BuzzSugar

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:32:57 PDT

Tuesdays are big in entertainment-ville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. Here are today's selections:

When geeks are right: I chose that intro phrase because that's what one of the coolest songs from The Faint's new album, Fasciinatiion, is all about. If you've never listened to this new-wave band before, this album might be a strange introduction (I'd recommend checking out their earlier album Blank-Wave Arcade instead). That said, I'm really fascinated (get it?!) by this new album and have already added the first track, "Get Seduced," to my iPod.

The music of the pants: If you're like me, you might want to add the soundtrack of the new Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie to the soundtrack of your life. I've seen the movie and enjoyed it (more on that later) and am having a good time reliving some of the scenes via these tracks, which include a pretty Aqualung song, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper, a fun head-banger from the Noisettes and a totally romantic ballad from Mutemath.

One more new release to check out so

A new contemporary songstress: Amazon tells me that people who love new artist Mandi Perkins also love Jewel and Alanis Morrisette. I might add Natalie Merchant and Tracy Chapman to that list. Perkins has a considerable following on MySpace and has been featured on MTV shows like - you guessed it! - The Hills. That makes sense, because her heavy, emotional lyrics and sweeping melodies on songs like "Why Pretend" would be helpful filler for when LC and Audrina can't seem to find the right words and instead just make eyes at one another.

Cannes Minireview: Killing Them Softly

Molly Goodson — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:21:14 PDT

Brad Pitt's gritty new project, Killing Them Softly (formerly titled Cogan's Trade, and based on a book of the same name), made its debut to the press at the Cannes Film Festival this morning. Considering the early hour of the screening and just how violent and drug-fueled it is as a film, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it overall. Pitt is at his best playing the ruthless assassin, and James Gandolfini can, of course, carry a mob movie.

Who's behind it? Like Sapphires and Lawless, it's another The Weinstein Company film here at the festival. Writer-director Andrew Dominik brings together an excellent cast of men to tell his story, including Ray Liotta in addition to Pitt and Gandolfini. With that much testosterone on screen, there's not much room for the ladies. In fact, there's barely a female to be seen in the film at all. At the center, there are two bumbling thieves, played by Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn, who shine in their own deeply messed-up ways - often seen sweating and using drugs. Pitt, who we have seen playing a ruthless assassin before, does it again, this time with slicked-back hair and a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he explains his preferred method of murder - "killing them softly," rather than listening to them plead.
What's it about? On paper, it's about a heist at a mob poker game gone wrong, but as both the director and Pitt spoke at the film's press conference after the screening, it's a much larger commentary on America's capitalist society. It's set in New Orleans against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis and election, with actual speeches from Barack Obama and Sarah Palin sprinkled throughout. As for the actual heist at stake, Frankie and Russell (McNairy and Mendelsohn) rob a poker game that was previously hit up as part of a scam put on by its own owner, Andrew (Liotta). Pitt's character, Jackie Cogan, is brought in by the larger mob bosses to assassinate the men. Wires are quickly crossed and it can be hard to tell who is working for whom, but with the crazy visuals and hilarious, sometimes unsettling, one-liners, it is a riveting watch. I, for one, was particularly amused by the scenes about Russell running a racket by stealing purebred dogs.
More important even than the story, however, is the feel of the film. It takes place and was shot in New Orleans, a city which Pitt is clearly comfortable in. It's not quite a love letter to the city - or to anything for that matter - like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but it still has that uniquely gritty and stylized New Orleans feel.

To read what I thought of the film at Cannes, just

What did I think? The performances, especially by Gandolfini, could start award-season buzz, depending on how and when Killing Them Softly is released stateside. While the film is not for the faint of heart, it's a thought-provoking watch. The humor and political commentary keep it from being a straightforward mob movie, therefore setting it apart from being the same story we've seen 100 times before. Plus, Pitt's swagger, Gandolfini's monologue expertise, and a pack of dogs are welcome at any movie for me. Watch out for the last line, though, it will stick with you.

Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company

The Vampire Diaries Season Finale "The Departed": The Good, The Bad, and The Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:38:06 PDT

Season three of The Vampire Diaries has come to an end, folks, and forgive me if I am still sitting here with my jaw wide open. The finale is eventful, to say the least, and like seasons past, we saw the deaths of a couple of characters - along with the red herring deaths of a couple of characters. Oh, and by that I mean that something super crazy happens in the final moments of the episode that we'll be talking about all Summer.

I can't really talk about too much before the break without spoiling everything, so let's get to it. Dry your tears over that fact that there won't be any new episodes of The Vampire Diaries for a few months, and let's get to the final good, bad, and bloody of season three after the jump.

Tracy Anderson's Weight-Loss Tips For Brides-to-Be

Leta Shy — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:39:22 PDT

It seems like Tracy Anderson has trained half of Hollywood, and one of her biggest fans, Nicole Richie, even enlisted her to help her get in shape for her 2010 wedding. "Nicole worked out six days a week, she learned dance aerobics, she did her muscular structure work, and she did it in such a healthy beautiful way," Tracy says of her client's devoted wedding prep. If you want to look like a starlet on your wedding day, here are a few tips Tracy Anderson shared with us for brides-to-be who want to get in shape.

First, start early: Don't wait until the last minute to try and lose weight and then expect miracles, Tracy warns. "The thing that is most unfortunate is when a bride comes to me and has never done anything before and is like 'Oh my god, I have to lose 30 pounds in a month,'" Tracy says. She recommends you figure out your diet and exercise plan as soon as you start looking for venue locations, at the beginning of your wedding planning, so you don't end up resorting to juice cleanses or feeding-tube diets to lose pounds weeks before your big day. (Tracy jokes, "If I were the husband-to-be, I can think of nothing less sexy than my fiance installing a feeding tube to look 120 pounds thinner on the wedding day. I'd probably call it off!")

Read on for Tracy's diet and exercise recommendations for brides!

Lady Violet's Guide to Taking Charge

Tara Block — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:15:00 PDT

We almost fell to our fainting couches when we heard that Maggie Smith might be leaving Downton Abbey. But luckily a rep for the studio says that our dearest Dowager Countess is not saying farewell to Downton. The strong female characters of the PBS show are multifaceted and flawed, and we see a little of ourselves in each of them. But the strongest and most outspoken of the bunch is clearly Lady Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham (played to perfection by Maggie Smith). And while she's a bit rough around the edges (and her advice is far from politically correct by today's standards), she says it how it is and doesn't let her sex or age prevent her from getting things done. So as we wait for the show to return in the Fall, check out the best quotes from Lady Violet to learn a lesson in brazenness from the matriarch of Downton Abbey.

Kelly Clarkson Motivates With Britney Spears - How Do You Stick With a Workout?

Leta Shy — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:01:00 PDT

Kelly Clarkson admits it - she hates cardio. In fact, she really hates cardio. After she covered Britney Spears's song "'Till the World Ends" at a recent concert, Kelly told the crowd:

I love that song, [although] I always have a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth when I hear Britney Spears because it's my cardio music and I freaking hate cardio. I freaking hate the gym. The gym can suck it!

But while Kelly may hate her workouts, that doesn't mean she doesn't do them. She's been recently spotted looking sweaty and exhausted leaving the gym, and is a fan of CrossFit ("You feel like you're G.I. Jane!" she says of the intense workouts) - definitely not for the faint of heart.

I love that no matter how vehemently she hates to work out, Kelly still sticks with it by using an upbeat workout playlist to keep herself motivated while doing an exercise she hates. How do you stay motivated?

Lil Links: The Funniest Easter Bunny Photos

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:32:42 PDT

Easter bunny photos that will crack you up! - The Stir
Tori Spelling says people need to "lay off" Jessica Simpson - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Mariska Hargitay says adoption is not for the faint of heart - Celebrity Baby Blog
Yoga stretches to get you through your day - FitPregnancy
The best all-natural products, services, and ideas - Parenting
Should women talk about their miscarriages? - The Bump
When will politicians support special needs? - Momformation
A cool app predicts your tot's height - Yahoo! Shine
Should you expect a shower for your second baby? - Circle of Moms
A better way to donate your kids' stuff - LearnVest
Thirty easy family-friendly recipes - Real Simple

On Her Madge-sty's Service: All About Madonna's New Perfume

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:27:59 PDT

There are a lot of celebrity fragrances out there, but Madonna isn't just any famous face. So it follows that any perfume she'd make would be suitably fabulous. Her new scent, Truth or Dare, is definitely not what you'd expect from a celebrity endeavor - or even what you'd expect from the commercial above, for that matter. All the sexy fishnets and mirror gazing might lead you to believe that this is going to be a big, man-eating chypre (or, less optimistically, a particularly treacly fruity floral). Instead, the juice inside what has to be the best fragrance flacon of the young 21st century is decidedly . . . nicer.

In place of something aggressive and borderline feral, it's a pretty, slightly powdery jasmine with faint traces of spicy gardenia running underneath. It's actually more vintage than modern, a sort of sentimentality you wouldn't expect from Madonna. Truth or Dare bows at Macy's in April, where we daresay you should go ahead and give it a sniff.

5 Things You Should Never Do During a Workout

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:27:58 PDT

There are many things you shouldn't do before a workout, such as cold stretching (learn more prewrokout no-nos here). To make the most of your actual workout, here are a handful of things to avoid while getting your sweat on.

Exercise on an empty stomach: Used as a common weight-loss technique, exercising on an empty stomach can actually prevent weight loss. Without fuel in your system, calories burned will come from muscle instead of fat. Eat before your sweat session and it'll provide energy for your workout, boost your metabolism, and studies show you'll consume fewer calories throughout the day.
Gulp water: Preventing dehydration is a must, so do drink water throughout your workout, especially in the heat. Sip between about one to six ounces every 15 to 20 minutes. Gulping down larger amounts of water at a time can not only cause stomach cramps, but could cause hyponatremia, also called water intoxication. Overhydrating can lead to low amounts of sodium in the body, causing dizziness, cramps, slurred speech, and nausea. Stick to drinking small amounts of water during regular workouts, and during intense workouts or those longer than an hour, sip on a sports drink to replace lost electrolytes.

Keep reading to find out three more things you shouldn't do during a workout.

How Some Countries Limit Airbrushed Advertisements

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:30:13 PDT

Airbrushing and advertising have become synonymous. While Photoshop renders perfect, slender, and flawless-faced images that may sell products or magazine covers, some worry that heavily altered depictions can negatively impact women. The good news is celebrities, companies, and several countries are taking a stand against excessive and unrealistic airbrushing. This week, Israel passed legislation that will place limits on airbrushing in fashion advertisements. Israel's new rules will require all advertisers to label photographs that have received retouching. In addition, the regulations will try to promote healthier body image by requiring all models to have a minimum body mass index of 18.5, which is the minimum weight that the World Health Organization considers standard or healthy.

Australia has attempted similar measures. In 2010, Australia's youth minister Kate Ellis came up with guidelines to ban ultra thin models and heavy retouching. The initiative would require Austrian advertisers to "disclose when images have been retouched and refrain from enhancing photographs in a way that changes a person's body shape, for example, lengthening their legs or trimming their waist, or removing freckles, lines and other distinguishing marks."

Working to comb through all advertisements, the UK has an independent group called the Advertising Standards Authority, which regulates advertising across all media platforms to ensure that ads are "decent and truthful." While airbrushing is a common occurrence, the agency does ban ads that are highly exaggerated. Recently, Rachel Weisz's L'Oreal's Revitalift Repair 10 ad was banned for its excessive and misleading airbrushing. In the ad, the actress's face was devoid of wrinkles and promoted extremely false advertising.

Back in the US, we don't have specific laws regulating airbrushing, but you can pick up this month's The Economist's Intelligent Life with the cover featuring an untouched Cate Blanchett. The Intelligent Life editor Tim de Lisle explains their decision, "When other magazines photograph actresses, they routinely end up running heavily Photoshopped images, with every last wrinkle expunged . . . Cate Blanchett, by contrast, appears on our cover . . . with the odd line on her face and faint bags under her eyes. She looks like what she is - a woman of 42." Ironically, an un-airbrushed image becomes a sensational news story, but as a public, do we prefer perfect, pretty images or do we really wish to see true portrayals of our celebrities? What do you make of these types of regulations?