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
Snoop Dogg: Bush (Columbia)
In the past few years, Snoop Dogg has moonlighted as his reggae-singing Snoop Lion persona, but he's fully back on board with hip-hop for "Bush," his 13th studio album. For the first time since 2006, Snoop worked on one of his albums with the hit-making production duo The Neptunes – Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. He's pulled out all the stops this time, even enlisting the legendary Stevie Wonder for the silky-smooth "California Roll," which you can hear below.
Brandon Flowers: The Desired Effect (Virgin EMI)
He's known primarily for fronting the massively popular New Wave revival band The Killers, but Brandon Flowers began carving out a solo career in 2010. This week he returns with his sophomore solo effort, "The Desired Effect," a collection of predictably big, stadium-ready anthems. Experience Flowers' soulful take on the synth-happy 1980s in the music video for "Still Want You."
Yes: Progeny: Seven Shows From Seventy-Two (Rhino)
When recordings of seven full concerts from Yes' landmark 1972 "Close To The Edge" tour were discovered, the decision was made to release all of them in one whopping 14-CD set. While the setlists from each night are essentially the same, diehard Yes fans will delight in hearing vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, keyboard player Rick Wakeman and Alan White, the band's then-new drummer, on stage during one of the progressive rock giant's most adventurous periods and inarguably its most influential era.
Below, listen to a taste of the quintet performing its classic song "Roundabout" in Durham, N.C.
Faith No More : So Invictus (Ipecac)
Has it really been 18 years since Faith No More released a new album? The avant-garde alternative rock-heavy metal-funk outfit regrouped in 2009 for live performances and has finally released the long-awaited "So Invictus." From the sound of the song "Superhero" (listen below), it appears the long period of inactivity did nothing to sap Faith No More's aggressive and epic approach.
LAST-MINUTE MEMORIAL DAY PARTY NECESSITIES
By Amanda Bernocco
Beats Pill Speakers ($199.95)
(Beats By Dre)
Gaming company Razer is joining the fitness-tracking party with its Nabu X smartband, a simple gadget that collects data while you exercise. The waterproof band doesn't have a screen like other fitness trackers, which will prevent users from getting distracted while working out. The Nabu X will also work with Razer's "Pulse" technology so you can share information with other users, and it will last between five and seven days on a single charge. The Nabu X is available now on Amazon for $49.
Panasonic Lumix G7 Camera
Panasonic has introduced the Lumix DMC-G7, the latest addition to the Lumix DMC family. The black mirror-less camera can shoot 4K footage at 30 fps and 100 Mbps at a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, as well as shoot bursts of images without having to stop recording. Features include a 16-meagpixel Micro Four Thirds Live MOS sensor and a Venus Engine image processor for recording high-quality images in different situations, along with a drive mode and an autofocus switch. You can preorder the Panasonic Lumix G7 now and receive it in June.
Pivotal Living Tracker 1 (2nd Generation)
Pivotal Labs has released a new version of its original Living Tracker wristband for fitness fanatics. The gadget will monitor factors like calories burned, steps taken and distance traveled, and it will keep track of your progress while you work out. Users can switch between Active and Sleep mode, and the battery last five to seven days on a single charge. The band's app will work with most iOS 8 and Android 4.3+ smartphones. Athletes can get the second-gen Pivotal Living Tracker 1 now at Amazon for $15.
MOVIES
By Jordan Webb
Tomorrowland (Disney)
A once-renowned boy genius (George Clooney) and a talented teenager (Britt Robertson) team up to find "Tomorrowland," a mysterious location that exists somewhere between time, space and memory. Director Brad Bird of "The Incredibles" fame brings to life the classic Disney World attraction in an out-of-this-world family adventure.
Poltergeist (Twentieth Century Fox)
This classic horror film gets a remake starring Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt as a pair of suburbanite parents who must rescue their youngest daughter from the evil spirits that have taken her hostage inside their idyllic home. Gil Kenan ("Monster House") directs.
The Farewell Party (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
An elderly group of friends at a retirement home in Jerusalem build a self-euthanasia machine to ease the suffering of their terminally ill compatriots. But once others begin seeking the same kind of help, the group of friends is faced with a dilemma in this dark comedy about friendship and letting go.
