Cost Effective Ways to Fight Wrinkles

Introduction

I will first discuss ageing, and then I am going to present to you how to fight it, and delay the wrinkles formation. The article will present a list of food products that will help you fight ageing, then two profound Anti-aging products from L'Oreal will be covered.

What is Ageing?

Ageing is a natural process that takes place over the years, regardless of external influences. Starting from the age of 20, each one starts producing around 1 percent less collagen in the skin each year. Consequently, the skin becomes thinner and more fragile. As a result, wrinkles will start forming in the skin.

Anti-Ageing Food Products

The following is a list of food products that can delay the ageing process and maintain the youthfulness of the skin:

Apples, Onions, Cranberries, Broccoli: have Quercetin which is a natural Anti-ageing agent.Raw, organic eggs: Eating raw eggs is highly recommended, as cooking can inhibit some of the anti-ageing agents found in eggs. Eggs are rich in amino acids and proteins.Aloe vera: Aloe vera's anti-ageing properties have been known for ages. Scientific evidence suggests that Aloe Vera juice can heal skin and reverse skin ageing. Skin ages because of UV light damage and loss of collagen in the skin. Collagen helps in keeping the skin firm and elastic. Ageing breaks down the collagen matrix in your skin which leads to wrinkles. Drinking aloe vera juice is known to reduce the wrinkle depth and improve skin elasticity due to increased collagen production.Garlic: Allium is an antioxidant that packs a punch. Garlic, onions, and scallions are loaded with this free-radical fighter that is good for your skin and your immune system.

L'oreal Youth Code Rejuvenating Anti-Wrinkle Night Care

The skin takes longer to react when you get older. When you wake up every morning, the wrinkles will start becoming more visible.

Youth Code Rejuvenating Anti-Wrinkle Night Care is developed to help recover your skin while you are sleeping at night. So when you wake up next morning, you will feel younger, and your skin will feel smoother.

The night cream has been developed with the Pro-Gen Night Active technology. This state of art technology has been derived from Gene Science. The development and research team at Loreal has worked with many renowned scientists in the field, who scrutinised the genes responsible for skin renewal and has come up with the ultimate formula for youthful skin. As a result, you will feel younger every morning after using the night cream.

In 30 nights, wrinkles will be reduced noticeably, and your skin will look younger and smoother.

Usage:

Apply Youth Code Night Recover Cream every night on your skin. For best results, apply Loreal Luminizer Youth Code Super Serum before the Night Care Cream.

L'Oreal Luminizer Youth Code Super Serum

The serum is used to make your skin look smoother, fresher and give it a unique youthful glow with. The research and development team at Loreal in collaboration with Gene scientists have identified the genes responsible for skin pigmentation and luminosity.

Hence, they have developed the Youth Code Super Serum using the Lumi-Gen Technology, which noticeably reduces irregular skin pigmentation, and give your skin a more luminous complexion. In 30 days, you will get a more glowing skin with less irregularities.

Usage: Every night, apply 2-3 pumps in a circular motion over the face and neck. It is recommended to use it before the Loreal Youth Code Rejuvenating Anti-Wrinkle Night Care Cream.

Visit Bath, Beauty and Hair and buy beauty products at very competitive prices.

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Healthy Skin - A Beginner's Guide

Is your skin glowing and radiant? You're probably taking care of yourself and experiencing good health. If not, you can take steps to give your skin what it needs to be healthy from the inside out.

What doesn't help?

Creams and lotions can help contribute to the skin's healthiness, but what you put into your body is far more important.

Body

The primary cause of skin damage and skin aging are poor nutrition, internal toxicity, dehydration and over exposure to sun, using commercial chemical soaps, smoking, bathing in high chlorine-filled water, exposure to extremely dry, cold weather and fungal invasion.

Mind

Emotional issues and anxiety are often involved with skin breakouts. Releasing suppressed emotions e.g. stress surrounding a past relationship can do wonders to rid a person of skin problems, although a professional should be sought for help with this.

What does Help?

According to the American Academy of Dermatologists (AAD), the following vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients help nourish our skin.

Get to know the A-C-E of vitamins, and you'll be on your way to healthier skin.

Vitamin A helps repair skin tissue. Without it, you may notice dry, flaky skin. Get vitamin A by eating fruits and vegetables, especially carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, squash, apricots, mango and cantaloupe.Vitamin C helps counter the effects of sun exposure. It reduces the damage caused by free radicals, which destroy collagen and elastin. You can get vitamin C from organic fruits and vegetables.Vitamin E helps reduce the harmful effects of the sun on the skin. Stay with 30 IU per day or less, as any more can be harmful.Omega-3 and Omega-6: Raw-plant-based fats and oils can replace cooked fats and oils. Walnut oil and flax seed oil all contain omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, which help keep the skin lubricated and looking healthy.

Sun

While time in the sun can be fun and healthy to a degree, too much sun, like too much eating, can be very damaging. Over-sunning causes free-radical collagen damage to the skin.

Before applying sunscreen, lather on some lotion! Try to find lotions that are natural and chemical-free. Read the ingredients and look for those with vitamin E, and natural plant oils, like olive, grape seed and jojoba.

Ensure that the skin products you use are paraben-free, allergy-tested, non-comedogenic (will not clog pores), free of synthetic oils, not tested on animals and fragrance-free. And, they are suitable for your particular skin type.

Emotional Therapy

There are many great ways to release suppressed emotional issues. It really helps to find someone who is trained in how to do this and knows what they are doing. Ensure your professional knows how to clear the negative emotion, not merely analyse it for many lengthy (and expensive sessions).

Skin Treatments:

New York Times best-selling author, David Wolfe recommends the following natural skin treatments:

For Dry Skin - Avocado Mask:

Puree one ripe avocado with 6-7 drops of a fresh-squeezed ripe orange. Add one tablespoon of hemp oil. Massage this mixture into the face and neck. This mask has excellent effects on any part of the skin. After application, lie down and relax. Rinse off with lukewarm water after 20-30 minutes.

For Oily Skin - Cucumber Mask:

Peel a cucumber. Finely grate it. Lie down, relax and apply the cucumber to the face and neck. After applying, place a warm towel over the face. Relax for 20-30 minutes. Rinse off.

What you eat, drink and think all play a big part in the health of your skin.

Christopher Drummond runs a natural health company and lives in Cape Town, South Africa on a small holding which has it's own organic fruits and vegetables and clean mountain water. For more simple, natural ways to enjoy beautifully radiant skin, visit: http://www.real-wellness.net/beauty-and-skin-care/

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The Best Natural Ingredients for Face Masks

There are many reasons to make natural face masks. It can save money on expensive face mask products. It ensures you know exactly what ingredients are being used. Whatever the reason, learning which ingredients make great face masks is useful and healthy for the skin.

Natural ingredients are mild and widely used, but before applying an ingredient to the whole face, it is a good idea to perform a test. Place a small bit of the ingredient on a patch of skin, either on the jaw line or on the back of the hand. This ensures an allergic reaction will not occur with the ingredient.

For dry skin, using a honey face mask will moisturize naturally. Any type of honey will work for this kind of mask. Leave it on for a few minutes, then wash with warm water and pat dry. Extra-virgin olive oil also makes a great face mask by itself.

Combining olive oil and honey can also create a useful face mask. To create this formula, mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, one teaspoon of olive oil, and one teaspoon of honey. Apply to the face and leave on for ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse off with tepid water and gently pat the face dry.

Unflavoured, plain yogurt is great for toning any type of skin. It has to be unflavoured and plain. Do not try to use vanilla flavoured, or Greek yogurt. For this kind of face mask, apply the yogurt in a thin layer and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Oatmeal has been known for its beauty potential for decades. The popular oatmeal bath soak alerted people that oatmeal can also be used for other aspects of beauty. For a basic face mask, grind the oatmeal for a bit in a food processor. Add water to create a paste, then apply to the face and let it sit for a few minutes.

When time is not an issue, creating an oatmeal infusion does wonders. Mix three tablespoons of herbs, 2/3 cup of boiling water, and one tablespoon ground oatmeal. Steep the mixture, allow it to cool, and then strain it.

For the herbs, different kinds have varying effects depending on the type of natural skin they are working with. Lavender, basil, and mint are great for any skin. Breakouts respond well to rosemary and thyme. Parsley, lemon balm, and fennel are good for dry skin. Sage, yarrow, and lady's mantle work well for oily skin.

Flax seeds are a magical food. Eating them provides omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to health and are a great fertility secret. People can also take advantage of the omega-3 oils in flax seeds to utilize them in an easy to make face mask.

In a small bowl, mix two tablespoons of flax seeds and just enough water to cover them. The seeds should swell and the water should transform into a gelatinous texture. This gel should be spread over the face and be allowed to sit until it is dry. The mask should be rinsed off with tepid water and patted dry.

Egg whites can be soothing and leave the skin glowing. Whip the egg whites, apply to the skin, and leave them on until they are dry. Rinse the egg whites off and pat the face dry. Natural clay face masks draw out impurities. The clay can be found in a cosmetics section of a natural foods store. Mix with water and apply to the face, but not near the eyes. Allow it to dry and rinse.

One of the best ingredients for face masks is Shea butter. Natural Shea butter can be applied directly to the face. However, if money is not an issue, investing in specially formulated natural face masks with Shea butter will provide the most benefits to the skin.

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Tricks To Scarlett Johansson's Gorgeous Look

Scarlett Johansson was called Esquire's "Sexiest Woman Alive" for 2013-- making it the second time she's been provided that title by the guys's magazine and the very first lady to obtain the honor twice. She also gained the honor in 2006. We believed it would certainly be appealing to walk through step-by-step how Scarlett produces one of her numerous hot looks.

The secret to developing a star look is that you require to understand the steps they require to get there. It is easy as long as you go through each action in the right order, use the appropriate make-up products and methods. One really searched for look is that of Scarlett Johansson. All the appeal tricks and tips which are distinct to Scarlett Johansson's appealing look, starts with a top quality make-up brush set and having the effective make-up.

Kabuki brushes are essential and are highly regarded as high quality make-up brushes. The following set of make-up tools that you will require are light-colored foundation, light-brown and darker brown eyebrow make-up, 2 eyebrow brushes (one for every color), light hi-lite eye-shadow, black liquid eye liner, red lipstick, blush, and a black mascara.

The initial step is to use the foundation with a foundation brush. After applying the foundation use some powdered make-up. A kabuki brush ought to be utilized to equally disperse the powdered make-up. When that is done, use the light-brown eye-shadow make-up to your eyebrows with a regular eyebrow make-up brush. eyebrow brush.

Use the deeper brown eye-shadow make-up on both sides of your nose. Use the deeper brown eye-shadow make-up to where the nostrils' flare starts, and along the contours of your cheeks to create higher cheeks.

The following step is to utilize an eye-shadow brush to dab the light-colored hi-lite eye-shadow onto the tip of your nose and along your brow bone and mix in. Make a double lid with black liquid eye liner. Afterwards, use the exact same light-colored hi-lite eye-shadow on the eyelids. Also, utilize the black liquid eye liner to boost your eyelash lines. Add blush to the cheeks and bright red lipstick. A black mascara to jazz up the eyelashes is the last step in this wonderful Scarlett Johansson look.

With a little practice and the right tools and makeup you can recreate Scarlett Johanson's celebrity look or create your own. So if you're like most women, and having a great look means a lot to you, you now have one more way to look great. You can absolutely stand out and be the beauty of any room you enter.

Sheer Cosmetics Makeup Brush Set is perfect to help create this look. Reasonably priced with a limited time bonus. Go to Makeup Brush Set

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Lemon For Beauty (Plus 5 Easy Hair and Facial Recipes)

If you've ever read my blog then you know I'm not going to send you to a department store to buy some lemon infused beauty product jam packed with chemicals. All you need to do is pick up a lemon while you're at the grocery store. Lemons aren't just good to squeeze in your tea; they're an amazing beauty all rounder.

Lemons have been used for hundreds of years on both skin and hair. The citrus acid in lemons act as an effective astringent by penetrating through pores to remove excess oils, dirt, dead skin cells and even blemishes, leaving you with a brighter complexion and healthier looking skin.

As a natural source of vitamin C, lemons are also used to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance age spots. As they are highly acidic, lemons work as an antiseptic that rids the skin of bacteria.

When it comes to hair, the acids in lemons are brilliant for cleansing both your scalp and hair to remove shampoo and oil build-up, and even reduce dandruff.

I often get comments on my skin and hair, and people often ask what I use. When I respond with "I make my own natural beauty products", people are surprised and want my secret recipes, so here are 5 of my favourite lemon infused skin and hair recipes. Enjoy!

Lemons for Skin

Cleanse & Exfoliate with Lemon

Combine the juice of ½ a lemon with 1 tablespoon of good quality olive oil in to an airtight container and whisk with a fork to mix well. Add 1 tablespoon of honey and mix until it becomes a medium consistency, then mix in ½ cup of raw sugar.

You can add more or less honey and olive oil to make the scrub thicker or thinner, and even add more sugar if you feel it needs more scrub.

Lemon Face Lift

Combine 2 tablespoons good quality natural yoghurt and 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and mix well.

Apply the mask to your face and neck after cleansing, avoiding the eye area. Leave it on to dry for 20 to 30 minutes; you will feel it tightening on your face and neck, which creates the lifting and firming affect. If desired, you can leave it on for up to an hour to increase the affects. Rinse off with warm water, and then again with cold water and gently pat your face dry before applying moisturiser.

Lemons for hair

Hydrate and Cleanse with Lemon, Olive & Honey Combine

¾ of a cup of olive oil, ½ a cup of raw honey and three tablespoons of lemon juice. After shampooing massage the mixture from your scalp to your ends. Wrap your hair in a heat cap or plastic wrap and leave in for 30 minutes, then rinse.

Rinse with Lemon

If you have oily hair or build up from products, mix ¼ a cup of lemon juice with ½ a cup of water and rinse it through your hair after shampooing and conditioning. It will leave your hair looking brighter and healthier.

Rid dandruff with Lemon

Mix the juice of ½ lemon with ¼ of a cup coconut oil and rub into your scalp. Leave in for 15 minutes then wash your hair as per normal.

It's important to test any homemade beauty recipes on sensitive skin, like the on the inside of your wrist, to make sure you don't have a bad reaction to any ingredients. So always remember to do a quick patch test before applying anything yourself.

About the Author

Marina Daniell is the founder of staple life, an inspiring blog for women about simple living (doing less, so you can live more). A dedicated Bikram Yogi, lover of fashion, beauty and food. When she isn't in the hot yoga room she can be found rolling fresh gnocchi or pasta for her family, or whipping up beauty products with items from her fridge.

You can follow Marina on Facebook or check out her blog staple life.

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Learn How to Make Your Own Soap at Home

There are many reasons to make your own soap. It can save the family money. It ensures you know exactly what chemicals and ingredients are going into the product. Homemade soap can be a great gift for friends and family. Or it can be made simply because you are a craft individual. Whatever the reason, learning how to make soap is useful and fun.

The first way to make soap is by cold process. Cold process soap is made from oils, lye, and water. When combined at the right temperature, they harden into soap in a process called saponification.

Ingredients include 24 ounces of coconut oil, 38 ounces of vegetable shortening, 24 ounces of olive oil, 12 ounces of sodium hydroxide or lye, 32 ounces of spring or distilled water, and 4 ounces of your favourite essential oil. This could be lavender, rose, lemon, or peppermint.

Clear a space in the kitchen and spread a newspaper over a table to assemble the equipment. To start, you will need safety goggles and rubber gloves, a scale to weigh ingredients, a large stainless steel or enamel kettle (not aluminium or a non-stick kettle), glass or plastic wide mouthed pitcher, two-cup measuring cup, and plastic or wooden spoons.

Next you will need a stick or immersion blender and two glass thermometers registering between 80 and 100 degrees, such as the ones used for candy making. Plastic moulds suitable for cold press soap making are recommended, but you can also use a shoebox or wooden mould lined with parchment paper. Multiple towels for cleanup should be prepared.

Put on safety goggles and gloves and keep them on at all times. All measurements should be exact. Measure out 12 ounces of lye in the two-cup measuring cup. Measure 32 ounces of cold water and pour into a stainless steel pot or glass bowl. Place the pot of water under the stove's running exhaust fan. Pour the lye very slowly into the water, stirring gently until completely dissolved.

Turn your face away to avoid fumes. Set the mixture aside, letting it cool and fumes dissipate. Put a stainless steel pot on the stove over low-medium heat. Add the coconut oil and vegetable shortening, stirring frequently until melted. Add olive oil and stir completely until melted and combined. Remove the pot from heat.

Put one thermometer in the lye and monitor until the temperature reaches 95 to 98 degrees. Put the second thermometer in the oils and measure until they are the same or lower temperature. Add the lye in a slow, steady stream to the oils. Stir with a wooden spoon or the stick blender.

Continue to mix for 10 to 15 minutes until tracing occurs. A stick blender will see this result in five minutes. If no mixture occurs, let it sit for fifteen minutes then try again. Add the essential oil, and be ready to immediately pour the soap into the mould. Hold the mould an inch or two above the table and drop it. Do this a few times to work out air bubbles.

Cover the mould with a lid and several towels. Leave it covered, undisturbed, and out of air drafts for 24 hours. Uncover and let it sit for 12 hours. The soap should have a light layer of white ash-like substance on top. If there is a deep oily film, if it did not set, or if it has white or clear pockets, it cannot be used.

There is also a convenient, shortcut way to make soap that involves the highest quality of ingredients. Natural skincare sites often offer make your own soap kits that involve completely natural and luxury ingredients.

These kits allow people to make their own Shea butter soap, natural body cream or lotion, and lip balm. They come with measured ingredients and can also come with learning DVDs. Sometimes these sites will saw raw blocks of high quality, natural ingredients for purchase if you prefer other methods of soap making, but want the best ingredients.

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Based On a True Story... (Deluxe Version) - Blake Shelton

Boys 'Round Here (feat. Pistol Annies & Friends) My Eyes (feat. Gwen Sebastian) BookletDigital Booklet - Based On a True Story... (Deluxe Version)

A few months before he released his seventh album, Based on a True Story..., Blake Shelton weathered a minor storm over comments he made to GAC's Backstory, where he claimed "nobody wants to listen to their grandpa's music." Shelton further explained "old farts" "don't buy records anymore...the kids do, and they don't want to buy the music that you were buying." At 36 years old, Shelton isn't exactly a kid, but he sure has his finger on the pulse of what America is all about in 2013, a perspective that informs every cut on Based on a True Story.... Not so coincidentally in terms of attitude, this is the first album Shelton has made since turning into a genuine crossover star thanks to his role on the televised competition The Voice — Red River Blue, his last album, appeared just a month after the first season of The Voice wrapped — and it reflects his newfound popularity via its reliance on rocking rhythms, woolly mammoth hooks, red state swagger, and pristine power ballads, all protected in a high-gloss coat of studio varnish. Some of that varnish includes a dose of heavy Auto-Tune on Blake's voice, a bit of trickery he doesn't need — there's a reason why he's a judge on a singing competition; he has an easy, natural grace to his delivery — but its artificially correct sound is simply another indication of the thoroughly modern Shelton: few other country albums of 2012-2013 are as unabashedly of the moment as this, celebrating all of the U.S.A. from the fame-hungry Sunset Strip to parties in the boondocks. By playing to both the high and low brow, Shelton consolidates the entire spectrum of his audience, from the country to the coasts. Both audiences buy into his increasingly macho strut, where he tosses out casual profanities, brags that he's "Still Got a Finger" (to flip you the bird, of course), and salutes his redneck brothers via the rapped "chew tobacco/chew tobacco/chew tobacco/spit" chorus of "Boys 'Round Here." That Shelton can pull off this big, swinging bravado isn't much of a surprise — when his voice trills electronically on "Small Town Big Time" he makes it sound like a joke — and the very sense that more is more is essential to the appeal of Based on a True Story...: every song is bigger, brighter, bolder than the next, super-sized country for a super-sized time.

Born: June 18, 1976 in Ada, OK

Genre: Country

Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s

Oklahoma native Blake Shelton moved to Nashville in 1994, two weeks after his high school graduation, to launch a songwriting career that would eventually make him one of the leading males in contemporary country music. Back home, he'd received statewide attention by touring the bar circuit and winning the Denbo Diamond Award, the top award for young Oklahoma entertainers. In Nashville, Shelton was able to maintain that momentum by selling songs to several publishing houses, including Naomi Martin... Full Bio

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Two Lanes of Freedom (Accelerated Deluxe) - Tim McGraw

Highway Don't Care (feat. Taylor Swift & Keith Urban) BookletDigital Booklet - Two Lanes of Freedom (Accelerated Deluxe)

After selling 40 million records, and 32 number one singles with Curb, Tim McGraw releases his Big Machine debut, Two Lanes of Freedom. The album’s first single is “Truck Yeah.” The title cut has a Celtic tinge, while closer “"Highway Don't Care" features guest appearances from Taylor Swift and Keith Urban — it was written in tribute to Swift’s first hit single, “Tim McGraw.” There are some rowdier numbers including “Southern Girl,” the hangover paean “Mexicoma,” and story songs including “Book of John,” and “Number 37405,” an ode about a singer who descends into personal torment and becomes a convict. [The Deluxe Edition has four bonus tracks.], Rovi

Born: May 1, 1967 in Delhi, LA

Genre: Country

Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s

When Tim McGraw debuted in the early '90s, few would have predicted that he would eventually take over Garth Brooks' position as the most popular male singer in country music. Yet that's exactly what he did, thanks to a string of multi-platinum albums, a high-profile marriage to fellow superstar Faith Hill, and Brooks' own inevitable decline. His sound epitomized the strain of commercial country that dominated his era: updated honky tonk and Southern-fried country-rock on the uptempo tunes, well-polished,... Full Bio

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Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 46 - Various Artists

by Dylan10steel I like the songs but its missing Radioactive by imagine dragons now that's what I call music.

by Mellissia Adducchio Suit & Tie, I Knew You Were Trouble, Feel This Moment, Locked Out of Heaven -- those are the good picks. But where's Rihanna? Diamonds should have been on the 45, and Stay should be on this one as well. They keep letting her out of these albums. Also, needs rap. GOOD KUSH & ALCOHOL... hello? Radio killer.

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Random Access Memories - Daft Punk

by AidanSeamus Ambitious, glistening, and at times bizarre and boring, RAM is a solid Daft Punk entry that won't disapoint fans of the robot duo. 8.75/10
GLBTM - A rocking opener that excites and is sure to fill the room with excitment when the group eventually goes on tour. Amazing riffs by Nile and great vocoder work. 9/10
Game of Love - A laid back track that after GLBTM seems like a let down. Remember after One More Time how Aerodynamic took you further down an awesome journey? GoL doesn't do that. A whiny/passionate vocoder lyric goes over the throwback instruments. It's a grower. 7/10
Giorgio by Moroder - Strap in, bro. Words don't explain how awesome this track is. 10/10
Within - What was that? No, I didn't need those feelings anyway. Beautiful piano work by Chilly, extremely moving lyrics. Made me cry. 9.5/10
Instant Crush - Arguably the most "radio ready" track on here other than the instant classic Get Lucky, Julian Casablanca's vocals roboticized (is that even a word?) brings you to a danceable beat about moving on. 8.5/10
Lose Yourself to Dance - My God, is this guitar riff catchy. Teased in the Nile Collaborator video, this is the sound of the West coast that Daft Punk tried so hard to capture. Over Pharrell's sexy vocals and the vocoder telling you to "c'mon", you'll probably end up actually losing yourself to dance when this song comes on. 9.5/10
Touch - The most ambitious track on the record. It's mighty weird and hard to get into at first- but then again, I appear to be the only person who has issues with it. If it wasn't Daft Punk, I wouldn't give it a second look. 7/10
Get Lucky - Instant classic, but everyone already knows that. Do I even need to explain how good this song is? 10/10
Beyond - The follow up to a song like Get Lucky is important. It keeps the flow of the album going and keeps us interested. This song does not do that, unfortunately. Fairly boring with some nice lyric work. Meh. 7.5/10
Motherboard - The "meh" extension to a "meh" track. Move along. 7/10
Fragments of Time - All of a sudden, there was a twangy track on a Daft Punk album. Well. I didn't see this one coming, to be honest, since Todd Edwards is so known for what he doesn't do on this song. It's not necessarily a bad song, just different from what people would expect. Lyrics are neat-o, though. 8/10
Doin' It Right - Funky as ever. The beautiful vocoder track narrates the song throughout it all, and the song really picks up when Panda Bear's voice soars in a very Animal Collective-esque fashion. It's begging for a remix, and I'd love to see a Kanye West rap over it, it'd be right up his alley. A personal favorite. 9.5/10
Contact - This is it. The song that will be played at every upcoming (rumored) Daft Punk concert and everyone will lose their marbles to. Theatrical and magnificent, this closer really brings the album up quite a bit. The ending is very Downward Spiral esque, closing on static and random noises until eventually, a silence; a wonderful to end to one heck of a journey.
by KingTurtwig72 For those who haven't heard the album stream yet, I fully recommend it. Now, here's MY OPINION about this album, so please refrain from any destructive criticism.
1. Give Life Back To Music
The buildup for this track is breathtaking, and as soon as the funky riffs of the legendary Nile Rodgers kick in, it's something to truly enjoy. The vocals mesh perfectly with the track. Wonderful way to start the album, and one of the best of the album.
2. The Game of Love
Bordering between a sensual yet sorrowful track, the groove in this album is incredible, and the vocals truly portray Daft Punk's intent for that human touch. And is it just me, or are there some elements (bass) similar to Something About Us?
3. Giorgio by Moroder
I think I managed to hear some extremely subtle differences between the three microphones used in Giorgio's narration, and it truly is magical about how it drives. Also, the click track pause when Moroder says "but everybody calls me Giorgio" truly makes your heart skip a beat before the synths kick in, and the sounds of the future he speaks of are insane. This is no doubt a great song to dance to! One of the best songs of the whole album, without a doubt.
4. Within
This is certainly an interesting track. as the chord shift at the beginning of the piano intro truly sets a more somber mood after the driving Moroder masterpiece. The subject of this song also brings out that human touch in the vocals. Nice ambience as well.
5. Instant Crush (feat. Julian Casablancas)
This is a new twist on Casablancas' voice, but I can't help but like it. The chorus is definitely what makes this track beautiful. You truly feel this track, and it would have been a nice single.
6. Lose Yourself to Dance (feat. Pharrell Williams)
I was somewhat disappointed when I found out that the alleged 15-second ad teasing this track was not for this song (real song is Yellowire - Tonight Is The Night). However, this is no doubt a highlight track. Pharrell's vocals are absolutely perfect for this track, and Nile Rodgers never ceases to work his magic on this record. The vocoders are a wonderful accompaniment for this song. It just makes you want to dance! Truly could be the track of the summer, and this would be the best option for another single.
7. Touch (feat. Paul Williams)
The opening on this track could be seen as a nice one, but I could see how some could get bored of the first few minutes of it. However, Williams' voice truly is serene in this track, and as it progresses, it makes you want to get up and dance. The vocoder and choir verse is truly magical, harmonic with the sweet notes of the piano. This song is definitely one of the most experimental ones, and definitely one of the most interesting, as the many different smaller tracks make this a standout song.
8. Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams)
I love this song. The bass and Nile's riffs make this such a smooth groove, and the album version is so much more incredible than the radio edit, in my opinion. Hard to get tired of this song.
9. Beyond
Paul Williams' lyrical genius blossoms once again in this track, and the repetitive guitar riff drives this track forward. Really calm, chilled-out groove.
10. Motherboard
You can hear so many rhythms similar to the TRON soundtrack, but so much differently. The ambience in this track has a nice feel to it, and it does bring forth a breathtaking, future-type melody.
11. Fragments of Time (feat. Todd Edwards)
Welcome back, Todd Edwards. This truly does make me think of cruising by the sunset and seeing the California palm trees. It might not be a Face to Face, but it's a nice, catchy song, nevertheless.
12. Doin' It Right (feat. Panda Bear)
This track is great from the start, as the vocals really do pull you in, and as the percussion kicks in, you can't help but move with the beat. Panda Bear's vocals are great in this song, and the second half of the track has a nice rhythm. Ending is slightly sudden.
13. Contact
What a phenomenal closer. Daft Punk and DJ Falcon chose great samples for this track, and if you don't get chills during this song ... try again. I feel like some of the elements from Rollin' & Scratchin' are in this song, and the last few minutes of this track are intense. Once again, great closer!
One complaint is that I would have liked to have the bonus track (Horizon) available in the U.S.
This album may not be for everyone, as there are few elements that remind us of the Discovery- or Homework-era Daft Punk, but we were warned that it was a departure from that scene. I feel that Daft Punk does a great job of going back to the roots and getting that human touch to dance back. Without the drops. Without the headbangers. Just nice, groovy jams. Album of the year right here. Deserves all five of these stars.
by Jesse Galvan Can't wait for the new album, it's been too long!! But I know this album is going to be amazing!
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Star Trek Into Darkness (Music From the Motion Picture) - Michael Giacchino

by ItsJohnBurns Followed by his already astounding Star Trek (2009) score, Giacchino manages to add an impressive mix of subtlety and intensity into previous themes, while adding new and doubly notable songs, which—by themselves—are so memorable that they could be the main themes for entirely different series. Five stars all the way.

I can't wait to see Into Darkness in three days!

by Saint Logos I'm a fan of this series of films. I'd never deny that. The film scores don't stand out much and use a pretty generic style and blend of instruments. I just don't find anything in here that memorable. Some others did, so maybe I'm just missing something. Anyway, the overall quality never declines anywhere, and the use of opera chanting(which is always a plus) in Kronos wone me over. The London track also had a somewhat more distinctive sound, and the pattering drum beats take focus here and there to create more distinct atmospheres. There's one thing here that has me scared, and that's the bonus track. Will this track be featured in the movie? I have no idea, but it would be very strange if it was. Not that it's "bad", it just doesn't sound like something that belongs in Star Trek.

by SPACESKULL Love Star Trek. Love Michael Giacchino. Have not seen the film yet. The Soundtrack, It's okay, not as great as the first album. It does pull in some of the themes from the first but most of it is okay. Sadly, I wish I had not purchased. I really love a lot of Mr. Giacchino' s work, like Speed Racer, Lost, Star Trek, but this album just did not grab me. I could listen to the first album over and over. Such great tunes. I will re-listen but I'm not looking forward to it. Also, the last song (future dance club music ) seems out of place with the rest.
Star Trek into Numbness.

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+ (Deluxe Version) - Ed Sheeran

1 The a Team Ed Sheeran 4:18 $1.29 View In iTunes 5 Wake Me Up Ed Sheeran 3:49 $1.29 View In iTunes 6 Small Bump Ed Sheeran 4:19 $1.29 View In iTunes 9 Lego House Ed Sheeran 3:05 $0.69 View In iTunes 10 You Need Me, I Don't Need You Ed Sheeran 3:40 $1.29 View In iTunes 12 Give Me Love Ed Sheeran 8:46 $1.29 View In iTunes 13 Autumn Leaves (Bonus Track) Ed Sheeran 3:20 $1.29 View In iTunes 14 Little Bird (Bonus Track) Ed Sheeran 3:44 $1.29 View In iTunes 15 Gold Rush (Bonus Track) Ed Sheeran 4:03 $1.29 View In iTunes 16 Sunburn (Bonus Track) Ed Sheeran 4:35 $1.29 View In iTunes

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Annie Up - Pistol Annies

Annie Up is the second album of sassy and confident country-pop from Pistol Annies, a talented trio whose 2011 debut release — Hell on Heels — was famously endorsed by Neil Young in his 2012 autobiography, Waging Heavy Peace. It's another set of self-penned songs injected with fun and conviction in equal measure, betraying a lightness of touch not always evident in the other recording projects of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley. Once again produced by Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, and Chuck Ainlay, the album features the upbeat and characterful single "Hush Hush."

by Gemluv Real country. This aint no Taylor Swift shizz.

by Shawnie_08 Cant wait for 5/7!. They are new dixie chicks, but better!.

by hushushpistolannies I LOVE THE PISTOL ANNIES!!!!! I love how they're so real and they're not afraid to say anything. They truly are Hell on Heels!

Formed: Nashville, TN

Genre: Country

Years Active: '10s

While working on songs for her third album, Revolution, Miranda Lambert turned to fellow country singer Ashley Monroe for help. The girls wrote two songs together, including the number one single “Heart Like Mine,” and decided to keep collaborating after the album’s release. Angaleena Presley later joined the songwriting sessions, too, turning what began as a standards collaboration into a sort of countrified girl group. Dubbing themselves the Pistol Annies, the three developed a spunky, harmony-heavy... Full Bio

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Cloud Atlas - Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer & Andy Wachowski

by shellysunshine I've always been a strong believer in the idea that there is deeper meaning in life and that perhaps we affect each other in profound ways beyond our own lifetime. This movie overtook me; pulled me through a range of so many emotions, questioned my beliefs, restored my hope, and gave my life a whole new meaning. I haven't been the same since I stepped foot in the theatre. It is a stunning masterpiece of storytelling, brilliant imagery, and Oscar-worthy acting, directing, and cinematography. I have been changed by this film. It isn't just a film; it's a profoundly life changing experience.

by Broken Headphones For what it's worth, "Cloud Atlas" is indeed a beautiful film. Unfortunately, it's also a very long one that ambitiously attempts to pack in as much story as it can within its near three-hour run time with frustrating results. This sci-fi fable might have been better served as a mini-series, or even as a full-blown TV show, giving it the elbow room it deserved to explore each storyline and every character throughout its time-spanning narrative. What the film gets right it gets very right. There are moments of real emotion and beauty. The ambition is palpable, the visuals are daunting, and the acting is often, but not always, excellent. The biggest problem here is that there's simply too much going on. With six interweaving stories being told at once, it's nearly impossible to keep up to full speed or even stay engaged with any single narrative since they all tend to move at a slow, dreary pace and abruptly end after only one scene to make way for the other plots. It's the clumsy execution of this film's events and how they fail to interconnect in a cohesive or emotionally enriching manner that ultimately ends up bringing it down in the long run. But is that to say "Cloud Atlas" is a disappointing experience all around? Not at all. In fact, more than anything, it greatly benefits from the all-star talents of its wide cast - which includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D'Arcy, Susan Sarandon, and Hugh Grant. Starring in multiple roles that span sex and race, many of the actors in this movie are hardly recognizable due to all the makeup and prosthetics covering their faces. It isn't until the very end when the credits appear that we find out who played which character. And even I have to admit I was shocked by the results, as was most of the audience in the theater I was in. Physical appearances aside, I couldn't help but feel disconnected from the protagonists in each narrative. None of them ever stood out to me on a clear emotional level (with perhaps the slight exception of Sonmi-451, a futuristic Korean clone who grows smart enough to rebel against her corrupt society), and I couldn't help but feel let down by their severely underdeveloped motives and personalities, despite the actors' best efforts to portray them. In particular, Hanks impressively commits to all six characters he plays, although I do wish he could've toned it down with the over-the-top accents at times. At the end of the day, there's no denying the ambition of "Cloud Atlas" and its heartfelt message that "everything in this world is connected." It's clear from start to finish that the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer wanted to create something that had never been done before, a sprawling cinematic opus telling six stories that range across continents from the 19th century to the post-apocalyptic future. Unfortunately, the connection between those plots just wasn't there. This flick gets so lost in its wild narrative ambitions that it almost entirely forgoes the character development and cohesive storytelling required to fully immerse its audience in its worlds. Nonetheless, this is still a wildly imaginative drama of truly epic proportions, despite its several frustrating drawbacks. With its breathtaking cinematography, stunning special effects, and gripping score, "Cloud Atlas" is endearingly sincere in its attempt to deliver a truly original larger-than-life cinematic experience with an existential theme, but it's never able to recover from its uneven screenplay and overlong run time. Still, if you're looking for some out-of-this-world entertainment full of visual and emotional grandeur, this time-spanning adventure is a solid pick. Yes, the screenplay is far too disjointed and undisciplined to truly resonate, but it's worth watching just for the expansive, thought-provoking ideas it brings up about humanity and the universe. In the end, this is a mixed bag of a flick that viewers will either come to appreciate or dislike. As long as you have an open mind and the patience to sit through and explore a wildly ambitious yet often unwieldy drama that's years ahead of its time, "Cloud Atlas" is well worth a watch.

by cutnshoot Most under-rated film of 2012. Great stuff! Are people dumb or what?

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Demi - Demi Lovato

Really Don't Care (feat. Cher Lloyd)

Her return from darkness out of the way, Demi Lovato returns to the serious business of stardom on Demi, her fourth album and the first positioned as the work of a true adult. Maturity is a bit of a tricky business on Demi, as it finds her copping modern trends without quite shaking off the studio system that fostered her. The latter is problematic, resulting in half-baked exercises in pageantry — such as the "Skyscraper" rewrite "Nightingale" — and the occasional cultural dissonance, like when she tells a suitor "you try to take me home like you're DiMaggio," a name not heard in a pop song for almost 25 years. Unfortunately, a lot of these stumbles arrive early in the record, but the back half of Demi shifts into a place where the studio professionalism and blatant cash-ins click. She brings in Cher Lloyd, winner of the seventh season of the British X-Factor, to rap on the brightly brickwalled kiss-off "Really Don't Care," she skips through the wildly appealing "Something That We're Not" — quite easily the purest and best piece of pop here — and deliriously rips off Katy Perry's "Firework" on "Fire Starter," which is shameless in its appropriating the prior hit's construction and progression but not its attitude. This second half is strong enough to make some of the earlier, tentative moments seem a bit better — this is particularly true of "Made in the USA," which cops Miley's "Party in the USA," but it's not quite so fetching an exploitation as "Fire Starter" — but ultimately, this isn't an album of purpose, it's a collection of moments, and it has just enough good ones to solidify Demi Lovato's comeback. [Demi was also released with a bonus-CD-R track.]

Born: August 20, 1992 in Dallas, TX

Genre: Pop

Years Active: '00s, '10s

Actress/vocalist Demi Lovato began making a name for herself after starring alongside the Jonas Brothers in the 2008 Disney Channel movie Camp Rock. Born in 1992 in Dallas, Texas, she was raised in a household that included her mother (a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader) and her two sisters, the youngest of whom launched her own acting career in 2008. Demi started out as a child actress, starring as a cast regular on Barney and Friends before finding her way onto the Disney Channel with a brief... Full Bio

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The Music of Nashville Original Soundtrack Volume 2 - Nashville Cast

by EastCoastCountryFan There are great songs on this album, but I already have all of them for the most part. Where is "Already Gone" by Connie Britton? I was looking forward to the second volume of this season's soundtrack coming out just for this song, and it's not on here. I am so disappointed, to say the least. Come on, ABC.

by kyblongrl76 The song the daughters sang was Ho Hey by the Lumineers. Absolutely loved it!!

by OneHotMama0305 I LOVE this show. The music is phenomenal, and I listen to it all of the time. But I have already purchased 5 out of the 11 songs on this soundtrack. I hope when it is released I will have the "complete my album" option, because I don't want to buy the same music twice. Also, what the heck took so long to release this one? I hope that the next soundtrack will come sooner.

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How Mercy Looks from Here (Deluxe Edition) - Amy Grant

by Rontourage I was fortunate to be sent a special streaming version of the entire album by the record label two days ago and I was very excited to get access to this because I've been a fan of Amy's since Age to Age. (For transparency: I'm in the music business but have no financial stake in anything Amy does or in her label, promo partners, I haven't been hired to promote this project, etc. -- my only tie to this project is as a fan). The album is stunning. If you are a fan of Amy's then let me tell you it has all of the trademark qualities that you've come to love and expect from this iconic storyteller: poignant lyrics, that gorgeous rasp, an acoustic pop sensibility with an original approach and, of course, lessons to be learned about love, life, loss, hope, faith in people and in the universe, acceptance, courage and living in the moment. If there are 5 tracks from any new CD that stand out in my mind immediately then that album gets two thumbs up from me. "Mercy" (and I've been listening to it non-stop for two days), I guess, then would get 4 thumbs up because I've found myself so connected to almost every track (except #11 which isn't full of depth but certainly full of hope…). There are songs on this album that will become signature songs of hers a la Father's Eyes, Baby Baby, Lead Me On and they include: Better Not to Know (gut-wrenching, tenderly delivered with hubby Vince providing tight, angelic harmonies), Shovel in Hand (a song of a mother watching her 19 year old son bury one of his friends "With Shovel in Hand, I see the bullet-proof boy turn into a broken man"), Deep as it is Wide (one of the best songs Amy has ever recorded (I'm serious) and it features amazing three-part harmonies and take-a-turn lead vocals from Sheryl Crow and rising country star Eric Palsay), the title track reminds you of "Lead Me On" as she puts us in the shoes of a 91-year-old woman who lost everything but survived the floods, of her own father's as his mind is ravaged by dementia, etc. to show us how mercy looks from here, Our Time is Now (trademark, upbeat, feel good about living in the moment and backed by amazing harmonies from non other than legendary Carole King), Here (letting us know loved ones no longer on this Earth and a higher power is everywhere…."I am here in the dark, i'm the music in your heart, i'm the song in every corner of the sky, I'm here, here, here"), "Not Giving Up" (I'm not giving up, not giving up on you, you can say you've had enough but that's not gonna stop me from calling, I wish you could see the way you look to me"), "If I Could See (What angels See)" starts the journey off with a trademark rockin' anthem with a driving beat, "Don't Try So Hard" the lead single which includes the sweet harmonies of James Taylor -- i thought at first this is one of the weaker songs and shouldn't have been the lead single but as I truly listened to it again I realized that the simplicity of the production and the stirring lyrics set up what she wants to tell us -- life isn't (or doesn't have to be) loud and overproduced and earth shattering … the more simple we make the arrangement, the more we hear and feel the words -- the more we get out of life when all the stuff that doesn't truly matter is stripped away. It's an unpredictable song from one of the most insightful music makers and storytellers of our time -- after all, part of what we've come to expect from her that unpredictable-ness (is that a word?), isn't it? Even writing this review finds me in tears throughout as I continue to absorb the lessons -- without judgment, without Bible thumping -- not only is she on our side but she's by our side just trying to learn what she can as life happens. She continues to lead by example and I feel very fortunate that I grew up with her in my life through the good and the bad. This deserves to be listened to by as many people as possible because this world needs to reconnect. Get past the "Christian artist vs. Pop Artist" because Amy Grant and How Mercy Looks from Here are what the world is lacking. I just heard Amy say in an interview, "Life is good in spite of -- and sometimes because of -- the hard times." Thank you, Amy Grant.

by wjstull I can't be more pleased with what I've heard so far. This album speaks to me very deeply. It is truly a piece of beautiful art...production, songcrafting, vocal sincerity. I can't be more ecstatic about this new record. Definitely one of my lifetime favorites. Stand out tracks for me are "Deep As It Is Wide," "How Mercy Looks from Here," "Better Not to Know," and I love the bonus tracks.

by clay2c47 I have been waiting for years for this album. I have every album Amy has ever done and her music has become a major part of the tapestry that has woven through my life's soundtrack. On top of my excitement and anticipation for this album, I am even more thrilled to find out that Sheryl Crow, one of my other all-time favorites, is featured in one of the tracks. This album just keeps getting better. I cannot wait until May 14th!

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Golden - Lady Antebellum

by 1treehill23 I am not a normal country person, but LADY A changed all that for me. I love there music, they are absolutely fantastic. I'm so happy we get to listen to the whole album even before its out. I can't wait till May 7th.

by Michelle Lisk I think that Lady A has really stepped up their game on this one. Loving the new songs. They stole my heart from their very first album and have had ever since,don't see that changing any time soon. Thanks Lady A for singing the songs that reach out to so many that speak from our hearts.

by Shelll3 Hillary, Dave, and Charles have done it again! I expect more grammy wins in this trio's future with Golden. This album reminds me much of their first debut album. Classic Lady A. MUST BUY.

Formed: 2006 in Augusta, GA

Genre: Country

Years Active: '00s, '10s

Formed in 2006 by Charles Kelley (brother of singer/songwriter Josh Kelley), Hillary Scott (daughter of Grammy-winning country artist Linda Davis), and Dave Haywood, Lady Antebellum make contemporary country music that relies on the trio's rich harmonies and impeccable instrumental skills. Since its inception, the trio has graduated from dive bars to the Grand Ole Opry, opening for Phil Vassar, Rodney Atkins, and Carrie Underwood along the way. The group signed with Capitol Nashville in 2007 and... Full Bio

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Red - Taylor Swift

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together The Last Time (feat. Gary Lightbody) Everything Has Changed (feat. Ed Sheeran) Born: December 13, 1989 in Wyomissing, PA

Genre: Country

Years Active: '00s, '10s

Taylor Swift became one of country's brightest (and youngest) faces in 2006, when the 16-year-old released her first album. Although new to the American public, Swift had been performing since her preteen years in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, where she first took the stage as part of a children's theater troupe. Encouraged by the troupe's manager to pursue music instead, Swift began performing karaoke songs at a local mall, with open-mike gigs following shortly thereafter. She sang "The Star-Spangled... Full Bio

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Night Visions (Deluxe Version) - Imagine Dragons

Historically, there's a progression that bands usually follow before their sound goes full-on arena rock. Things will start small and gritty, and then as the fame and crowds build, the sound changes to match the massiveness of the venues. However, on their debut album, Imagine Dragons buck tradition and swing straight for the cheap seats, doing away with generations of sonic evolution in favor of the huge, arena-made sound of Night Visions. Dramatic and sweeping, the Las Vegas band works in the same vein as pop giants Coldplay, offering up track after track of hooky and emotional midtempo jams. While a move like this might seem overly ambitious for a freshman band, Imagine Dragons are able to pull the sound off, with songs like the already ubiquitous, seemingly soundtrack-ready "It's Time" having no trouble worming their way into whatever part of the brain it is that likes to trap songs against listeners' will. The problem is, while the band's electronically reinforced sound is definitely big, it sometimes feels as though it lacks depth. Despite this, "Every Night" will certainly have some listeners unconsciously reaching for a lighter to wave in the air before they realize what they're doing, and it's exactly these kinds of surface pleasures that we turn to pop music for in the first place. What this means is that even though Imagine Dragons might have skipped a few steps along the way to their arena sound, Night Visions is still an album that, at least for a few minutes at a time, will make everyday life seem just a little bit bigger. [The Deluxe version features five bonus tracks.]

by john123 These guys simply cannot make a bad song.

by JOHNSTANLEY!!! Imagine Dragons has a different, unique sound to each track, and yet the band maintains a uniform style. Their lyrics are clean and have clever ideas, as opposed to talking about love and breakups and drugs. Their music is fun and inspirational sounding and their rhythms are catchy. In summary, IMAGINEDRAGONSHOLYCRAPAMAZING

by GSmity They have such a different sound on every song it's awesome

Formed: 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Genre: Alternative

Years Active: '10s

Las Vegas-based indie rockers Imagine Dragons formed in Provo, Utah in 2009. Like their desert-born stadium rock contemporaries the Killers, Imagine Dragons blend engaging, synth-based dance-pop with emotionally charged, Brit-pop-inspired alt-rock. After releasing a pair of well-received EPs (Imagine Dragons and Hell and Silence), the group inked a deal with Interscope Records and headed into West Hollywood's famed Westlake Recording Studios with producer Alex Da Kid (Eminem, Paramore)... Full Bio

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This Is 40 (Unrated) - Judd Apatow

by Bored out of my mind 34 This movie was way too long and slow and summarizes everything that's wrong with America: people living above their means, bratty kids, etc. Don't waste your time watching it at home. Just go to your local restaurant, gym, coffee shop, etc. It's all there...

by CORunner39 I never write reviews, but having suffered through this film last night, I felt compelled.
This movie should not even be mentioned in the same category as "Knocked Up", which was funny. "This is 40" is deeply depressing, slow, dim witted, and vulgar simply for the sake of being vulgar.
I wish I could have my $5.99 back along with the 2.5 hours of my life that was wasted on this trash.
Time to call it quits Apatow!

by Broken Headphones You've got to hand it to Judd Apatow: he really knows his shtick and he sticks to it. Overlong, crass, adult-themed comedy-dramas are his forte, and "This Is 40" delivers right on par with his other movies. But four flicks into his career and it's a routine that has rapidly gotten tired, made even worse by the fact that this flick ultimately fails to serve up anything new, refreshing, or even insightful that the director's previous comedies haven't already offered. Sure, the movie manages to hit some humorous high marks here and there, but they aren't enough to make up for the remaining two hours we're inevitably left to face. At the center of "This Is 40" are Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann), the other couple from Apatow's immensely popular R-rated comedy "Knocked Up." After years of marriage, the pair is finally approaching the dreaded 4-0, and they're each on opposite sides of the spectrum. Debbie is strictly focused on changing every facet of their lives as a means to obtain a newfound "maturity," while Pete's dream job as head of an indie record label has seen him fall under considerable financial strain. Parental issues and a pair of squabbling daughters also add to their woes. For those not in the know, Mann is actually Apatow's wife and the child actresses who play Pete and Debbie's kids are his daughters. So logically, one can't help but conclude that Rudd is essentially playing Apatow himself. With such knowledge, it's a bit hard not to view this movie as anything other than Apatow purging his own bitterness and insecurities at the audience, with the stench of anger, regret, and depression almost impossible to wash off after the credits roll. Call it a study in midlife crisis or even a therapeutic exercise. Either way, at well over the two-hour mark, it's mostly a draining slog of an ultimately uncomfortable experience, especially with characters as progressively annoying as these. Not to say that Rudd and Mann don't play their protagonists well, yet as written by Apatow, this is a pair that can really test the patience of most viewers. Mann has always straddled the line between cutesy and annoying in most of her roles (firmly crossing over to the latter here), and that carefree, boyish charm that Rudd typically excels in doesn't hold up nearly as well here. Sure, many will end up commending Apatow's approach to marriage, parenthood, and getting older as "real" and "uncensored." Yet "real" doesn't always make for entertaining and "uncensored" typically loses most of its luster with a running time this brutally long (at least a good forty minutes needed to be cut from the film alone). As it stands, "This Is 40" is an endurance test of mistrust, stress, and simmering middle-age bitterness, layered by the type of crass and raunchy humor that's only laugh-out-loud funny in small bits and pieces (Melissa McCarthy in particular has a hilarious scene-stealer as an angry mother in a principal's office). If you do decide to see this film, just know that it's not a feel-good comedy. It's more of a tense family drama with a few comedic elements blended in. Still, if you're a fan of Apatow's perceptive brand of humor, it's worth a one-time rent at the very least.

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Music Speaks - Candice Glover

1 I Am Beautiful Music Speaks 2:56 $1.29 View In iTunes 2 I Who Have Nothing (American Idol Performance) I Who Have Nothing (American Idol Performance) - Single 2:58 $1.29 View In iTunes 3 I Who Have Nothing (American Idol Performance) American Idol - Top 10 Season 12 2:58 Album Only View In iTunes 4 Come Together (American Idol Performance) American Idol: Top 9 Season 12 3:57 Album Only View In iTunes 5 Come Together (American Idol Performance) Come Together (American Idol Performance) - Single 3:57 $1.29 View In iTunes 6 I Heard It Through the Grapevine (American Idol Performance) I Heard It Through the Grapevine (American Idol Performance) - Single 3:48 $1.29 View In iTunes 7 I Heard It Through the Grapevine (American Idol Performance) American Idol - Top 8 Season 12 3:48 Album Only View In iTunes 8 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction [American Idol Performance] American Idol - Top 7 Season 12 3:44 Album Only View In iTunes 9 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction [American Idol Performance] (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction [American Idol Performance] - Single 3:44 $1.29 View In iTunes 10 Lovesong (American Idol Performance) Lovesong (American Idol Performance) - Single 4:48 $1.29 View In iTunes

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My Head Is An Animal - Of Monsters and Men

Open iTunes to preview, buy, and download music.

by MadDog 2020 A fine album indeed; musically interesting, distinctive vocals and engaging subject matter. And very catchy melodies. The "magical" video is clealry inspired by early Sugar Cube videos. But am I the only one here who thinks they sound more like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros than Mumford and Sons (case in point: compare "Little Talks" to "Home")?

by Zymurgy7777 To the idiots saying they ripped the name off another band, Of Mice and Men was a book first so go get your GED before you give a band a one star review, pretty decent album though if you're into indie rock.

by dramastar123 Amazing. Many call these guys the Icelandic Mumford and Sons, but I think the guy/girl duet raises the bar. I have a new favorite album. So different and fascinating, I love it!

Genre: Alternative

Years Active: '10s

After winning the nationwide 2010 battle-of-the-bands competition Musiktilraunir in their native Iceland, six-piece chamber pop group Of Monsters and Men were hailed as "the new Arcade Fire" in Rolling Stone magazine. A bidding war ensued, and the group signed with Universal Music Group. In the beginning of 2012, a four-song EP titled Into the Woods was... Full Bio

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Star Trek - J.J. Abrams

The greatest adventure of all time begins with Star Trek, the incredible story of a young crew's maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind. The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James Kirk (Chris Pine), is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock (Zachary Quinto), was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before.

Reviews Counted: 297Fresh: 281Rotten: 16Average Rating: 8.1/10

Fresh: With Star Trek Abrams honors the show's legacy without fossilizing its best qualities. Instead, he's whisked it off to a planet where numbing nostalgia can't kill it, and where the future is still something to look forward to. – Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com, Jun 24, 2010

Fresh: In going back to tell the Enterprise story from the beginning, Star Trek presses collective emotional buttons people didn't even know they had. At its best, the effect is like seeing life panoramically, past and future, simultaneous and magnificent. – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle, Jun 24, 2010

Fresh: Star Trek goes back to the legend's roots with a boldness that brings a fatigued franchise back to life. – Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal, Jun 24, 2010

Fresh: In his daft, dizzy reinvention of a moribund franchise, Abrams has found a way to be referential without being reverential, to conjure nostalgia without being constrained by it. – Christopher Orr, The New Republic, Jun 24, 2010

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The Master - Paul Thomas Anderson

by Broken Headphones Let me just start by saying that "The Master" is NOT for everyone. This is a movie specifically designed to intensely challenge and shock its viewers in the most harrowing and uncomfortable ways you can imagine. There are several scenes that may simply leave you scratching your head in utter confusion and make you wonder why that entire sequence was added to begin with. But honestly, that's exactly what makes this flick so fascinating to watch. It never takes the time to explain itself, nor does it even try to, and yet, the movie solidly commands your attention in all its enigmatic glory. The characters Paul Thomas Anderson has created here are nothing short of complex, if not disturbing. Freddie Quell (played with brilliant force by the underrated Joaquin Phoenix) is a World War II veteran whose experiences overseas have left him a completely manic and unstable shadow of his former self - a drifter controlled by his unrestrained temper and heavy drinking obsession. Just when it finally seems as though he's reached his nadir, Freddie inadvertently finds himself aboard a ship carrying Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the creepily charismatic leader of "The Cause", a mysterious religious movement with unclear motives. Over the course of the film, Dodd manages to persuade Freddie to join the cult and takes him under his wing - much to the distaste of Dodd's overbearing and fanatical wife (Amy Adams). Because "The Master" focuses almost all of its attention on character development rather than cohesive storytelling, the film has a sense of erratic claustrophobia to it that makes it all the more difficult to sit through. Phoenix pretty much drives the movie with his surreal portrayal of an insane man on the brink of self-destruction. The way his character unintelligibly mumbles, the way he irrationally and unconsciously acts without thinking makes it all the more terrifyingly believable. As for Hoffman's performance, one could argue that it's even more impressive than Phoenix's. His unnerving depiction of a manipulative cult leader has a persona that ranges from seemingly charming to downright monstrous. Adams' psychotic character is also a scene-stealer, but she hardly gets any screen time compared to her male co-stars, which is a shame. Above all, "The Master" is a powerful commentary on both society and the individual - the need for acceptance, belonging, a figure to look up to: particularly in the time shortly after war, where so many young men returned to a nation that didn't know what to do with them all - all focused through the bare-bone emotion of Phoenix's character. But due to its unflinching rawness, this film becomes too overbearing at times, making it feel largely unattainable for a wider audience. There are a lot of scenes that may easily shock you both mentally and physically (at one point in the flick, the main character experiences a disturbing fever dream in which he imagines all the women in the room he's in are completely nude). This movie is definitely not for the most sensitive viewers, and it'll probably leave you with more questions than answers, but if you appreciate filmmaking at its most creatively daring and audaciously polarizing, I still recommend giving it a chance. Even if you aren't the biggest fan of Paul Thomas Anderson's work, "The Master" is well worth seeing at least once for its magnificent performances, expert cinematography, and challenging - albeit confounding - screenplay.

by Eckomania I'm a huge PT Anderson fan. I was lucky enough to see a 70mm film print of this film, knew quite a bit about the subject matter, and was quite excited to see it. But I left the theater disappointed. In the few times Anderson has failed during his career its usually because his script is heavy on dialog and contains an unfocused narrative. This is no exception and it has to be ranked amongst his worst outings as a filmmaker.

by MrTnyc Great acting, useless story.

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Warm Bodies - Jonathan Levine

by Broken Headphones Who would've thought that a zombified twist on "Romeo & Juliet" would turn out to be one of the most surprisingly enjoyable films of the year? Well, I sure didn't, but director and writer Jonathan Levine proved that such a crazy concept could be done with plenty of charm, style, emotion, and wit to spare. Never opting to go the standard "Twilight" route, this quirky post-apocalyptic romance really draws us into its story with a sense of self-aware humor that's rarely ever seen in many teen flicks. It also heavily borrows from the John Hughes playbook to great effect, mixing authentic depth and adolescent awkwardness with a sentimental eye for detail. But more than anything, "Warm Bodies" is a consistently entertaining comedic romp that takes full advantage of its well-rounded cast, as well as its wacky paranormal premise. Sure, the script stumbles at times, but when it works, it really works.

Based on the best-selling young adult novel by Isaac Marion, the movie, which takes place sometime after the future zombie apocalypse, follows R (Nicholas Hoult), a young and oddly introspective member of the living dead who spends most of his time wandering around an abandoned airport with other hordes of zombies, simply waiting for the next meal to present itself. But on a feeding encounter with a human gathering party, R meets a beautiful girl named Julie (Teresa Palmer), and feels an urge to protect her. What occurs next is the beginning of a strangely warm relationship that causes R to start gaining back his humanity. As this change begins to spread throughout the undead population, Julie and R eventually find they're facing a larger issue even as their friendship is seriously tested. Caught between the paranoid human forces and the ferocious "Bonies" (who are a mutual threat), our heroes must find a way to bridge the sides to fight for a better world no one thought possible.

I'll admit, that synopsis does sound a bit corny, and in some ways it is, but thanks to the terrific performances of its cast, the flick manages to be both engaging and heartfelt without ever succumbing to the overbearing sappiness that typically plagues most teen romances. Hoult is simply hysterical as the movie's awkwardly witty zombie protagonist R. Most of the dialogue we hear from him is actually in the form of narration inside his head, and the observational humor he points out about life as one of the undead is consistently clever, a lot more so than you might think. Even when Palmer, the love interest, enters into the story, we always feel emotionally attached to R, not just because of his natural likability, but also because we really want him to get the girl and succeed in the end, despite nearly all the odds being stacked against him. And while Hoult and Palmer may not exactly share the most believable chemistry on screen, their personalities definitely shine brighter and work better to their advantage. Besides the two lead stars, though, this film greatly benefits just as much from the supporting performances of Analeigh Tipton, Rob Corddry, and Dave Franco. But even their secondary characters are no match for John Malkovich's surprisingly self-serious role as the high-ranking general and overprotective father of R's human girlfriend, Julie. His character may be a bit of a cliché, but he commits to it with such fervency and passion and that you eventually begin to believe he's the real deal. The script, while it often meanders more often than not, still knows just how and when to get back on track when it truly needs to. And I've gotta say, this movie's soundtrack is just the icing on the cake. You can never go wrong with Guns N' Roses and Bob Dylan, am I right? That, along with the cast's memorable performances, are just enough to make up for the so-so digital effects and overuse of zombie puns.

While it most likely won't be in the race to win any Oscars anytime soon, "Warm Bodies" still stands as one of the better films to be released so far in 2013. With its unique paranormal twist on the classic Shakespearean tale we all know, this sweet ode to teen romance and decaying corpses goes beyond the predictable trappings of its premise to deliver a bloody fresh twist on the zombie genre altogether. It can even be compared to flicks like "Shaun of the Dead" and "Zombieland" in the way it mixes comedy and horror with consistent wit and endearing nostalgia. In the end, this is a well- executed love story that remains fun and quirky from start to finish thanks to the strengths of its charming cast, authentic emotion, and sharply-timed humor. Whether you love comedies, romances, zombies, or all three, "Warm Bodies" is a delightful cinematic treat that doubles as a solid date flick, the kind that both can enjoy together. If you haven't seen it yet, I strongly suggest giving it a rent. Trust me, it's worth your time.

by Crazy monkey35 Apple make it happen!

by Mac J Savi First, if you love 80's music then you'll dig the tunes in this movie. The music spoke volumes. I really enjoyed the use of music.

The movie itself was a great play on Romeo and Juliet. Nicholas Hoult was excellent as R. He gave him a voice with his eyes and facial expressions. I thought it was a sweet love story, and Issac Marion used this love story as commentary on our dependency on electronics and solitary existence as an extension of those electronics.

It's a great movie. If you don't buy it at least give it a chance by renting it. .

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Safe Haven (2013) - Lasse Hallström

by Broken Headphones When I agreed to see "Safe Haven" with my girlfriend over Valentine's Day weekend, I already knew what I'd be getting myself into: another shoddy adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel with all the trimmings: a good-looking cast, a plot filled with all the sappy clichés you'd expect to appear, and some truly terrible dialogue uttered in typical monotone fashion. And just as expected, the film ended up delivering all of that, plus quite a few other things that ultimately made it one of the most unintentionally hilarious romantic dramas ever made. No, really, I'm serious. The whole film, from start to finish, is essentially just one big awkward comedy. The main characters, played by Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel, are so poorly developed and inherently generic that whenever they try to display even an ounce of credible romantic authenticity, it comes across as just plain laughable. I'd especially say the same for the rest of the cast, particularly the clichéd villain, who we all clearly know is evil because he carries a bottle of vodka in his hand wherever he goes while a loud, menacing score plays in the background. Nothing is subtle or even that surprising about any of the boring characters that plague this emotionally bland romance, but it's the ludicrous plot twists that really set it apart from other movies like "Dear John" and "The Lucky One." I actually had to keep myself from laughing at just how unbelievably ludicrous and shamelessly forced upon the story these twists were. One of them is so ridiculous that it just betrays all logic and abruptly ends the film in the most insanely bizarre and sentimentally manipulative way imaginable. It's a suitably nonsensical conclusion to a simple love story gone completely wrong. Hough and Duhamel try their best to bring the most out of their formulaic roles, and the film's picture-perfect Southern backdrop is undeniably gorgeous to look at, but pretty visuals can't make up for flat emotions, hackneyed melodrama, and eye-rolling plot twists, all of which are drenched in a heaping pile of overbearing schmaltz. Still, I truly didn't think "Safe Haven" was downright terrible. It did make for a surprisingly entertaining comedy, after all. Plus, my girlfriend really enjoyed it, so I can't complain too much. At the end of the day, unless you happen to be a diehard fan of Nicholas Sparks dramas or just enjoy watching hilariously bad movies, this one is far from a must-see.

by Anneisowum this was a really great movie and I recommend anyone!

by ecv763 This was the first Nicolas Sparks movie I've seen and I was not impressed. It seemed to drag on and on. The dialogue was uninspired and the story was just dumb in my opinion. Waste of time and money.

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Love Is Everything - George Strait

I Just Can't Go On Dying Like This I Thought I Heard My Heart Sing That's What Breaking Hearts Do You Don't Know What You're Missing

George Strait decided he'd retire from the road once he turned 60, so he launched a farewell tour in 2013 that is scheduled to run into 2014. Hanging up his concert hat doesn't necessarily indicate that he's taking a break from recording, so there's no suggestion that Love Is Everything — his 28th studio album, released in May of 2013, just as the farewell tour began — will be his final recording. True enough, Love Is Everything does not have the gravity that's required of a final statement, as it glides by with the natural ease that has been Strait's signature since the start. This light touch combined with Strait's unapologetic slowing gait — there aren't nearly as many breezy numbers as there were last time around on 2011's Here for a Good Time — make for an appealingly mellow little record, one heavy on ballads ranging from such sweet pieces of sunburnt pop as "Sittin' on the Fence" to such old-fashioned romantic crooning such as "I Just Can't Go on Dying Like This," which would have felt equally comfortable in the hands of either George Jones or Frank Sinatra. Strait can still kick up a little dust — "The Night Is Young" is a good Texas two-step, "I Thought I Heard My Heart Sing" nearly bounces along on the giddiness of its melody — but he's not so concerned in exercising that swing muscle all that often. He'd rather lay back and sings songs of love won and lost, and even if that means Love Is Everything isn't necessarily ambitious, it is remarkably satisfying.

Born: May 18, 1952 in Poteet, TX

Genre: Country

Years Active: '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s

Out of all the new country singers to emerge in the early '80s, George Strait stayed the closest to traditional country. Drawing from both the honky tonk and Western swing traditions, Strait didn't refashion the genres; instead, he revitalized them for a new decade. In the process, he became one of the most popular and influential singers of the decade, sparking... Full Bio

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Life On a Rock - Kenny Chesney

iTunes LPLife On a Rock - iTunes LP Spread the Love (feat. The Wailers) [with Elan] Coconut Tree (with Willie Nelson) Happy On the Hey Now (A Song For Kristi) Born: March 26, 1968 in Knoxville, TN

Genre: Country

Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s

Contemporary country star Kenny Chesney didn't have the immediate breakout success that many of his peers enjoyed upon signing with major labels, but gradually built up a significant following via hard work, pop-friendly ballads, and a likable, "Average Joe" persona. Chesney was born in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1968 and raised in the nearby small town of Luttrell, best known as the home of Chet Atkins. He grew up listening to both country and rock & roll, but didn't get serious about music until... Full Bio

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Love Will... - Trace Adkins

Kiss You All Over (feat. Exile) Watch the World End (feat. Colbie Caillat) BookletDigital Booklet - Love Will...

This is a romantic album, as the title Love Will... suggests: sweet, soulful, and slow, almost entirely ignoring the honky tonk that was once Trace Adkins' stock in trade. In its stead comes a duet with Colbie Caillat, a singer who has nothing to do with country, and a cover of Exile's disco-country classic "Kiss You All Over" cut with the group itself, two indications that Adkins is mining a distinctly smooth and seductive territory, one that sonically could cross over into the pop mainstream if it weren't for his burly baritone, a signature that keeps him planted in country. This is country music but it's rooted in the masculine slickness of the heyday of urban cowboy. The occasional slight Auto-Tune placed on Adkins' voice strongly signals this album was cut in the present day but, otherwise, Love Will... plays a bit like a throwback to the glory days of soft country, crossed with a little bit of new millennial production flair (chiefly achieved in the echo, ringing, single-note riffs that are there for texture, not hooks). Perhaps Love Will... doesn't make itself known the way earlier Adkins records did, but this is charmingly low-key and suggests a nice mature second act as a crooner for the singer.

Born: January 13, 1962 in Sarepta, LA

Genre: Country

Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s

Trace Adkins helped keep country's traditionalist flame burning during the crossover-happy late '90s, mixing classic honky tonk with elements of gospel, blues, and rock & roll. Adkins was born in the small Louisiana town of Sarepta in 1962 and took up the guitar at an early age; he went on to study music at Louisiana Tech, where he also played football and worked on an offshore oil rig after graduating. His finger was severed in an accident while on the job, and once several years had passed,... Full Bio

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To Be Loved - Michael Bublé

by Bjacketfan03 This song is one of the best I can not wait for the rest of the album. Michael Buble is one of the best and a must in your Ipod and Itunes

by Broken Headphones In an overcrowded music industry packed with countless generic pop singers, Michael Bublé is truly a diamond in the rough. Everything about him, from his richly textured falsetto to his incredibly charming lyrics, feels genuine and meaningful. He simply doesn't need to rely on auto-tune or high-tech vocal effects to enhance his voice. He's just a natural-born singer, which is why my anticipation for his latest record, "To Be Loved," couldn't be higher. I've already become addicted to the catchy first single, "It's a Beautiful Day," so here's hoping that the rest of the album won't disappoint. But seeing as how Bublé always manages to top himself with each new CD, I highly doubt that'll happen.

by HasEveryNameBeenTaken?!? It is not auto-tune. That is his actual voice and it sounds nothing like auto-tune so stop hating.

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The Lumineers - The Lumineers

by pamsmiley How can you not love this song! Way to go Neyla! Proud to say you were my student.

by InlettecluatMall So many people already know that they put on an amazing show! With this album, The Lumineers also have proved to be masters in a studio. For a debut album, this self titled work shines blindingly as one of the best of 2012. I'm so excited to see where they will go! I'll follow on The Lumineers' heels as close as uncomfortably possible because I know I'll always have a pretty bird singing in my ear.

Love x 10 + 100.

by Tablite I saw this band live just two days ago in Seattle. I'd been waiting to see them for many, many weeks. Now to finally have the new album downloaded and at my fingertips is perfect. Each song brings new life and love to the sound. They are heart warming and true. You can feel the love they have for the music and for each other. Their songs bring people together. I can't pick a favorite song. I love them all.

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Modern Vampires of the City - Vampire Weekend

At the time of its release, Modern Vampires of the City was touted as a "deeper" offering from Vampire Weekend. While that's true to an extent, that also downplays the equally heartfelt and clever songs on their first two albums. What is undeniable is that Modern Vampires is a lot less obviously showy than the band's previous work. They trade in Contra's bright eclecticism for a less audacious production style and smaller instrumental palette: guitar, organ, harpsichord, and the occasional sample combine into a rarefied sound that suggests a more insular version of their debut, and the band bookends the album with some of its most literal and insular chamber pop on "Obvious Bicycle" and "Young Lion." Modern Vampires' quieter approach also showcases what might be most enduring about Vampire Weekend's music — endearing melodies and carefully crafted lyrics. It also fits Ezra Koenig's preoccupations on this set of songs, chief among them the fact that we're all going to die. The band sums up all of this brilliantly on "Step," where the music's hip-hop beats and harpsichords reflect the allusions to Souls of Mischief and growing pains in Koenig's lyrics. Elsewhere, Vampire Weekend tones down the quirks that may have polarized listeners before; songs like "Everlasting Arms" and "Unbelievers" walk the fine line between cheery and grating so well that they could even win over those who previously found them too peppy and preppy. Similarly, Modern Vampires of the City's political allusions are also subtler than they were on Contra, where the band brandished them like college students all too willing to display their awareness of current events: Koenig sounds offhanded when he sings "though we live on the US dollar/We got our own sense of time" on "Hannah Hunt," and even the album's most overtly political song, the darkly verbose "Hudson," adopts a more historical stance as it incorporates everything from 17th century explorers, pre-war apartments, and exclusive New York neighborhoods into its meditations on fate versus free will. Of course, Vampire Weekend can't completely stifle their exuberance, and the album's louder moments stand out even more vibrantly against the subdued ones. "Diane Young"'s brash, buzzy mix of doo wop, surf, and punk feels like a nod to Contra as well as Billy Joel's "You May Be Right," and Koenig sings "I don't wanna live like this, but I don't wanna die" with so much joy on "Finger Back" that it celebrates life as much as it contemplates mortality. Ultimately, Modern Vampires of the City is more thoughtful than it is dark, balancing its more serious moments with a lighter touch and more confidence than they've shown before. Even if Koenig and company fear getting old, maturity suits them well.

by Ari P Vampire Weekend have really outdone themselves with this most recent effort. They are no longer those kids in their early 20’s writing about oxford commas. They have matured as a band and this album is as good as anything they’ve done. Their songs are no longer about youthful or mundane concepts. They have really dug deep on this latest effort - singing about regret, loss, love, and religion – the types of things adults in their late 20’s begin to think about more and more as they enter a quarter-life crisis. This is Vampire Weekend’s most clever, thought-provoking album yet. The way they blend all the songs together into a magnificent concept album is astounding. This will go down as one of the best concept albums of the 21st century, along with The Decemberists’ The Hazards of Love and Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs. The album cover is a great metaphor showing how anthropogenic emissions can kill people in a similar manner as vampires – hence, acting as a “modern vampire” in this day and age. The photo was taken on the smoggiest day in New York City back in 1966. I have streamed this album 5 times now and it just keeps getting better and better with each listen! The standout tracks are Obvious Bicycle, Step, Don’t Lie, Hannah Hunt, and Ya Hey. Enjoy this masterpiece! Albums like this do not come out everyday!

by Mattthecoolguy So far the four or so leaked/released tracks show that this is going to be an amazing album! I can't wait to hear the rest, especially if the ones that we have heard are this good!

by YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEUS Their sound has evolved and it's new and exciting but it's still got their classic sound. And iHawkeye5 who rated it three stars because of itunes . . . your reviewing the album not itunes, don't do that -__-

Formed: NY

Genre: Alternative

Years Active: '00s, '10s

Describing their sound as "Upper West Side Soweto," New York City's Vampire Weekend mix preppy, well-read indie rock with joyful, Afro-pop-inspired melodies and rhythms. Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio, Rostam Batmanglij, and Chris Tomson formed the band early in 2006, when they were finishing up their studies at Columbia University. Taking their name from a movie Koenig made during his freshman year, the band started out by playing gigs at the university's literary societies and at parties. Word spread... Full Bio

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Silver Linings Playbook - David O. Russell

by Alina Meza Being that I'm a 16 year old girl, who has been diagnosed with severe depression, been put in a psychiatric hospital, and now has officially been diagnosed with being bipolar, this movie means more to me than words can say. It had me crying and laughing every second. After seeing this movie, I don't feel alone anymore, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to the creators of this movie and the book.

by Broken Headphones When it comes to the overwhelming crowd of Hollywood-produced romantic comedies we tend to see every year or so, "Silver Linings Playbook" is truly a diamond in the rough. With its unconventional story, naturally flawed cast of unstable characters, and impressive balance of poignant drama and heartfelt hilarity, this fantastic film sheds a painful yet uplifting light on the ups and downs of mental instability, while also forming a relationship around two of the unlikeliest of people. It's an emotional roller coaster ride full of compassion and craziness, love and laughter, depth and personal destruction, and just about everything in between. It isn't always the easiest film to watch, but if you have the patience, it's worth it.

The movie follows Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper), a former teacher struggling with severe cases of bipolar disorder and depression. After spending eight months in a mental health institution, he finds himself moving back in with his mother (Jacki Weaver) and father (Robert De Niro). Determined to get his life back on track and retain a positive attitude, Pat wants nothing more than to reunite with his estranged ex-wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation (she has a restraining order against him following a previous incident). In light of this situation, he tries contacting her through some of his old friends. It's through them that he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl who has complicated problems of her own, and his life suddenly becomes a little more complex. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he'll do something for her in return: compete in a ballroom dance competition. And pretty soon, an unexpected bond between them slowly begins to form.

David O. Russell's story about the blooming romance between two unstable basket cases is both quietly subtle and uneasily complex at once. Like I said before, this isn't your typical Hollywood rom-com that demands a needlessly happy ending for everyone involved. It purely focuses on reality, and the characters (and actors) in the film couldn't be more genuine. From the moment the two of them appear on screen together, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence share a fluent, incredibly authentic chemistry. Their characters, Pat and Tiffany, are like loose firecrackers who can explode at any given moment. They always bring out the best and worst in each other, and that's what makes them so likable and interesting throughout the film. You can't easily predict how their individual stories will end since their personalities are wildly uneven, but because of their determined spirits, they genuinely make you want to root for them from start to finish. Despite both their remarkably powerful screen presences, Cooper and Lawrence aren't the only stars in this movie who strike a chord. Robert De Niro gives one of his best performances in recent years as Pat's father, a thoughtful but stern patriarch who constantly obsesses over his hometown football team, the Philadelphia Eagles. As for Jacki Weaver, who plays Pat's loving mother, she smartly underplays the role by staying away from most of the action and providing gentle support to her family when they need it. Chris Tucker, John Ortiz, and Julia Stiles all play their supporting roles to the best of their abilities, even though they star in very few scenes. But even so, this is one of the strongest all-star casts ever assembled for any romantic comedy, and it's only strengthened by the Oscar-worthy talents of Cooper and Lawrence.

Tackling a series of tricky mature themes - mental disorders just being one of many - with grace, heart, and humanity, "Silver Linings Playbook" is a beautifully crafted film that never aims to take the easy way out. Russell's direction is keen and sensitive, and the characters he's created are easily some of the most memorable, authentically realistic protagonists I've seen in a long time. The whole cast is excellent, the screenplay is consistently involving, the score by Danny Elfman is charming as always, and the humor and drama blend amazingly with one another. It's a smart, original film that features Bradley and Jennifer at their finest, and if you have the time, I eagerly recommend giving it a chance. You'll be glad you did.

by AnnaBeeMe I find it funny that some of the people rating this movie poorly do it on the basis of it not being faithful of the reality of the disorder. I find it funny because I am bipolar. Because I have spent time in a hospital. Because I am medicated, and I go to support groups for people with this disorder, as does my mother to support groups for family members, and every single person I know who has seen this movie, and lives with this condition on a daily basis, has loved the movie. I can accept perfectly that people might not like the movie for several reasons, but I don't get this reason.

Bipolar disorder is tricky, and manifests differently in different people but there is loads there that any one of us could relate to… and not least importantly that it does provide an inspirational silver lining that strengthens the hearts of people who live in this world.

I confess I laughed a little too much in the movie. Like when the two compare medication, I was chuckling where most of the theater was quiet. Still, even if you take away the bipolar side of it, it's enchanting movie making, and a romantic comedy worth watching… to the likes I hadn't seen in a long time.

The acting was perfect, especially that of the Jacki Weaver, who is less mentioned than the other three, but not less amazing.

The movie is a mix of up and down and finally hope… perfect for a bipolar who is looking to be better… or just anyone really. :-)

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