Welcome to HNGN's weekly 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
Dwight Yoakam: Second Hand Heart (Warner Bros.)
The 21-time Grammy-nominated country singer, songwriter and actor returns with "Second Hand Heart," his 13th studio album, and a lot of associated activities, like a record release show on Monday, April 13 at Los Angeles' Whisky A Go Go, which will be streamed live on Yahoo! Screen starting at 7:30 p.m. He'll also host the Austin City Limits Hall Of Fame show on June 18.
Have a listen to the title track to Yoakam's new album below.
Brian Wilson: No Pier Pressure (Capitol)
The Beach Boys seemed to consider The Beatles their rival, but legendary founding member and compositional genius Brian Wilson takes a page out of their book and "gets by with a little help from his friends" on his latest studio album, "No Pier Pressure." Following up on the brilliant "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin" (2010) and the promising but less enthralling "In The Key Of Disney" (2011), this time Wilson enlisted A-listers like Kacey Musgraves; Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, who perform together as She & Him; Nate Reuss of fun.; and some of his fellow Beach Boys.
Check out the trailer to Wilson's 11th solo album below.
Halestorm: Into The Wild Life (Atlantic)
Lzzy Hale and Halestorm have built a sizable following for their brand of aggressive hard rock, but don't be surprised if some pop-country fans flock to this one, too. Halestrom recently did a tour opening for Eric Church, and the big hook-y choruses in some of the material on "Into The Wild Life" wouldn't sound out of place on country radio.
Hear for yourself below in the official video for "Amen," which blends country, gospel and rock flavors.
The Mountain Goats: Beat The Champ (Merge Records)
In anticipation of "The Force Awakens," the previous six films will be available on Digital HD for the first time ever.
The first three films, released between 1977 and 1983, tell the story of Luke Skywalker who must defeat the evil Darth Vader, later revealed to be his and Princes Leia's father. Luke and Leia team up with the space cowboy Han Solo and his hairy sidekick Chewbacca as fight to save the galaxy.
The three prequel films, released between 1999 and 2005, chronicle Anakin Skywalker's journey from Jedi to Darth Vader as he fights to protect his wife Padmé and, later, their children.
iTunes will have all six films available for purchase on April 10.
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
• Wild Card
• The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death
• Metalhead
• Goodbye to Language
• Hard Drive
• Housekeeping
• Playing It Cool
• The Immigrant
• Harlock: Space Pirate
• Salvation Army
• 8 1/2
• Belle and Sebastian
• A Tale of Winter
• Little White Lie
• The Dickumentary
• An Act of War
• Cesar's Last Fast
• 3 Nights in the Desert
• Any Day
• What Now
• Finding Carter: Season 2
• Taken 3
• Cut Bank
• Electric Slide
• The Girl Is in Trouble
• Big Eyes
• My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Vol. 8
• Pokemon the Series: XY Kalos Quest Vol. 1
• Batman vs. Robin
• Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
• Mysterious Ways
• Yellowbird
• Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways
• Boy Meets Girl
• Pitch Perfect
• The Boys from Brazil
• Exterminators of the Year 3000
• The Resurrection of Bastard
• The Voices
• Hot Tub Time Machine 2
• Star Wars: Movie Collection (April 10)
• Cake (April 10)
• The Gambler (April 10)
• The Marine 4: Moving Target (April 10)
Amazon
• Amistad
• Bloody Sunday
• The Brothers Grimm
• Death Wish
• Death Wish 2
• Escape from Alcatraz
• French Connection 2
• Godzilla
• Ken Burns: The Roosevelts
• Kicking and Screaming
• Leprechaun 2
• Leprechaun 3
• Leprechaun 5
• Mommie Dearest
• My Old Lady
• Saved!
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
• Star Trek V: The Voyage Home
• Suicide Kings
• The Thing Called Love
• Adaptation
• The Better Angels
• Groundhog Day
• Little Women (1994)
• Submarine
• Tusk
• Lay the Favorite
• The Quiet Ones
• Louie: Season 4
