (RADiUS-TWC)
A teenage girl begins to see strange visions after a sexual encounter. The visions continue, and soon she begins to feel something – or someone – is following her.
TATTOO ESSENTIALS
By Sandra Weyant
Tattoo enthusiasts who love ink but care about their job security can fear no more. TatJacket’s wide array of tattoo products will help conceal your ink while you’re on the clock but won’t damage your skin or the beautiful artwork. Professional by day, hardcore by night.
Tattoo Covers
Ever thought about covering up your tattoo with another tattoo? TatJacket’s Eclipse tattoo covers work in a similar fashion as the temporary tattoos you applied with a warm washcloth. Eclipse tattoo covers are flesh colored and come in different-sized sheets so you can cut them to fit the size of your tattoo. The sheets are available in six unique colors - Ivory, Lite, Fair, Olive, Pale and Tan – and they last for three or more days. Like other temporary tattoos, these sheets are “waterproof, smudge and smear-proof,” and are your best option for a quick application that requires little work and little spending money. The combination pack costs $9.95.
Cover-Up Sleeves
TatJacket’s cover-up sleeves are a best-seller among ink addicts. These “sleeves” are available in a range of colors and sizes suited to each individual’s needs. The TatJacket JR Sleeves are designed for hiding tattoos on the wrist or ankle. TatJacket “Ike Jacket” half-sleeves are used on the upper arm or lower leg, and the TatJacket Full Tattoo Cover Up Sleeves are used to conceal full-sleeve arm tattoos.
Sleeves are sold in pairs and are available in tan, black, brown and white hues, TatJacket’s site says. The sleeves are made from a matte fabric that’s breathable, flexible and comfortable for all-day wear (plus, it’s silky-smooth)! Full sleeves are $19.95, Ike Jackets are $17.95, TatJacket Jr’s are $15.95 and wrist covers are $13.95.
“Only unique TatJacket gives you the ability to wear the most comfortable work clothing for the season without violating any company rules,” the product description reads.
Concealer
Thalmic Labs has created a high-tech armband that you can control with hand gestures. The device, called Myo, reads the electrical activity in users’ muscles and the motion of their arms, and it comes with apps that let users control music and games. Bluetooth Smart allows the armband to work with Mac, Windows, Android and iOS. You can get Myo, available in black or white, on Amazon for $200.
FiLIP 2 Smart Locator
The new FiLIP smart locator comes in the form of a phone parents can wear and use to contact their kids in a way that lets their children play as they normally would. Users can call and text their kids and store up to five pre-programmed contacts, and the device works with Android 4.3 or higher and iOS 6 or higher. The FiLIP 2 is available on Amazon now in Superhero Blue and Watermelon Red for $150.
Wahoo TICKR Heart Rate Monitor
Wahoo Fitness has developed its own heart rate monitor for athletes that keeps track of factors like your heart rate and calories burned. The device, called TICKR, comes with an app and an eight-week training program for burning fat. The gadget will also work with up to 50 third-party apps like Nike+ Running, Runkeeper and MapMyFitness, and its coin cell battery will last up to 12 months. Fitness fanatics can buy TICKR now on Amazon for $59.95.
