THE MAGAZINE ALL ABOUT YOU. ™
2010 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE AR E SW
S I C RY K S V O
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MAKEUP GOODS NAPOLEON PERDIS, NARS, TOO FACED & TOKIDOKI FA S
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Holiday 2010, Issue 2
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PUBLISHER Mireille Deer
The end of the year is here, and it’s time for you to ask the serious seasonal question: Who’s been naughty or nice? Knowing that you’re faced with the harsh realization that you actually have to drop dough on someone other than yourself, VAIN is making this salty situation a bit sweeter for you with our Holiday Gift Guide. Full of everything but fluffy slippers and cardigan sweaters, our guide keeps you from making poor purchasing decisions and keeps you from looking dumb—a look that no VAIN woman wears well. With gifts for the young’uns all the way up to the elderly, VAIN’s guide is for all types of folks. For kids, we have fashion from Crazy 8 and new NYC-based collections Tiny Pants, as well as footwear by Supra. For folks ages 21 and up, they’ll enjoy our spirited spread. For individuals filled with testosterone, you’ll find some grooming and skincare goods from The Art of Shaving and Clinique. For music aficionados and big hearted peeps, we have a section on music and gifts with a philanthropic twist. Plus, VAIN’s holiday guide wouldn’t be VAIN without stuff to make her look pretty with swank swag from beauty companies like Tokidoki, Nars, Too Faced and Napoleon Perdis. We even feature some chocolates and candles to help you and your lover get your naughty on. Here’s a nice name you’ll see on many of the guide’s pages: Shane Baskin. The Queen City’s photographer is doing the damn thing with her own full-fledged photography studio. She dedicated two days to visually please you with her photography skills. Find out why she’s in VAIN’s top 10 nice list. Baskin joins VAIN’s Ohio-based creative director Crystal Madrilejos whose design capabilities keep us captivated and grateful for her talent. She makes VAIN the pretty publication that it is. Also on the nice list: • Nikki and Lindsey Zalanka, two sisters who create original VAIN content in the areas of beauty and fashion. • Nicole Newsum our public relations chick who wears red lipstick and talks VAIN on a daily. • Lauren Crew, Kali Abdullah and Wendy Correa, three dames who know photography and aren’t afraid to snap at anyone if their views aren’t seen. • Mommy Lue Chung-Minor, a mother not by definition, but by her actions: She’s that mom who makes me better. • And her other daughter, my best friend and sister Kathleen who makes me laugh and whom I admire.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rachelle Gauthier CREATIVE Crystal Madrilejos DIRECTOR DEPUTY EDITOR Adell Henderson SENIOR EDITOR Maurice Bobb WEST COAST Bärí a. Williams EDITOR FASHION EDITOR Lindsey Zalanka BEAUTY EDITOR Nikki Z. PHOTOGRAPHY Kali Abdullah DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE Wendy Correa PHOTO EDITOR CREATIVE Lauren Crew CONSULTANT PUBLIC RELATIONS Nicole Newsum CONSULTANT MARKETING Natasha Sanchez DIRECTOR NATIONAL AD Annisha Mohammed SALES DIRECTOR BLOG Tina Alexander, CONTRIBUTORS Meaghan Dorman, Melissa Holloway, Dr. Sabatino Ienopoli, Kathleen Miller, Nnebuchi Nwankwo, Lisa Pomeroy, Rod Stevens, Tamara Warren, RussOne1
Without real women, like them, VAIN just might be in vain. Digitally Yours,
Rachelle Gauthier P.S. Congrats to all my new VAIN Mommies in 2010—Bari, Crystal and Annisha—and a big shout out to a super VAIN baby daddy 80.
COPYRIGHT 2010 BY VAIN MAGAZINE INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. VAIN MAGAZINE DOES NOT KNOWINGLY ACCEPT FALSE OR MISLEADING ADVERTISING OR EDITORIAL, NOR DOES THE PUBLISHER ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD SUCH MATERIAL APPEAR. VAIN MAGAZINE ALSO ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTENT, TEXT OR ARTWORK OF ADVERTISEMENTS, OTHER THAN THOSE PROMOTING VAIN, PLACED IN THE MAGAZINE. THE OPINIONS AND VIEWPOINTS OF THE CONTRIBUTORS DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE OPINIONS AND VIEWPOINTS OF VAIN MAGAZINE INC. VAIN MAGAZINE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK VAIN MAGAZINE INC. VAIN 2010, VOLUME 01, ISSUE 02.
2 WINTER ’10 –’11 | VAIN MAGAZINE
<<< CONTENTS >>> 04. SMOOTH CRIMINAL
Winter ’10-’11, Issue 2
Two beauty must-have items from Japanese company Tokidoki.
06. FOUR WAYS TO PRETTY
Count your ways to compliments with these special-edition cosmetics.
08. BIRTH RIGHT
The Art of Shaving makes any man the marrying kind.
iWAVE SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL DJ HEADPHONES $2,000
10. FACEOFF
Products for beauties and beasts to keep their faces looking good.
12. DESIRED ASSETS
Cost-effective and giftable sunglasses, rings and necklaces.
14. LOVE SPELL
Create a sexy and romantic atmosphere for your mate with some chocolates and candles.
16. PLAY DATES
Two VAIN models rep the best in kids’ fashion for the holidays.
21. PURPOSE-FILLED GIFTS
Give a present that’s wrapped in good deeds.
22. HOLIDAY CHEER
Liqueurs for spirited folks, ages 21 and above.
24. GOODS & SERVICES
Buy only valuable gadgets. Featuring DJ Hero 2, a LaCie hard drive and snug Phillips/O’Neill headphones.
25. SOUND DECISIONS
VAIN’s choice of an eclectic blend of music to gift the music lover.
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IWAVEAUDIO.COM
Cover and this image: Shane Baskin
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SMOOTH CRIMINAL BEAUTY ISN’T JUST IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER—IT’S IN THE POWER OF YOUR MAKEUP OF CHOICE. HERE’S ONE VAIN BEAUTY FIND THAT’S A STEAL, AND YOU CAN GET IT AT A ONE-STOP SHOP: SEPHORA. PHOTO BY Shane Baskin
TOKIDOKI ROBBERY PALETTE ($49) Every chick needs an edgy and artistic keepsake tin that's packed with more than your kitchen sink, and the Tokidoki Robbery Palette is it. Here's the dish: The set comes with three eyeshadow palettes, designed with Tokidoki's cute and quirky staple characters, a removable magnet and, the tin of course, to protect all your beauty valuables. Royal Pride Palette: Eyeshadows in Lion Pappa, Savana, Ercolini, Bulletto and a bronzer in Royal Pride Arlecchino Palette: Eyeshadows in Soya, Candy Cane, Ninja Dog, Meteo and a blush in Momobella Rapina Palette: Eyeshadows in Liberty, Bullets, LA Gun, Adios and a blush in Polpettina
TOKIDOKI ROBBERY GRANDE HAND-HELD MIRROR ($20) Nothing says, “Hi, beautiful!” better than your reflection in the mirror. Tokidoki’s mirror is great for applying makeup, and the flip side of it works as an eclectic piece of art on your dresser.
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6 WINTER ’10 –’11 | VAIN MAGAZINE
FOUR WAYS TO PRETTY
YOU CAN’T COUNT DOWN THE DAYS ’TIL THE HOLIDAYS WITHOUT A TRULY VAIN MAKEUP GUIDE. PHOTO BY Shane Baskin
NAPOLEON PERDIS: SWEPT AWAY COLLECTION ($39) NAPOLEONPERDIS.COM Inspired by the Land Down Under, Napoleon Perdis’ special holiday collection will make you forget about the snow and remember the warmth of the sun, sand and summertime with his vibrant color palettes.
NARS ORGASM GIFT SET ($30)
NAPOLEON PERDIS: GREAT ESCAPES BRUSH SET ($79) NAPOLEONPERDIS.COM Complementing the Swept Away makeup collection, the Great Escapes Brush Set is a travelsize brush kit that’s available in two hues (teal or cobalt) and is exactly what you need to paint perfection on your gorgeous face. The 8-piece set includes a foundation brush, a concealer brush, a powder brush, a slanted eye shadow brush, an eye blender brush, a lip liner brush, an eyeliner brush and a brow brush/lash comb.
TOO FACED ENCHANTED GLAMOURLAND ($49)
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT SEPHORA
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT SEPHORA
You don’t have to work hard to get this orgasm. Nars’ special holiday gift set features Orgasm Blush, a Laguna Bronzer and a Super Orgasm Lip Gloss that has a shimmery peachy pink hue that will make any chick look and feel übersexy. No foreplay necessary.
Pixie pinups have made a comeback via Too Faced and these supernatural cuties are sharing their secrets for ethereal beauty. Enchanted Glamourland is a true treasure, packed with eye shadows, a winter bronzer, blush and eye shadows galore.
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H T R I B RIGHT pre shave oil & shaving cream $22 each
after shave balm $38
fusion chrome collection: razor stand $100
fusion chrome collection: proglide power razor $182
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fusion chrome collection: pure badger shaving brush $75
E'S EXP H L I T N U T A MAN ' N S I N A MA s kin han e B a C T PH O PRODU
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THEARTOFSHAVING.COM
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FACEOFF
FOR VAIN GUYS AND DOLLS WHO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR SKIN REGIME, HERE ARE SOME PROACTIVE PRODUCTS TO KEEP YOU LOOKING GOOD WITHOUT MAKEUP OR PHOTOSHOP. PHOTOGRAPHY BY Shane Baskin
10 WINTER ’10 –’11 | VAIN MAGAZINE
CLINIQUE Clinique Liquid Facial Soap ($15) Clinique’s 3-Step Skin Care System is available in three formulas for different skin types. This soap has all the benefits of Clinique’s facial bar soap in liquid form. Clinique Facial Soap with Dish ($12) If you’re not a fan of the liquid facial soap, opt for Clinique’s hand-milled non-drying bar soap that works equally as well as the liquid soap but comes in a fancy dish. Clinique Clarifying Lotion ($15) This mild astringent de-flakes your face to reveal clearer skin and smoothes the way for moisture. Clinique Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent ($16.50) This oil-free, blur-free and sting-free eye makeup solvent quickly removes all eye makeup, from lashes to brows. Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief ($34) If you’re lusting after supple, firm and vibrant skin, Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief will get your skin sexy and hydrated for 24 hours.
PIUDALI Piudali Amazon Night Renewal Cream ($18) All-natural extracts including wild yam and Amazon peach palm work on your skin at night, giving you an ever-so-smooth texture you’ve always wanted. Piudali Pure Amazon Body Oil ($16) This organic oil contains Amazon peach palm, buriti, passion fruit and other oils that hydrate your body. Bonus: It smells good too. Piudali Amazon Awakening Daily Facial Moisturizer ($16) Filled with natural vitamins like A, C and E, Piudali Amazon Awakening Daily Facial Moisturizer brings balance to dry skin. Piudali Antioxidant Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion ($17) If your hands and skin are thirsty for some serious moisture relief, you can go au naturel with Piudali Antioxidant Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion.
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REVNUTRITION.COM CLINIQUE.COM
Clinique Post-Shave Healer ($17) No matter his skin type, Clinique’s Post-Shave Healer will soothe his skin after he shaves. The aloe in the healer helps calm razor burn and relieve dryness. Clinique M Shave Aloe Gel ($13.50) If he’s not a fan of shaving foam, get him Clinique’s M Shave Aloe Gel. The oil-free shaving gel transforms into a rich lather for close shaves, and you already know what the aloe can do. Clinique M Lotion ($20) Here’s a lightweight lotion for men with normal to dry skin. The M Lotion will leave his skin feeling smooth as it replenishes moisture, and it soothes shaving irritation. Clinique Daily Eye Hydrator (limited availability, price varies) Boys can be bright eyed and bubbly too with the help of this hydrator. Clinique Cream Shave ($12) Minimizing nicks and cuts, this cream shave softens hair so that his razor glides along his skin and doesn’t drag.
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ray-ban road spirit rb3428 in blue $150
tory burch ty6007 $210
DESIRED ASSETS MIXED METALS OF EDEN AND SHADES FROM SUNGLASS HUT WILL ADD SOME VALUE TO HIS OR HER BLAND STYLE.
eden swarovski galactic stone box chain ring in antique gold $67.50 in gunmetal $67.50
PHOTO BY Shane Baskin ILLUSTRATION BY Crystal Madrilejos
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eden swarovski galactic lava crystal ring in gunmetal $90.00
eden snake head with box chain necklace in gunmetal $176.00
eden double box chain necklace w/ swarovski galactic crystal in antique gold $135.50
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SUNGLASSES AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE AT SUNGLASS HUT BOUTIQUES AND SUNGLASSHUT.COM ALL EDEN-JEWELRY AVAILABLE AT EDEN-JEWELRY.COM
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L OVE S P E L L
MAKE YOUR OWN MAGIC IN THE BEDROOM WITH CHOCOLATES FROM VOSGES AND WITH BARONESS VON NEUMANN AND LINNEAS CANDLES. PHOTO BY Shane Baskin
BARONESS MONICA VON NEUMANN CANDLES ($38.50) BARONESSMONICAVONNEUMANN.COM Made with natural soy wax and a cotton wick, Baroness Monica von Neumann’s candles have a 70-plus hour burning time, letting your love shine without any soot but with all the class of the von Neumann family crest. Available in complex and sophisticated scents.
VOSGES LE CHOCOLAT EN ROSE TRUFFLE COLLECTION ($53 FOR 20 PIECES) VOSGESCHOCOLATE.COM Roses, chocolate and champagne meet in this truffle collection. Piper Heidsieck Brut Rose Champagne is combined with 65 percent cacao dark chocolate and rolled in crushed rosebuds.
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VOSGES HOLIDAY GIFT BOX ($86) VOSGESCHOCOLATE.COM This limited-edition box of chocolates includes one 16-piece holiday truffle collection, half a pound of holiday gingerbread toffee and a holiday mini candy bar library.
LINNEAS LIGHTS (PRICES VARY) LINNEASLIGHTS.COM Whether he/she likes to burn candles for 15 or 60 hours, Linneasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; handcrafted all-natural soy candles, packaged with recycled materials, makes for a great gift, especially for the environmentally conscious person or simply that bedroom lover, matchbox included. Be sure to check out their limited-edition scents, including Fireside, Forest Fir and Holiday.
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16 WINTER ’10 –’11 | VAIN MAGAZINE
DATES THIS SERIES OF CLASSIC ENSEMBLES BY CRAZY 8, TINY PANTS AND SUPRA FOOTWEAR WILL MAKE MEMORIES FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES…ONE OUTFIT AT A TIME. STYLED BY Lindsey Zalanka MODELS Noah C. Miller and Lola Massey PHOTOGRAPHY BY Shane Baskin
on her: tiny pants jersey motorcycle tee, $36 tiny pants jersey pieced legging, $30 tiny pants french terry pleated peacoat, $48 crazy 8 glitter ballet flat, $22.75 on him: crazy 8 snowmobile double sleeve tee, $16.75 crazy 8 denim skinny jean, $24.75 supra youth black croc sky top sneaker, (see suprafootwear.com for price & dealer)
WINTER ’10 –’11 | VAIN MAGAZINE 17
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on her: crazy 8 plaid jumper, $29 crazy 8 dressy woolen coat, $37 crazy 8 patent wedge shoe, $24.75 on him: crazy 8 pullover sweater, $14 crazy 8 denim jean, $24.75 crazy 8 slip-on loafer, $22.75 crazy 8 quilted peacoat, $39
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on her: tiny pants 100% cute t-shirt, $26 tiny pants jersey zipper legging, $28 supra youth white skytop sneakers, (see suprafootwear.com for price & dealer) oh him: crazy 8 detachable hood puffer vest, $19 crazy 8 eco thermal tee $7.99 denim jean, $24.75 crazy 8 plaid high top sneaker, $22.75
on her: crazy 8 plaid trench coat, $32 crazy 8 gem heart tee, $9.50 crazy 8 velveteen bow cuff pant, $19 crazy 8 shiny bow flat, $22.75 on him: crazy 8 plaid shirt, $12.50 crazy 8 corduroy pant, $14.50 crazy 8 corduroy vest, $14 crazy 8 slip-on loafer, $22.75
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on her: crazy 8 faux fur collar cardigan, $22 crazy 8 cuffed sleeve sparkle tee, $11 crazy 8 floral bubble skirt, $15 crazy 8 ruffle flat, $22.75 on him: crazy 8 oxford shirt, $13 crazy 8 argyle sweater vest, $15 crazy 8 denim jean, $24.75 crazy 8 slip-on loafer, $22.75
on her: crazy 8 floral tunic top, $12 crazy 8 faux fur vest, $19 crazy 8 zip-cuff skinny jean, $9 crazy 8 glitter ballet flat, $22.75 on him: crazy 8 skull stripe zip cardigan, $34.75 crazy 8 skull denim jean, $24.75 crazy 8 plaid high top sneaker, $22.75
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TINYPANTSKIDS.COM CRAZY8.COM SUPRAFOOTWEAR.COM 20 WINTER ’10 –’11 | VAIN MAGAZINE
PURPOSE-FILLED GIFTS PRESENTERS, THINK OUTSIDE THE “BOX” THIS SEASON AND SPEND CHARITABLY.
SUPPORT STUDENTS ($20)
CHANGE A LIFE ($250)
A Real Toy Story: Mali Dolls
Like to Smile? Give a Smile
US.IEARN.ORG
AMREF.ORG
Support students in the Francophone West African country of Mali through their doll-making and -selling entrepreneurial business. These dolls tell the story of Mali culture through the dolls’ clothes and musical instruments while simultaneously raising funds to buy computers for their schools through iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) USA. Disadvantaged children in the community who have few toys will receive the dolls, and the students will be able to interact online with their peers in the United States and share their culture online, raising global cultural awareness.
You have the ability to literally put a smile on a child’s face and change the lives of 10,000 children in East Africa who are born with a cleft lip or cleft palate. This deformity affects a child’s appearance and the ability to hear, speak, eat and breathe. African Medical and Research Foundation surgeons perform the procedure and use every operation to train a local African surgeon to perform this simple procedure—so that even more children can benefit from cleft lip and palate repair.
IMPROVE LIVES ($250) Math Solution: One Water Hand Pump Serves 10 Households
WATERAID.ORG/US Over a billion people in the world don’t have access to clean drinking water. Over two million people die from water-related diseases every year. Those numbers are unacceptable. By donating $250 to WaterAid America, you’re investing in one hand pump that can serve 10 households clean water within one of 26 countries (in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region). And that directly translates into improved health conditions and a better quality of life, and it’s the first step in poverty reduction.
SAVE THE EARTH ($36) Driving & Intoxicating the World
CARBONFUND.ORG Because of human activities, global warming is here. You can fight global warming and neutralize your impact on the environment through Carbonfund.org. Their climate-friendly projects in the United States, India, Nicaragua, Brazil, China and other parts of the world support renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects that offset these carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon offsets provide a means to support renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation across the world. Your donation will offset over 8,000 pounds of carbon dioxide produced from an efficient car and support the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, which may equal your annual emissions from your home, car and flying energy use.
EMPOWER YOUTH ($35) Human Rights Training for Youth Activists
GLOBALYOUTHCONNECT.ORG Global Youth Connect provides one hour of training for 30 youth at one of their program sites around the world (Bosnia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jordan, Nepal, Rwanda, Venezuela, and the U.S.) to help open the eyes of young people to some of the world’s most pressing human rights challenges. This program is designed to empower the youth in overcoming cultural and other differences peacefully and tackles the causes of discord and violence between nations, cultures, communities and individuals. With all the strife, conflict and human rights abuses around the world, young people have a unique opportunity and responsibility to stand up and make a difference.
mali dolls
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HOLIDAY CHEER VAIN HELPS YOU DECIPHER SOME OF THE BEST-TASTING AND BEST-LOOKING LIQUEURS FOR THE SEASON. YOU CAN TOAST YOUR THANKS TO US LATER. PHOTOGRAPHY BY Shane Baskin
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1800 AGAVE ($25)
THREE OLIVES VODKA ($20)
1800TEQUILA.COM
THREEOLIVES.COM
For Tequila-atics, give them the world’s first 100-proof silver tequila, 1800 Select Silver. Double distilled and made from 100% agave, 1800 Tequila is blended and filtered to create crystal clarity and an incredibly smooth, crisp taste without the aged worm.
Choose from 18 flavors of Three Olives Vodka featuring unique infusions like pomegranate, berry, chocolate, root beer, tomato, and tripleshot espresso, and give this inexpensive-yetimpressive gift.
TY KU WHITE ($150)
TY KU PREMIUM LIQUEUR ($33)
TRYTYKU.COM
TRYTYKU.COM
Check the stars this six-star award winning Sake has received, and admire the beautiful hand-carved bamboo box that it comes in. TY KU White is created from hand-polished rice that’s harvested once a year with water that springs every 50 years from the glaciers of the Fiji Mountains. Love the look? Imagine the taste.
If you’re looking for a gift that will make onlookers turn green in envy as you present that special someone with a gift, TY KU’s Premium Liqueur is it. Blended with Soju, a healthier choice of liqueur with less calories, this Asian liqueur turns green with a simple push of a button, revealing a brighter and smarter liqueur. Tell your lucky gift recipient to visit trytyku. com for some tasty low-calorie recipes.
WINES THAT ROCK (PRICES VARY) WINESTHATROCK.COM Wines that Rock are a fun way to present music and wine aficionados with a varietal gift this season. WTR pays tribute to iconic rock bands via their bottles of merlot, chardonnay, and cabernet sauvignon.
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GOODS & SERVICES
JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS MADE AND PRODUCED DOESN’T MEAN IT’S WORTH BUYING. HERE ARE VAIN PICKS FOR YOU THIS HOLIDAY. THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN CAPITALIZE OFF THIS LIST. PHOTO BY Shane Baskin
PHILIPS O’NEILL “THE SNUG-FLAWLESS FIT AND SOUND” ON-EAR HEADPHONES IN BLACK & WHITE CHECKED ($60) LACIE D2 USB 3.0 PROFESSIONAL HARD DISK 2 TB ($250) LACIE.COM It doesn’t matter if they're a Mac or PC, this aluminum LaCie professional hard disk is just what they need to back up their computer. Help them preserve their word documents, pictures, movies and other random files with this space-saving, sturdy and fan less rack mountable or stand alone hard drive. This could be the most important gift they receive this holiday.
AMAZON.COM O’Neill and Philips have teamed up to create a street-inspired and durable line of headphones that make a great gift for the active music aficionado. Perks of this stylish headphones include their flexible, tangle-free fabric cables, super-soft ear cushions that your gift recipient’s ears will appreciate and sound leakage reduction. They also fold flat for easy storage and portability. And if you’re checking for sound quality, 40 mm drivers deliver some serious bass and solid mids.
DJ HERO 2 (PRICE VARIES) DJHERO.COM Let the games begin. Developed by Activision, DJ Hero 2 is the perfect holiday gift for a lonely party of one and your modern-day Brady bunch. This fun-filled music game will bring out the inner DJ of any parent or kid with its music selection that ranges from rap to rock 'n' roll, featuring artists like Michael Jackson, Estelle and Drake. Two turntables with soundeffect generators let players battle each other according to their skill level, and one microphone lets wannabe singer/rappers get their vocal on during the DJ battles.
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Check retailers for pricing: Walmart, Game Stop, Best Buy and Amazon.com
D N U O DECISIONS S INVEST IN SOME GOOD MUSIC FOR YOUR PEEPS. DON’T FRET. VAIN HAS A SWEET MIX FOR YA. WORDS BY Maurice Bobb ALBERT VARGAS: Love Love Love
(independent) There’s retro, and then there’s old-fashioned acoustic simplicity, and that’s where newcomer Albert Vargas blazes his trail. His six-song EP Love Love Love is a joyous jambalaya of indie guitars, vintage instrumentation and somber vocals that deeply explore the Florida native’s blue-collar experiences and the gut-wrenching las historias del amor.
LINDI ORTEGA: The Drifter EP
(independent) This Canadian songbird successfully escapes the alt-country/pop tag by breaking new musical ground with her debut EP, The Drifter. Her folksy falsetto cries out with tales of wanderlust and heartache on four concise tracks. Ortega belts out her allegoric views on breakups, alcohol and drug addiction with a modicum of sentimentality, sorrow and dark humor.
CIBELLE: Los Venus Resort Palace Hotel (six degrees records) With her third album, Los Venus Resort Palace Hotel, São Paulo–born singer and unabashed convivialist Cibelle has finally made a recording that corrals her exotic and bastardized blend of trip-hop and tropic-funk. The bold concept album literally explores the madness and provocative desperation of a band performing at the last nightclub on Earth.
GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (hollywood records) Grace Potter has been compared to Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin, but Vermont’s own rising rock soul stress has some amazing pipes of her own. Backed by her band the Nocturnals, Potter displays her intense musicality on the group’s self-titled debut, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and deftly sculpts new elements of funk, soul and blues reminiscent of the '60s and '70s into cohesive, mesmeric compositions.
MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS: The Family Jewels (atlantic) The plurality of her stage name may signify a grandiose sense of self (she explains her moniker with the caveat that “and the diamonds” refers to her fans), but this Greek-bred singer/songwriter, whose influences range from Tom Waits to Madonna, backs up her hubris with an ambitious patchwork of pop ballads and disco sheen on her latest LP, The Family Jewels.
AVAILABLE ON: ITUNES
EMUSIC
AMAZON
ZUNE
NAPSTER
RHAPSODY
MYSPACE MUSIC
REFLECTION ETERNAL: Revolutions Per Minute (blacksmith/warner bros.) It may have taken Reflection Eternal’s Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek a decade to deliver an encore to the underground classic, Train of Thought, but the lyrical Brooklynite and the Ohio-bred beat maestro finally bless hip-hop aficionados with their latest release, Revolutions Per Minute, and, not surprisingly, this is an album that was worth the wait. Kweli’s political-infused, metaphoric rhymes ride Tek’s minimalist beats with the precision of a trained jockey guiding Secretariat down the track at Belmont and bests its competitors in the genre by 31 lengths.
THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE: Authenticity (fe music) Drawing equally from the lyrical mastery of rapper/ singer Phonte Coleman, formerly of the disbanded hip-hop collective Little Brother, and Dutch producer Nicolay’s penchant for ambient, electro-soul beats, The Foreign Exchange’s third album, Authenticity, continues to build on the duo’s incongruous, yet essential musical collaboration. Their latest effort is a striking dedication to love, told in that anti-Disney fairytale manner with the truth of Phonte’s crooning and poetic marksmanship over Nicolay’s smoothed-out grooves.
ERIK RICO AND MARC MAC: Direct Soul (third planet records) There are two kinds of soul music: baby-making, sensual soul and introspective, beautiful soul. Erik Rico and Marc Mac’s four-track EP, Direct Soul, defines the latter category. The lead single, “Something I Know,” finds Rico’s distinctive vocals effortlessly riding Mac’s dance-oriented syncopations that speak to the listener’s internal essence.
KELIS: Flesh Tone (will.i.am/interscope) It’s been a while since the feisty chanteuse’s “Milkshake” brought all the boys to the yard, but the newly divorced mother brings her high-energy flamboyance to Flesh Tone, her first studio album since 2006’s Kelis Was Here. The David Guetta–produced lead single, “Acapella,” sets the stage for the nine-track dance romp and reestablishes the R&B experimentalist’s stronghold on all things pop.
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