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Music Playlist: Sounds of Silverlake, California
A play list that is oozing with originality and independence.
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Myths About Your Period
Sex when your friend's in town? Sure, say Susan Kim and Elissa Stein, the authors of Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation. We talked to them about their lively, irreverent book, and about why something so natural still gets such a bad rap.
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Tell Us: What Do You Take Care of Before Work?
We need your help, MC readers! Tell us: What are all the things you take care of in the morning before you go to work? Does your morning routine consist of household and child-rearing duties that fall mostly to you? Send an email and tell us what you do in the morning at marieclaire@hearst.com.
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How to Live with Green Guilt
Don't feel guilty about your not-so-friendly environmental habits.
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The Best Mail-Order Websites for Holiday Food
The best mail-order places to get goodies shipped to your door.
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The Body Shop Combats Child Sex Trafficking
It is estimated that 1.8 million children are trafficked for sex in virtually every country. In the November issue of Marie Claire, Abigail Pesta traveled to Cambodia and spoke to one victim, escaped sex slave Sreypov Chan, whose mother sold her mother to a brothel at seven years old.
To save other women from Chan's nightmare and combat this epidemic, The Body Shop has partnered with ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) and the Somaly Mam Foundation to raise funds and awareness. All proceeds from the sale of the Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream will go to support ECPAT. All net proceeds from the sale of the Bag for Life and gift bags will go to the Somaly Mam Foundation.
To save other women from Chan's nightmare and combat this epidemic, The Body Shop has partnered with ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) and the Somaly Mam Foundation to raise funds and awareness. All proceeds from the sale of the Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream will go to support ECPAT. All net proceeds from the sale of the Bag for Life and gift bags will go to the Somaly Mam Foundation.
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New Gmail Feature Saves Your Job/Relationships/Friendships Yet Again
Ever accidentally emailed Kathy from HR instead of Kathy the BFF about how much you hate your job? This new Gmail feature saves you some apology emails and awkward eye contact:
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Your Holiday Travel Playlist
99-CENT DJ Holiday Travel: Stuck at O'Hare for six hours thanks to inevitable holiday flight delays? MC's music guy Scott Frampton has the perfect playlist to keep your air-rage at bay.
"Suicide," THE RAVEONETTES. This not-so-jauntily titled little number is actually a bopping piece of fuzzy girl-group pop.
"Tall Boy," HAR MAR SUPERSTAR. This dance-floor come-on was originally written for Britney Spears. Now sung by a balding, potbellied bear of a guy, it somehow sounds more genius than goofy.
"Baby," DEVENDRA BANHART. A romantic freak-folk ditty that combines lightly funky guitar and a throaty vibrato--this is perhaps the sexiest song to ever employ "choo-choo train" as a lyric.
"Perro Loco," FORRO IN THE DARK. Who let the perros out? You, while shimmying to this Brazilian-American party band's feverish rhythms, yakety sax, and sing-along chorus.
"Basic Space," THE XX. Listen closely and you could mistake the drum-machine hand claps on this breathy duet for the light crunch made by a couple strolling through autumn leaves.
"Go Easy Little Doves," BROOKE WAGGONER. Ethereal chamber music paired with wood-nymph vocals--you'll swear Waggoner's channeling Kate Bush.
"In for the Kill," LA ROUX. The only organic sound in this London duo's danceable, clattering synth-pop confection is singer Elly Jackson's gorgeously adolescent vocals.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAYLIST HERE
"Suicide," THE RAVEONETTES. This not-so-jauntily titled little number is actually a bopping piece of fuzzy girl-group pop.
"Tall Boy," HAR MAR SUPERSTAR. This dance-floor come-on was originally written for Britney Spears. Now sung by a balding, potbellied bear of a guy, it somehow sounds more genius than goofy.
"Baby," DEVENDRA BANHART. A romantic freak-folk ditty that combines lightly funky guitar and a throaty vibrato--this is perhaps the sexiest song to ever employ "choo-choo train" as a lyric.
"Perro Loco," FORRO IN THE DARK. Who let the perros out? You, while shimmying to this Brazilian-American party band's feverish rhythms, yakety sax, and sing-along chorus.
"Basic Space," THE XX. Listen closely and you could mistake the drum-machine hand claps on this breathy duet for the light crunch made by a couple strolling through autumn leaves.
"Go Easy Little Doves," BROOKE WAGGONER. Ethereal chamber music paired with wood-nymph vocals--you'll swear Waggoner's channeling Kate Bush.
"In for the Kill," LA ROUX. The only organic sound in this London duo's danceable, clattering synth-pop confection is singer Elly Jackson's gorgeously adolescent vocals.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAYLIST HERE
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Back to School for Sudanese Refugees
Micklina Peter Kenyi was 11 years old when the government of Sudan bombed her village, attempting to wipe out people deemed rebels. With shrapnel flying, she and her family ran for their lives, losing each other in the chaos. After three weeks in the woods, surviving on "wild berries and prayer," as Kenyi puts it, she made it to a refugee camp.
Today, her life is worlds away from the bloodshed in Sudan, where millions of civilians have been killed since the start of the civil war in 1983. Kenyi, 30, lives in Colorado with her husband and infant son, and has a shiny new degree from the University of Colorado. Now she's helping other lost girls get their diplomas as well.
Kenyi, who landed in Colorado in 2004, thanks to a U.S. government resettlement program, started her new life in America by working the late shift at Target. Things changed, she says, when Boulder residents encouraged her to go to school. Since then, more than a dozen Sudanese women have come to town, so Kenyi has teamed up with local teachers to make sure these women get educated, too, instead of winding up in low-paying gigs like housecleaning. Her Thinking Outside the Box Learning Center, an offshoot of a nonprofit she launched called the Community of Sudanese and American Women, connects the refugees with tutors who help them get their GEDs.
Kenyi says this is just the beginning of her efforts to help the women of her homeland. "There's a piece of my heart in the Sudan," she says. "Someday I'd like to return and open a school."
Today, her life is worlds away from the bloodshed in Sudan, where millions of civilians have been killed since the start of the civil war in 1983. Kenyi, 30, lives in Colorado with her husband and infant son, and has a shiny new degree from the University of Colorado. Now she's helping other lost girls get their diplomas as well.
Kenyi, who landed in Colorado in 2004, thanks to a U.S. government resettlement program, started her new life in America by working the late shift at Target. Things changed, she says, when Boulder residents encouraged her to go to school. Since then, more than a dozen Sudanese women have come to town, so Kenyi has teamed up with local teachers to make sure these women get educated, too, instead of winding up in low-paying gigs like housecleaning. Her Thinking Outside the Box Learning Center, an offshoot of a nonprofit she launched called the Community of Sudanese and American Women, connects the refugees with tutors who help them get their GEDs.
Kenyi says this is just the beginning of her efforts to help the women of her homeland. "There's a piece of my heart in the Sudan," she says. "Someday I'd like to return and open a school."
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Think Pink and Get the Facts on the Breast Cancer Gene
Diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer at age 36, Robin was shocked to learn that she was a carrier of the breast cancer (BRCA) gene.
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A Woman's Battle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
When her father died, Abby Sher, 11 years old at the time, dealt with the loss by kissing his photo—a few times a day at first, and then hundreds of times, till his face flaked off. It was the beginning of a colossal battle with obsessive-compulsive behavior, which spiraled into hours of fervid praying each day, and eventually led Sher to start cutting herself with nail clippers and pounding her head with her fist, as many as 250 times in a row. In her new memoir, Amen, Amen, Amen, the 35-year-old author describes her dark, very repetitive journey.
Q: What sort of prayers did you startsaying over and over as a kid?
A: It started with traditional Hebrew prayers; I'd repeat them in the morning and at night, and I'd ask for forgiveness for my transgressions. Then I started thinking about other people who were sick or in need. If I heard an ambulance siren, I'd say, "I hope they get there in time," over and over, under my breath. Then I began to do it when I heard any siren—fire engines, police cars. I'd do it 25 times, then it went up to 50, then 100. I felt like if I didn't do this, I would cause damage to countless people. By the time I reached college, things had really escalated. I was praying several hours a day, and if I got interrupted, I'd start over.
Q: Did people around you know how intense these habits were getting?
A: I put on a really good charade. The nature of most addictions is secrecy. I had a therapist when I was a kid, and she would try to talk to me about my problems, but I felt that talking about my praying would be like complaining about it—and that would be blasphemous. I didn't want to abandon my faith.
Q: You also started obsessively collecting odd things ...
A: I picked up sharp objects—staples, safety pins—things that could harm people. It was connected to a flat tire we'd had when I was a kid; these items were dangerous and could cause a flat and a wreck, so it was my duty to pick them up. Eventually, I started stockpiling all kinds of things—flammable gum wrappers, pieces of random metals, paper clips, banana peels. When my mom came to my college and found piles of them in my room, she drove me to the doctor.
Q: So then your life balanced out?
A: Yes, with a combination of medication and therapy, I was able to set limits on the number of prayers I said or the amount of things I picked up each day. I'd sing a little song to help me stick to the new routine: I'm picking up one last thing. You. Are. It.
Q: But it was still a roller coaster.
A: Right. Over the years, new things would take on an obsessive quality at different times. During one particularly anxious phase, I started cutting myself with nail clippers. The pain reminded me of how I felt as a kid when I hugged my dad's photo frame so tight, I hurt myself with the sharp corners. Then later, I started making tight fists and rapping them on my skull. When my boyfriend Jay realized what I was doing, he helped me get it back under control.
Q: How are you faring today?
A: It's a dance, for sure. I'm married to Jay, we have a 9-month-old daughter, and I'm currently on medication. When my mother died a few years ago, I think I finally realized that no one could take care of this for me but me.
Q: Any advice for others?
A: Talk about it. I know it's hard because there's power in secrecy. But find someone you trust, and send an e-mail if you can't say it out loud.
Q: What sort of prayers did you startsaying over and over as a kid?
A: It started with traditional Hebrew prayers; I'd repeat them in the morning and at night, and I'd ask for forgiveness for my transgressions. Then I started thinking about other people who were sick or in need. If I heard an ambulance siren, I'd say, "I hope they get there in time," over and over, under my breath. Then I began to do it when I heard any siren—fire engines, police cars. I'd do it 25 times, then it went up to 50, then 100. I felt like if I didn't do this, I would cause damage to countless people. By the time I reached college, things had really escalated. I was praying several hours a day, and if I got interrupted, I'd start over.
Q: Did people around you know how intense these habits were getting?
A: I put on a really good charade. The nature of most addictions is secrecy. I had a therapist when I was a kid, and she would try to talk to me about my problems, but I felt that talking about my praying would be like complaining about it—and that would be blasphemous. I didn't want to abandon my faith.
Q: You also started obsessively collecting odd things ...
A: I picked up sharp objects—staples, safety pins—things that could harm people. It was connected to a flat tire we'd had when I was a kid; these items were dangerous and could cause a flat and a wreck, so it was my duty to pick them up. Eventually, I started stockpiling all kinds of things—flammable gum wrappers, pieces of random metals, paper clips, banana peels. When my mom came to my college and found piles of them in my room, she drove me to the doctor.
Q: So then your life balanced out?
A: Yes, with a combination of medication and therapy, I was able to set limits on the number of prayers I said or the amount of things I picked up each day. I'd sing a little song to help me stick to the new routine: I'm picking up one last thing. You. Are. It.
Q: But it was still a roller coaster.
A: Right. Over the years, new things would take on an obsessive quality at different times. During one particularly anxious phase, I started cutting myself with nail clippers. The pain reminded me of how I felt as a kid when I hugged my dad's photo frame so tight, I hurt myself with the sharp corners. Then later, I started making tight fists and rapping them on my skull. When my boyfriend Jay realized what I was doing, he helped me get it back under control.
Q: How are you faring today?
A: It's a dance, for sure. I'm married to Jay, we have a 9-month-old daughter, and I'm currently on medication. When my mother died a few years ago, I think I finally realized that no one could take care of this for me but me.
Q: Any advice for others?
A: Talk about it. I know it's hard because there's power in secrecy. But find someone you trust, and send an e-mail if you can't say it out loud.
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What We Love About October
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (October 3--11). From this high up, the desert looks ... yup, still brown.
Saying good-bye to Vista hell, and hello to Windows 7 (October 22). You can stop sucking up to the IT guys now.
The two-hour season premiere of Ugly Betty (October 9). Do a shot every time you see a poncho.
Debut of the 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet convertible. The only time it's OK for a guy to insist that you "drop your top."
Juicy Couture's new perfume, Couture Couture. A favorite of Duran Duran and Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
Mil Besos, Colombian-born fashion photographer Ruven Afanador's new book of flamenco dancer portraits (October 1). Dancing With the Stars has nothing on these chicas.
Katy Perry's 25th birthday (October 25). We got her some cherry Chapstick.
Pumpkin carving! We're going to carve Ryan Reynolds' abs in ours.
The super-straight half-updo, as seen on Marion Cotillard. Superior bone structure sold separately.
Limited-edition Mike's Hard Pink Lemonade for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Admittedly tougher to pin to your shirt than a pink ribbon.
Repetto's fringed ballet flat. The love child of Crazy Horse and Audrey Hepburn.
New York's Village Halloween Parade, the largest in the world (October 31). No, your pug does not enjoy being dressed up like a pig.
Saying good-bye to Vista hell, and hello to Windows 7 (October 22). You can stop sucking up to the IT guys now.
The two-hour season premiere of Ugly Betty (October 9). Do a shot every time you see a poncho.
Debut of the 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet convertible. The only time it's OK for a guy to insist that you "drop your top."
Juicy Couture's new perfume, Couture Couture. A favorite of Duran Duran and Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
Mil Besos, Colombian-born fashion photographer Ruven Afanador's new book of flamenco dancer portraits (October 1). Dancing With the Stars has nothing on these chicas.
Katy Perry's 25th birthday (October 25). We got her some cherry Chapstick.
Pumpkin carving! We're going to carve Ryan Reynolds' abs in ours.
The super-straight half-updo, as seen on Marion Cotillard. Superior bone structure sold separately.
Limited-edition Mike's Hard Pink Lemonade for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Admittedly tougher to pin to your shirt than a pink ribbon.
Repetto's fringed ballet flat. The love child of Crazy Horse and Audrey Hepburn.
New York's Village Halloween Parade, the largest in the world (October 31). No, your pug does not enjoy being dressed up like a pig.
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Need to See: The Informant!
Is that Matt Damon under 25 pounds of paunch, a moustache, and an outsize toupee? As corporate whistle-blower Mark Whitacre in The Informant!, he's a geeky drone nervously exposing a price-fixing scheme.
Or is he? We're well into director Steven Soderbergh's sly comedy before we realize it's a Catch Me If You Can caper, with Whitacre duping the FBI. Who better than Damon to channel an Everyguy run amok?
True, his looks don't make our jaws drop like golden-boy Pitt or matinee-idol Clooney; Damon is sexy at second glance, the believable stud with eyes more shifty than dreamy. But would we really want to be with someone prettier than we are, like his megawatt cohorts in Ocean's 11—13, or the ethereal newbie Robert Pattinson? The jealousy alone would kill us.
Damon is as approachable as the hero of his Bourne trilogy—no dashing James Bond, but a sensitive soul who blends in until he starts blasting away rogue agents. Like Bourne, Damon is a superstar hiding in plain sight.
Most of his characters harbor lethal secrets, which lets Damon slowly shed layers of deception. He's the working-class kid masquerading as a Princeton friend in The Talented Mr. Ripley, until that murdering habit kicks in. Leo DiCaprio spends most of The Departed not spotting straight-arrow Damon as a crooked cop. In The Good Shepherd, Damon reveals the buried emotion of a CIA agent, without awards-baiting antics. His reward for subtlety? Robbed of an Oscar nod.
By weird luck, understated powerhouses command this month's best movies: Clive Owen is a treacle-free single dad in The Boys Are Back, and Viggo Mortensen leads his son through the apocalypse in The Road. With Damon, they share something more exciting than looks: a slow-burning intelligence that leaves us feeling both unsettled and seduced.
Or is he? We're well into director Steven Soderbergh's sly comedy before we realize it's a Catch Me If You Can caper, with Whitacre duping the FBI. Who better than Damon to channel an Everyguy run amok?
True, his looks don't make our jaws drop like golden-boy Pitt or matinee-idol Clooney; Damon is sexy at second glance, the believable stud with eyes more shifty than dreamy. But would we really want to be with someone prettier than we are, like his megawatt cohorts in Ocean's 11—13, or the ethereal newbie Robert Pattinson? The jealousy alone would kill us.
Damon is as approachable as the hero of his Bourne trilogy—no dashing James Bond, but a sensitive soul who blends in until he starts blasting away rogue agents. Like Bourne, Damon is a superstar hiding in plain sight.
Most of his characters harbor lethal secrets, which lets Damon slowly shed layers of deception. He's the working-class kid masquerading as a Princeton friend in The Talented Mr. Ripley, until that murdering habit kicks in. Leo DiCaprio spends most of The Departed not spotting straight-arrow Damon as a crooked cop. In The Good Shepherd, Damon reveals the buried emotion of a CIA agent, without awards-baiting antics. His reward for subtlety? Robbed of an Oscar nod.
By weird luck, understated powerhouses command this month's best movies: Clive Owen is a treacle-free single dad in The Boys Are Back, and Viggo Mortensen leads his son through the apocalypse in The Road. With Damon, they share something more exciting than looks: a slow-burning intelligence that leaves us feeling both unsettled and seduced.
Sued for Downloading
Would you pay $80,000 for "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You"? Thirty-two-year-old Minnesota mom Jammie Thomas-Rasset might have to, now that she's been found guilty of copyright infringement for illegally downloading 24 songs. The damages: $1.92 million, about 80,000 bucks per song, to the aggrieved record companies.
The closely watched case is a watershed because it's the first to apply copyright-law standards to illegal downloaders. "The record industry wants to use this case to scare people into settling," says Thomas-Rasset's attorney, Joseph Sibley, who has asked a federal court for a new trial. The industry has sued more than 26,000 people since 2003 for illegal downloading, most of whom have settled for around $3000 apiece...arguably a small price to pay for keeping your love of Hootie & The Blowfish a secret.
The closely watched case is a watershed because it's the first to apply copyright-law standards to illegal downloaders. "The record industry wants to use this case to scare people into settling," says Thomas-Rasset's attorney, Joseph Sibley, who has asked a federal court for a new trial. The industry has sued more than 26,000 people since 2003 for illegal downloading, most of whom have settled for around $3000 apiece...arguably a small price to pay for keeping your love of Hootie & The Blowfish a secret.
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Follow Us on Facebook and Twitter!
Want to share your thoughts on the latest issue, chat about the articles that you loved and hated, go behind the scenes at Marie Claire, and talk to us live? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
We'll bring you the best of Marie Claire, exclusive giveaways, and even watch and live-tweet Project Runway with you!
We'll bring you the best of Marie Claire, exclusive giveaways, and even watch and live-tweet Project Runway with you!
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Stranger Danger: How to Protect Yourself
Seventeen-year-old Lily Burk thought she was doing the right thing when a man abducted her in a Los Angeles parking lot in July, forcing her into her Volvo and then driving her to an ATM: She obeyed his commands and called her parents to ask how to withdraw cash using a credit card. No doubt she thought that if she didn't fight back, she'd go free. Instead, her abductor slashed her neck and left her dead in her car. We asked expert Robin Sax, a former Los Angeles County deputy district attorney and author of Predators and Child Molesters, what you should know.
FIGHT BACK. If someone tries to force you into a car, always try to escape, even if the guy is armed. "Hit him with your elbow; gouge his eyes with your keys. You're trying to buy yourself a minute to run away," says Sax. Car abductions are different than typical holdups on the sidewalk, when it's better to hand over your wallet without a fuss. Why? Once you get in a car, says Sax, chances are you won't come back alive.
ESCAPE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. If you do get shoved into a car, flail your arms to tip off other drivers, or say you know your way around and offer to drive, then head to the police station. "Even jumping out of a moving car is better than going with the guy," says Sax.
SET UP AN EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGE. Your cell phone has a feature called "autotext" that allows you to type in a message right now that you can send in the future. For instance: "I'm in danger — call the police." Include your name, phone number, and date of birth. Once you send the note, officers can pinpoint your location via cell towers or GPS.
CREATE A CODE WORD. Tell your friends and family that if you say the word, it means to dial 911. Steer clear of terms that could tip off an attacker, such as pancakes. Words like ATM are a good bet, since they're less likely to raise suspicion, especially if you're at an actual ATM.
HIT "SEND." If you push the Send button on your cell, it automatically dials the last person you called. Say to the abductor, "Don't hurt me," so the person on the other end knows you need help. Even if you reach voice mail, police can track the call.
BE READY TO DIAL. When walking to your car in a garage or parking lot, hold your phone in case you urgently need it, but don't text or talk on it. By keeping an eye on your surroundings, Sax says, "You'll spot a strange guy from 30 feet away, instead of three feet."
FIGHT BACK. If someone tries to force you into a car, always try to escape, even if the guy is armed. "Hit him with your elbow; gouge his eyes with your keys. You're trying to buy yourself a minute to run away," says Sax. Car abductions are different than typical holdups on the sidewalk, when it's better to hand over your wallet without a fuss. Why? Once you get in a car, says Sax, chances are you won't come back alive.
ESCAPE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. If you do get shoved into a car, flail your arms to tip off other drivers, or say you know your way around and offer to drive, then head to the police station. "Even jumping out of a moving car is better than going with the guy," says Sax.
SET UP AN EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGE. Your cell phone has a feature called "autotext" that allows you to type in a message right now that you can send in the future. For instance: "I'm in danger — call the police." Include your name, phone number, and date of birth. Once you send the note, officers can pinpoint your location via cell towers or GPS.
CREATE A CODE WORD. Tell your friends and family that if you say the word, it means to dial 911. Steer clear of terms that could tip off an attacker, such as pancakes. Words like ATM are a good bet, since they're less likely to raise suspicion, especially if you're at an actual ATM.
HIT "SEND." If you push the Send button on your cell, it automatically dials the last person you called. Say to the abductor, "Don't hurt me," so the person on the other end knows you need help. Even if you reach voice mail, police can track the call.
BE READY TO DIAL. When walking to your car in a garage or parking lot, hold your phone in case you urgently need it, but don't text or talk on it. By keeping an eye on your surroundings, Sax says, "You'll spot a strange guy from 30 feet away, instead of three feet."
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Your Halloween Party Playlist
99-CENT DJ Labor Day weekend: Back away from Rob Zombie and turn off the "Monster Mash." MC music guy Scott Frampton has your playlist for this year's Halloween party.
"Blow Away," A FINE FRENZY. Sprightly pop underscored by singer Alison Sudol's gutsy trill...what Coldplay might sound like if banged out by a calliope.
"Wonderful," GARY GO. Backed by shimmering guitars, this muslin-voiced crooner implores you to repeat Stuart Smalley mantras like, "I am wonderful." Just go with it..
"Full Steam Ahead," DAVID GRAY FEATURING ANNIE LENNOX. Slow things down with a piano-driven duet designed to bookend rainy Sundays and "Where is this relationship going?" convos.
"Loaded," THE IDLE HANDS. A remember-when drinking anthem streaked with hard-rock guitar grandstanding.
"Heartaches by the Number," ROSANNE CASH FEATURING ELVIS COSTELLO. On an album devoted to covers of daddy Johnny's favorite country classics, this duet waltzes on frayed harmonies and '50s-era Nashville charm.
"Kiss With a Fist," FLORENCE + THE MACHINE. Thrashing guitars and throaty vocals trade punches in the feisty stateside debut of the U.K.'s It girl du jour.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAYLIST HERE
"Blow Away," A FINE FRENZY. Sprightly pop underscored by singer Alison Sudol's gutsy trill...what Coldplay might sound like if banged out by a calliope.
"Wonderful," GARY GO. Backed by shimmering guitars, this muslin-voiced crooner implores you to repeat Stuart Smalley mantras like, "I am wonderful." Just go with it..
"Full Steam Ahead," DAVID GRAY FEATURING ANNIE LENNOX. Slow things down with a piano-driven duet designed to bookend rainy Sundays and "Where is this relationship going?" convos.
"Loaded," THE IDLE HANDS. A remember-when drinking anthem streaked with hard-rock guitar grandstanding.
"Heartaches by the Number," ROSANNE CASH FEATURING ELVIS COSTELLO. On an album devoted to covers of daddy Johnny's favorite country classics, this duet waltzes on frayed harmonies and '50s-era Nashville charm.
"Kiss With a Fist," FLORENCE + THE MACHINE. Thrashing guitars and throaty vocals trade punches in the feisty stateside debut of the U.K.'s It girl du jour.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAYLIST HERE
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Your Labor Day Weekend Playlist
99-CENT DJ Labor Day weekend: Last of the summer fun or a fearless foray into fall? Make it the best of both with this mix from MC's resident music guy, Scott Frampton.
"Don't Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)," NOISETTES. This U.K. trio's alloy of sleek pop, disco swing, and singer Shingai Shoniwa's catlike vocals will have your hips swiveling in the direction of the nearest dance floor.
"I and Love and You," THE AVETT BROTHERS. Like a beach read packed into five minutes, these achy country harmonies relive romances come and gone.
"Medicine Man," ZERO 7. This soulful weave of finger-popping organs (yes, organs!) and Eska Mtungwazi's ticklish vocals is as cool as those first autumn breezes.
"Too Fake," HOCKEY. Candy-striped pop so frothy and fun, you and the girls will laugh off another sun-scorched season of bad dates.
"Fireflies," OWL CITY. Toast the last sunset of summer to the bloops and bleeps of this blazingly loopy electronic number.
"Downtime," ROBERT GLASPER. A jazzy piano trio that will have you bebopping to your own soundtrack like Snoopy.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAYLIST HERE
"Don't Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)," NOISETTES. This U.K. trio's alloy of sleek pop, disco swing, and singer Shingai Shoniwa's catlike vocals will have your hips swiveling in the direction of the nearest dance floor.
"I and Love and You," THE AVETT BROTHERS. Like a beach read packed into five minutes, these achy country harmonies relive romances come and gone.
"Medicine Man," ZERO 7. This soulful weave of finger-popping organs (yes, organs!) and Eska Mtungwazi's ticklish vocals is as cool as those first autumn breezes.
"Too Fake," HOCKEY. Candy-striped pop so frothy and fun, you and the girls will laugh off another sun-scorched season of bad dates.
"Fireflies," OWL CITY. Toast the last sunset of summer to the bloops and bleeps of this blazingly loopy electronic number.
"Downtime," ROBERT GLASPER. A jazzy piano trio that will have you bebopping to your own soundtrack like Snoopy.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAYLIST HERE
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Stream Jay-Zs Upcoming Release The Blueprint 3
Rhapsody is offering a full album stream of Jay-Z's upcoming album, The Blueprint 3. While the album's release date isn't until Sept. 11, you can hear it now in its entirety at Rhapsody.com. The album features hit single "Run This Town" and cameos from artists like Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, MGMT and Drake. Users can stream the album via Rhapsody.com and MTV's The Leak.
Additionally, Rhapsody is offering a Twitter contest giving fans a chance to win a copy of the album in advance of its release, autographed Jay-Z memorabilia or a Vizio Connected TV. The contest asks users to Tweet their favorite Jay-Z song with a short review (including hashtag #RhapWin).
To stream the full album visit rhapsody.com/jay-z.
Annie Reuter is a freelance writer and music blogger who covers concerts and music festivals around the country. In constant pursuit of the next show to attend and band to interview, Annie keeps up her own music blog, You Sing, I Write, where you can read more on the latest up-and-coming bands.
Additionally, Rhapsody is offering a Twitter contest giving fans a chance to win a copy of the album in advance of its release, autographed Jay-Z memorabilia or a Vizio Connected TV. The contest asks users to Tweet their favorite Jay-Z song with a short review (including hashtag #RhapWin).
To stream the full album visit rhapsody.com/jay-z.
Annie Reuter is a freelance writer and music blogger who covers concerts and music festivals around the country. In constant pursuit of the next show to attend and band to interview, Annie keeps up her own music blog, You Sing, I Write, where you can read more on the latest up-and-coming bands.
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Things That Make Us Love September
Keanu Reeves turning 45 (September 2). Just in time for Bill & Ted's Excellent Midlife Crisis.Massive Kandinsky exhibit at the Guggenheim in New York City (September 18, 2009-- January 10, 2010). Upstage the Real Housewives watchers at the watercooler on Monday.
The Stiletto Run through New York City, a fundraiser for Stop Child Trafficking Now (September 27). Train by chasing the bus every morning.
Kenneth Cole 925 pumps with memory-foam soles. Your secret weapon in the Stiletto Run.
Dark, earthy polishes from mega-manicurist Jin Soon's new line for MAC. Another way to go green. The BlackBerry Tour international phone with GPS, video camera, and iTunes. So smart, it already knows to block your mom's calls.
The perfume-bottle dresses from Mary Katrantzou's debut runway collection. Look like you're worth a hundred bucks an ounce.
Saving $350 on a Vegas vacation at MGM Grand's swanky Signature suites. Enough for 25 all-you-can-eat buffets!
Audrey Tautou in Coco Before Chanel.
The release of biopic Coco Before Chanel (September 25) and book The Gospel According to Coco Chanel (September 1). Next up: Chanel for Wii.
The Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act, giving away candy on realchocolate.com every Friday in September. Not a relief to our skinny jeans.
National Play-Doh Day (September 16). Can't you just smell it?
