On her latest single, “Boy’s A Liar,” PinkPantheress details the downfall of a relationship with a man who wasn’t who he presented himself to be. Over a thumping Mura Musa beat, the elusive siren taps delivers her soft-tinged vocals, as she mourns the man who she thought was her everything.
“What’s the point of crying? / It was never even love / Did you ever want me? / Was I ever good enough? / Thе boy’s a liar / The boy’s a player / He doesn’t see ya,” she sings on the song’s chorus.
With its painfully relatable message and its all too hypnotic electronic track, “Boy’s A Liar” makes for a perfect anthem for the heartbroken to dance the pain away.
PinkPantheress blew up throughout the pandemic by way of catchy, genre-transcending bops. Back in October, she joined Paramore onstage at Austin City Limits to perform the band’s breakthrough song, “Misery Business.” In a recent conversation with Bree Runway for Interview, PinkPantheress spoke about how she’s adjusting to her rapidly found fame.
“It’s very exciting knowing that people are listening, people care, people are actually interested,” she said. “When I came into it, not to be cringe, but I did it for the music. I wasn’t trying to have myself out there like that. But when things started picking up, it became uncontrollable. If anything, all of it has been one big learning experience. I’ve grown up more in one year than I have the last ten years.”
Check out “Boy’s A Liar” above.
PinkPantheress is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
If you’ve been on social media today, you probably already know this: Spotify Wrapped 2022 is here. The annual summary of users’ listening habits dropped this morning, and of course, so too have the memes about it.
One particularly viral post has around 190k likes (as of this post) and reads, “I already know what my Spotify Wrapped is going to look like.” The accompanying photo shows two books: a dull-looking one titled Depression: The Way Up When You Are Down and a more colorful one called Homosexuality: Speaking The Truth In Love.
The Twitter account for the Empire State Building also got in on the fun with a fabricated Wrapped graphic that pays tribute to New York and architecture. The top artists are Commodores, Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, Calvin Harris, and Jay-Z, while the top songs are “Brick House,” “Brick In The Wall,” “New York, New York,” “Giant,” and “Empire State Of Mind.” As for the top genre: “concrete.” That post has since been deleted, but they also shared this morning, “My #SpotifyWrapped is just ‘Welcome To New York’ over and over and over again.”
My #SpotifyWrapped is just “Welcome To New York” over and over and over again
There are a lot of great benefits to the boom of music festivals for indie artists but there are also some drawbacks. For instance, up-and-coming rappers who land a slot on a Rolling Loud lineup can expand their audience and get their feet wet performing for the first time. However, things can also get a little awkward because these artists are often so new, they don’t have much music to perform — or many fans to perform for.
That’s what happened to Philadelphia rapper Eem Triplin at Rolling Loud New York this autumn. Triplin was booked for one of the earliest time slots, and the crowd had yet to arrive in earnest. This meant that he had to perform for a “crowd” of just 13 people. At the time, he seemingly took the mishap in stride, tweeting, “Gotta start somewhere.”
This chapter of his story has kind of a happy ending, though. On Monday (November 29), he posted photos of a package he got from the festival’s organizers containing a new Xbox and a card that read, “Hopefully, you get 20 people next time.” Rolling Loud reposted the photo on Instagram, writing, “Glad you like it.” At least he didn’t get his set canceled by the NYPD.
rolling loud sent me a free xbox cause they felt bad i only had 13 people at my setpic.twitter.com/2zvVZsRh6n
Back in March, Turner Sports and the U.S. Soccer Federation announced that Turner will become the television home for the USMNT and USWNT starting in 2023. In an effort to promote the 8-year deal that begins in 2023, the Inside the NBA team got jerseys, and Charles Barkley made clear that his jersey comes from the women’s team, because “the American men’s team sucks.”
Fast forward to Tuesday night and Barkley changed his tune up on the men considerable. The USMNT beat Iran, 1-0, earlier in the day to get out of the group and set up a knockout stage matchup against the Netherlands on Saturday. As a result, Barkley is fully on board, to the point that he predicts that the Americans will “open up a can of whoop ass” against the Dutch before giving a signature guarantee that they will advance to the quarterfinals.
Barkley shouted out American captain Tyler Adams before going through a list of other countries — Spain, Brazil, Germany — that he wants to see the USMNT play. He included France in the list before remembering that they have Kylian Mbappe, who he correctly states is “no joke.”
The Americans made it out of their group with draws against Wales and England before beating Iran. The Dutch, meanwhile, beat Senegal and Qatar while earning a draw against Ecuador.
If you’re a whiskey drinker and you’ve put off trying rye whiskey because you assume it will be spicy and peppery, you’re limiting yourself for the wrong reasons. While high-rye whiskeys can certainly carry spicy, cracked black pepper notes, it’s much more than just spice and heat. There’s a whole symphony of flavors including floral, grassy, earthy, and herbal notes at play.
In fact, modern rye whiskey leans more heavily toward botanical and herbal than spicy and peppery.
If you’re already a bourbon fan, it’s a great time to get into rye whiskey. But like with any whiskey style, you need to start somewhere. And while strolling down the aisle at your local liquor store might end up with you bringing home a bottle or two, you can’t be guaranteed you’ll like them when you crack them open.
Luckily, there are a ton of great gateway rye whiskeys on the market. Each is a perfect way to get your proverbial feet wet in the rye whiskey world. And who better to tell us about them than the people who actually make whiskey? We asked a handful of distillers and whiskey professionals to tell us their picks for the best beginner rye whiskeys — keep reading to see them all!
The best beginner rye is Catoctin Creek’s Roundstone Rye. It has some really beautiful Bourbon-like notes in the beginning, things like cherry and maple, but then flows into flavors more typically associated with Rye.
Tasting Notes:
I get great cinnamon and nutmeg followed by a sort of cooling mint note that is simultaneously familiar and unexpected. It’s an excellent go-to rye in my opinion.
Pinhook Flagship Rye – A grain forward rye that temper’s rye aggressive sometimes astringent nature with the inclusion of corn in the mash bill making it more assessable to burgeoning rye drinkers.
Tasting Notes:
Flavors of vanilla beans, caramelized sugar, cinnamon, dried fruits, oak, and peppery rye are big on this whiskey’s palate.
Bulleit Rye
Bulleit
Eboni Major, master blender, bourbon women board member, and founder and CEO of Major Whiskey in Louisville
Bulleit Rye will always be a favorite for the rye category. MGP makes a great rye product, and the Bulleit team does a great job of blending the perfect notes.
Tasting Notes:
Those grapefruit, cloves, chamomile, and other citrus warm notes make a perfect twist on any cocktail like Rye Manhattan. It is a product that carries through all seasons.
Laws San Luis Valley Straight Rye
Laws
Colin Keegan, founder of Santa Fe Spirits in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Laws Whiskey House San Luis Valley Straight Rye 95-proof. It has all the straight rye notes you would expect. The baking spice and orange notes on the nose draw you in before you even take a sip.
Tasting Notes:
The taste is black tea, stewed fruit, and a nice pepper finish you would expect with rye.
Rittenhouse Rye. It’s very affordable and will give a new rye drinker a preview of spicy rye offramp from the bourbon world. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular value rye whiskeys on the market.
Tasting Notes:
It really highlights the rye spice and earthy rye bread notes that bourbon drinkers refer to when describing rye’s contribution to a bourbon mash bill. If nothing else, this is a great product to try to just understand the aged American brown spirits world better.
Sagamore’s 83-proof flagship rye is a great starting point. It’s made in the traditional Maryland style with a higher corn content and that makes it a little less spicy for a newcomer to rye. That doesn’t mean it’s simple, not at all, just approachable. And once you try that you can move up to the cask strength and double oak – both beauties.
Tasting Notes:
The palate is filled with warming flavors like cinnamon, candied orange peels, toffee, vanilla beans, oak, and cracked black pepper.
What’s the best beginner rye whiskey you don’t make and why? George Dickel Rye for an Introduction to Rye this is another easy-on-the-pocketbook bottle.
Tasting Notes:
It’s filled with soft vanilla and stone fruit, the filtering process makes this a soft spice rye even with a 95% mash bill of rye.
Elijah Craig Straight Rye
Elijah Craig
Joe Michalek, founder and president of Piedmont Distillers in Madison, North Carolina
For those who prefer their whiskey neat or with a cube, I think the best beginner rye is Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey. It’s warming, slightly spicy, and well-priced.
Tasting Notes:
With its 35% corn inclusion, I think it provides a slightly sweeter, more balanced flavor versus the more robust, pepper flavor notes associated with higher-rye alternatives.
Angel’s Envy Rye
Angel
LC May, Grandson, Clyde May and brand ambassador for Clyde May’s Whiskey in Troy, Alabama
There tends to be a love/hate relationship between consumers and rye whiskey. Consumers that do not like rye whiskey normally blame it on the heavy spice that is commonly found in a rye whiskey. For this reason, I would suggest a beginner start with Angel’s Envy Rum Cask Finished Rye.
Tasting Notes:
You will certainly taste some spice but also some nice notes of orange. There are also hints of dried fruits, caramel, vanilla, rich oak, and maple candy.
Wild Turkey 101 Straight Rye
Wild Turkey
Rebecca Running, CEO of Darco Spirits in Philadelphia
Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Rye. This is the OG of Ryes. It has hints of vanilla with warm honey and notes of spice. I love ryes – this is a great one to try. At around $30 it’s affordable and delicious. A great way to discover and try something new without breaking the bank.
Tasting Notes:
Flavors of caramel, clover honey, rich oak, and dried fruits are balanced with spicy cracked black pepper and wintry spices.
Fans across the globe who use Spotify to stream music are getting their long-awaited Spotify Wrapped annual drop today. The yearly promotion showcases a listener’s personal top five songs and musicians for the entire year. It also includes some other fun statistics, like how long (in minutes) you listened to music and your top artist, your top five genres, podcasts, and a “listening personality test.” Not only that, but it seems for 2022, the streaming service had some extra surprises in store for the most dedicated of fans.
Artists like Taylor Swift, Blackpink, Mitski, and more recorded videos that appear in the Your 2022 In Review section for a certain exclusive number of listeners.
Users have also spotted Katy Perry teasing new music through her video, Little Mix delivering a heartfelt holiday wish, as well as clips from WayV, Red Velvet, Niall Horan, J-Hope, Anne Marie, and more.
Others that have also recorded some, by appearing in my personal artist messages, include Maisie Peters and Gracie Abrams.
Because of this, it seems listeners who have an artist either in their top five musicians or songs will receive a video message — if the person recorded one. Bright Eyes did not, and I am disappointed but not surprised.
Continue scrolling for some additional Spotify Wrapped personalized video spots.
He said after questioning his accountants, he found out just how much “a lot” is: “They said, well, around $50 million.” While admitting that he’s “obviously not the most financially literate person on the planet,” he has begun asking the CFOs of his businesses for advice — although it’s not looking good, since one of his questions appeared to be whether not paying taxes is considered tax evasion. The answer is “yes,” Kanye. That’s literally the definition of it. There are whole books about this.
“So now I’m having — I get to actually learn how to run a company,” he said optimistically. “I get to learn how to count, really. “It’s like I didn’t even know where to put the money.” With at least some of it going to child support after his divorce from Kim Kardashian was finalized this week, it looks like Kanye’s fortunes have really turned.
The discussion ended early when the host asked him about the backlash from the antisemitic comments he’d made earlier this year. Kanye reportedly “walked off in a huff” when pressed about his thought process.
This time around, I’ve grabbed brand-new bourbons that have dropped in the last days and weeks — some of these are still on “pre-order” status because they’re so fresh. A few of these bottles dropped back in late September (at the distillery) but are hitting shelves around the country currently. The point is, these are the new-new bottles of bourbon in the game right now.
As for the ranking, I’m looking at taste above all else. Corn-fueled bourbon whiskey tends to lean towards the sweeter end of things when we’re talking about whiskey. But it’s really the balance of that fruity and buttery caramel sweetness against woody spices, earthiness, leatheriness, and deeper vanilla, dark chocolate, and even soft grainy vibes where the brown juice truly shines.
The lineup today is as follows:
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond Fall 2022 Edition Aged 19 Years
Laws Whiskey House Intention Origins Series 2022 Release
Barrell Bourbon New Year 2023
Hidden Barn Small Batch, Series Two Batch #1
Jeptha Creed Red, White & Blue
BLACKENED x Wes Anderson Master of Whiskey Series
Stellum Bourbon Hunter’s Moon
RD One Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with French Oak
Let’s dive in and find you a great bottle to add to your bar cart or give as a gift!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This has a classic bourbon nose with deep leather, oily vanilla pods, dark chocolate-covered cherries dusted with salt and nutmeg, and a mild sense of really fancy Almond Joy with this faintest whisper of singed marshmallow and smoldering apple wood. The palate leans into woody spices with black licorice and spearmint candy blending into mint chocolate chip ice cream and root beer spiked with cherry syrup topped with creamy vanilla and dusted with cinnamon, clove, and dark cacao powder. The end has a long and supple sense of those woody spices before delivering into soft Black Forest cake with a brandied cherry vibe and a hint of star anise-infused apple-berry cider.
Well, this is f*cking delicious. It’d take a monster bottle of bourbon to beat this.
Taste 2
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
There’s a soft graininess that leads to sour cherries, old leather, a hint of honey, and a whisper of orange. The palate has a sense of cinnamon rolls with a crafty sweet graininess and subtle spice next to buttery grits and a twinge of black tea bitterness. The end leans into a little more of that honey with an oatmeal cookie vibe next to woody spice.
This was perfectly fine. It’s a little crafty with all that grain — oatmeal cookies, grits, etc. — but has a nice balance overall.
Taste 3
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is a classic bourbon on the nose with deep flavors of buttered buttermilk biscuits, salted caramel, singed marshmallow, Almond Joy, cherry cream soda, and a touch of Nutella and maple syrup. The palate leans into cherry root beer with a hint of vanilla cream soda next to eggnog spices and creaminess, old dried roses in older leatherbound books, and a whisper of red peppercorn cracked over some sweet pipe tobacco. The end has a candied chili pepper vibe next to burnt orange, marzipan, and creamy dark chocolate with a hint of walnut and cherry saltwater taffy.
This is another winner. It’s not quite as lush as the first pour but damn close.
Taste 4
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
There’s a clear graininess on the nose with a bran muffin/vitamin store vibe next to some mild nuttiness, dark berries, and woody spice. The palate holds onto the graininess with a vanilla wafer with honey feel next to orange cream soda, a hint of grape, touches of pecan waffle, and black licorice Necco Wafers. The end has a light spiciness with nutmeg and cardamom next to more of those chalky wafers and bran muffins.
This was pretty good. It’s very crafty or at least Tennessee-influenced.
Taste 5
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
The nose opens with hints of wicker, old leather, apple and pear cider, and a good dose of burnt orange and old oak. The palate has a salted caramel vibe that leads to pecan waffles with plenty of maple syrup and butter next to burnt orange tobacco leaves and a touch of holiday spices. The end leans into those woody holiday spices with a sense of caramel candies and allspice-spiked apple cider with a hint of old apple orchard wood and bark.
This was pretty nice overall. It’s balanced and well-built.
Taste 6
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
There’s a good bit of fruit on the nose with pear skins, rum-raisin, and burnt orange next to dried-up old cinnamon sticks and tobacco leaves. The palate stews the pear with honey and wintry spices while a hint of dried chili flake leads to walnut cake and a very mild echo of old wet straw. The end is lush and full of oranges studded with cloves and allspice next to pear tobacco and old cedar humidors.
This was also a damn nice pour of whiskey. This ranking is going to be hard.
Taste 7
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Old porch wicker, boot leather, salted caramel candies, vanilla cakes, and a hint of dried mango rolled in salt lead the way on the nose. The palate leans into sharp yet sweet cinnamon with burnt orange and dried plums layering into a spiced fruit cake with a hint of sage and thyme. The end has a lightly dried rose vibe with some soft marzipan covered in dark chocolate and layered into an old fruit cake with candied and dried fruits, citrus, nuts, and plenty of dark winter spice.
This is a really tasty whiskey. I don’t know if it beats that first pour, but it’s close.
Taste 8
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
That old porch wicker and boot leather lead on the nose with a hint of bespoke Almond Joy, dried rose petals, and allspice cherry cola. The palate has a lush creaminess tied to vanilla cake with a cherry compote next to eggnog spices and creaminess and a dash of woody winter spice with a pipe tobacco edge. The end has a rich toffee vibe that leads to almonds and raisins with a sense of spiced choco-cherry tobacco just kissed with orange oils.
This is another nice pour of whiskey. It’s a stone-cold classic.
Part 2: The Ranking
Zach Johnston
8. Laws Whiskey House Intention Origins Series 2022 Release — Taste 2
This whiskey starts off with Laws’ classic Four Grain Straight Bourbon made with 60% heritage corn, 20% heirloom wheat, 10% heirloom rye, and 10% heirloom malted barley. That juice then rests in barrels for three to 10 years before bottling at cask strength and no fussing, creating only 1,680 bottles.
Bottom Line:
This isn’t last by any measure besides this ranking. This is really good whiskey, especially if you’re looking for something a little more crafty (grain-forward). I’m not sold on that crafty vibe … yet … and that’s the only reason this is lower today. Otherwise, this is solidly made and very easy-to-drink whiskey.
7. Hidden Barn Small Batch, Series Two Batch #1 — Taste 4
This new series from Master Blender Jackie Zykan combines only 10 barrels of whiskey. The mash is rye-heavy with 60 percent corn from Christian County Grain, 35 percent rye from Walnut Grove Farms, and five percent malted barley from Southfork Malt House all in Kentucky. After double pot distilling, the hot juice is left to rest for five to six years before Zykan blended this expression and bottled it uncut at batch strength.
Bottom Line:
This is good whiskey. It has that crafty (grain-forward) vibe that’s a bit less sweet and a bit drier. I kind of think Jackie Zykan is a huge fan of Nicole Austin (George Dickel’s Master Distiller down in Tennessee) based on this whiskey’s flavor profile. That’s not my favorite thing ever, but it’s certainly a solid and unique flavor profile in a well-balanced whiskey.
This whiskey was released for Veteran’s Day this month. The mash is a mix of 25% Bloody Butcher corn, 25% heirloom white corn, 25% Bruce’s Blue corn, 20% malted rye, and 5% malted barley. That juice is aged for at least four years before blending, proofing, and bottling for this special once-per-year release.
Bottom Line:
This is pretty solid and classic bourbon. And that’s pretty much it. If you’re looking for a classic bottle that celebrates those who served this country (especially as a gift), then this is a great bottle to grab.
5. BLACKENED x Wes Anderson Master of Whiskey Series — Taste 6
This new collaboration from Metallica’s whiskey finds Master Distillers Rob Dietrich of BLACKENED working with Wes Henderson, Co-Founder of Angel’s Envy, to create a new expression. The whiskey is a classic Kentucky bourbon aged for six years. Those barrels are vatted and then refilled into white port wine casks for a final rest. Finally, the port barrels are batched and the whiskey is bottled at cask strength.
Bottom Line:
This is a damn good whiskey. It’s citrus-forward, which was a little dominant — hence it’s slightly lower ranking. That vibe, though, makes this a great candidate for mixing up a simple and delicious old fashioned.
4. RD One Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with French Oak — Taste 8
This brand-new Lexington, Kentucky whiskey is a follow-up to the award and insider darling Old Wm. Tarr Bourbon, which this expression is replacing. The bourbon in play is finished in French oak, adding an extra layer of depth to the final product before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Bottom Line:
This was another stone-cold classic pour that really hit nicely today. Overall, I think this would make a decent on-the-rocks sipper or killer cocktail base, but I’m really leaning more toward the latter.
This masterful blend from Barrell Craft Spirits celebrates the coming of winter with a high-rye bourbon blend. The batch is dailed in toward the flavors and vibes of the season with deep woodiness, spices, and dark fruits to help celebrate the season.
Bottom Line:
This was just delicious. On another day, this could have been number one. It’s deeply hewn and darkly engaging. I can really see this popping in a Manhattan or Sazerac cocktail or simply on the rocks with a dash of Angostura Bitters.
Barrell’s New Year Bourbon is one of the most beloved releases of the year. This year’s batch is made from a grouping of five, six, seven, eight, and 10-year-old straight bourbon whiskeys distilled in Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Wyoming, New York, Texas, and Maryland. Those whiskeys were batched in Kentucky and bottled as-is.
Bottom Line:
Delicious. I really like this neat, but a little water or a rock truly helps it bloom in the glass and takes you deeper into the fruits and creaminess. In a Manhattan, it’s perfect.
1. Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond Fall 2022 Edition Aged 19 Years — Taste 1
The latest decanter release from Heaven Hill’s Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond series was made back in September 2003. Those barrels rested on three floors of rickhouse F and one floor of rickhouse X on the main Heaven Hill campus until October of 2023. They were then batched and proofed down to 100-proof for bottling.
Bottom Line:
This is another perfect whiskey from the Old Fitz lineup. It’s deep, fun, and classic while taking you on a journey through your senses.
Part 3: Final Thoughts
Zach Johnston
There was just no beating that Old Fitzgerable Bottled-In-Bond Fall 2022 edition this time around. It’s too good.
That said, I’d recommend trying any of these whiskeys. They all offer something a little different. The craftier, more grain-forward stuff ranked lower, but that was only because of my mood and the graininess of them.
Still, if you want a slam-dunk bottle of bourbon, any of the top five will do.
We love TV. And we love movies. And we love buying gifts for people who love TV and movies, which is why we scoured the web, searching for the best deals so that we could pull together a line-up of absolute treasures in every price range that will impress even the toughest critics on your list. From tech-forward options like the sound bar to unique streaming subscriptions, film festival tickets, Stranger Things merch, and more — there’s something for every kind of entertainment fan here.
A Martin Scorsese Masterclass
Masterclass
Price: $190
Whether the person you’re shopping for is an aspiring filmmaker or a lifelong Marty Scorsese fan, this Masterclass subscription offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from one of cinema’s most prolific visionaries. Scorsese deconstructs his method over the course of 30 mini-lessons which add up to a total run time of just over four hours. From scriptwriting to developing his style, recalling his personal influences, and breaking down iconic scenes from his own work, everything you could ever want to learn from the legendary filmmaker is here, though probably not a rundown of his favorite Marvel movies.
Tár (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture)
Focus Features
Price: $25.99
This concept album based on Cate Blanchett’s latest Oscar-worthy project is the gift to give if you want to prove your cinephilic prowess, featuring a collection of beautiful, moving, and powerful orchestral tracks curated and composed by Icelandic musician Hildur Guðnadóttir whose work you might recognize if you loved the sound of Todd Phillips Joker.
The wait for the second season of HBO’s House of The Dragon is rumored to be long — two years long in fact — but you can help the fantasy fan on your shopping list pass the time with this Blu-ray collectible box set. George R.R. Martin has promised that dozens of deleted scenes that couldn’t fit into the show’s streaming run-time can be found here, along with commentary from the cast and crew, deep dives into the creation of certain scenes, and an illustrated guide to House Targaryen narrated by the author himself. I think we can trust him on this one.
While we can’t do much to help you see in the dark when it comes to certain scenes on certain shows that may have already been named on this list, we can definitely suggest amping up one of your other senses by adding a capable sound bar to your home entertainment setup. This JBL sound bar comes with a 10-inch wireless subwoofer and Bluetooth compatibility to make streaming from your phone or tablet easier. Seriously, with so many films going directly to streaming or hitting VOD after a limited theatrical run, you’re still going to get a lot out of trying to bring the theater experience home.
The power ofStranger Things was reinforced this summer as we all fell in love with Kate Bush’s music all over again and cheered on as … spoilers. Still. Anyway, Netflix has shown a continuing commitment to giving fans what they want when it comes to licensing a bunch of cool toys and collectibles around the show, and these prints from Brazillian pop art illustrator Butcher Billy are the latest cool addition. Each piece visually recaps one of the season’s nine episodes in vivid, imaginative detail. Pick a favorite for the fan on your list — we love chapter four’s “Dear Billy” — get it framed, and enjoy getting credit from your family and friends for not going the easy route and just buying a Hellfire Club t-shirt.
Speaking of TV shows everyone was watching in 2022, Amazon Prime’s Rings of Power series managed to transport us all back to Middle Earth while giving us new characters and storylines (and price tags) to marvel at. Whether the person on your shopping list is a Tolkien fan, or a newcomer to his fantasy verse by way of Amazon’s newest hit, this illustrated edition of Tolkien’s The Silmarillion is a must-buy. Not only does it feature stunning artwork done by Tolkien himself, but it also maps out the backstory that fueled the premise for The Rings of Power. This is the gift for TV fans who like to do their homework once they’ve finished streaming their favorite show.
Film festivals aren’t just for industry insiders and professional critics, they’re for fans too. The Sundance Film Festival is one of the most prestigious, filmmaker-beloved events on the circuit and it also happens to be one of the easiest for everyday cinephiles to attend. Beginning in January of this year, fans can purchase tickets for the online portion of the festival which allow attendees to stream multiple feature selections and award-winners (depending on which package you buy). But, if you really want to impress the person on your to-buy-for list, you might want to shell out for an in-person experience where they can enjoy the snow-covered atmosphere of the festival and rub shoulders with A-listers while taking in some of the best films of the year.
Homesick is the candle company that has somehow managed to distill the most niche of scents into wick form. If you’ve smelled any of their state-specific scents, you know they nail that olfactory nostalgia every time. Which is why their latest Star Wars collab is so exciting. Now, you can enjoy streaming Disney+’s latest spin-off, Andor, while burning one of these babies for an immersive, 4D experience. Because really, can you appreciate Cassian Andor leading a revolution against the Galactic Empire without knowing exactly what it smells like on the Death Star?
For movie fans who like to dive deep into the art of filmmaking (but who maybe aren’t in that $200 Marty Scorsese experience bracket), a physical copy of the screenplay of their favorite film is not just a great collectible, it’s a thoughtful gift that shows you truly get them and pay attention to their tastes. But while you can buy paperback screenplays for hundreds of different films on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, if you really want to impress, go with a classy, beautiful gift that looks great on a coffee table like one of the scripts from A24’s meticulously-bound hardcover collection.
Soundtracks have become a big selling point when it comes to a show’s popularity. A good score isn’t just vital for a series’ plot, it’s a way for fans to draw deeper connections with their favorite characters, storylines, and seasons. All that is to say, the vinyl disc set for the second season of Netflix’s streaming behemoth, Bridgerton, is the gift that keeps on giving. Curated by composer Kris Bowers, this vinyl contains full versions of the best orchestral covers that popped up during Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma’s slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers arc. We’re talking string covers of Alanis Morissette ’90s classics, stripped-down versions of Harry Styles chart-toppers, and a scene-stealing ode to a Madonna hit.
The Mandalorian and The Child (Deluxe) Collectible Set
Hot Toys
Price: $315
We’re big fans of Hasbro’s Star Wars Black line, which are about 1/10th price of the Hot Toys figurine you see here. But if you’re looking to really blow someone away with a premium Star Wars collectible, you can’t go wrong with this museum-caliber deluxe piece, 1/6 scale of Baby Yoda (aka The Child, aka Grogu) and Mando. Sure, the price is a budget buster, but can you put a price on giving someone the jewel of their collection and all the pressure it’s going to put on them to go ALL IN when it comes time to get you something in return?
Mark this down as one of the more thoughtful gifts you can give to the entertainment lover in your life. It’s almost impossible to keep up with all of the different streaming services available right now and, chances are, the person you’re buying for is only subscribed to a few choice platforms. If you know of a big streamer they have yet to buy into — think Hulu, HBO Max, Apple TV+, or AMC+ — then just gift that. But, if you’re fairly certain they’ve got the basics covered, level up their streaming game by introducing them to a service like the Criterion Collection or MUBI Go. These streamers boast curated film line-ups that are fit for a connoisseur and offer some serious perks for their members.
This massive mapping of cinema’s best offerings is the perfect gift for movie lovers who like to model their binge-watching habits after SAT prep. You can customize the list of films and genres based on your preferences (and class things up a notch by getting the poster framed) but the result is still the same: an exhaustively thorough guide to the best films in movie history that, once completed, will challenge even the most knowledgeable of film fanatics.
Cocktails of the Movies: An Illustrated Guide to Cinematic Mixology
Prestel
Price: $14.95
The only thing better than enjoying a great film from the comfort of your own home is doing so with a themed cocktail in hand. That’s where this handy recipe guide comes in. Not only does this book break down the recipes for iconic on-screen libations like The Big Lebowski’s White Russian, but it also educates fans on the history of the drink and details its place within the movie it belongs to. It’s the perfect movie-night companion, whether you’re watching solo or entertaining a few guests.
It’s World Cup season, so of course we had to suggest a bit of Ted Lasso merch. And while choosing between cozy puffer jackets, cutesy tea mugs, and Jason Sudeikis’ trademark visor was difficult, in the end, this replica jersey won out. Why? Because it’s fully customizable and it makes you feel like a futbol fan worthy of taking to the pitch with the AFC Richmond Greyhounds whenever you put it on.
Store-bought bags of popcorn are a little too basic when it comes to gift-giving. Instead, deliver this gourmet selection of artisanally made snacks to their door stop knowing you’ll dazzle their tastebuds with unique flavors — blueberry scone, anyone? — while leaving them hungry for more.
This adorable Funko Pop is the more affordable option for those wanting to gift a collectible figurine without breaking the bank. Bonus: the latest series is modeled after James Cameron’s next installment in the franchise which is set to drop just a couple weeks before Christmas. So, as soon as fans start clamoring for these little guys, you’ll be able to surprise the person on your list with one — convincing them of your gifting prowess and your psychic abilities.
As Nicole Kidman once said, “Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.” She was talking about an AMC movie theater hence why this top-tier membership to the chain of cinemas is an unbeatable gift. With it, you can make free online reservations to up to three in-theater showings per week (Dolby Cinema and IMAX included) plus money back on food and drink purchases. Make Nicole proud.
As the Republican Party continues to turn on Donald Trump, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has finally issued remarks on the former president’s controversial dinner with known white supremacist Nick Fuentes. (A dinner that may or may not have been a setup, depending on how far you trust Fuentes and provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.) In an odd statement considering the GOP’s well-documented history of voter suppression, Back the Blue mentality, and its very public turn towards “anti-wokeness,” McConnell denounced white supremacy without directly mentioning Trump or Fuentes.
“First, let me just say that there is no room in the Republican Party for anti-Semitism or white supremacy,” McConnell told reporters. “And anyone meeting with people advocating that point of view, in my judgment, are highly unlikely to ever be elected president of the United States.”
McConnell: There is no room in the Republican Party for anti-Semitism or white supremacy. Anyone meeting with people advocating that point of view, in my judgement, are highly unlikely to ever be elected President pic.twitter.com/aXYNM8Zuds
Naturally, Trump wasted no time firing back at McConnell in a statement to Fox News:
“Mitch is a loser for our nation and for the Republican Party who would not have been re-elected in Kentucky without my endorsement, which he begged me for because he was going down,” Trump said. “His well-financed opponent had $93 million ready to spend when I drove him from two points down to 21 points up in a matter of days.”
Despite taking a stance against Trump, McConnell’s words rang hollow on Twitter where his remarks were roundly criticized as hypocritical. Not only does the Republican Party have a history of discriminatory policies that accelerated during the Trump years, but McConnell recently voted against the Respect For Marriage Act, which will protect interracial as well as same-sex marriage. McConnell’s vote is particularly egregious considering he’s literally in an interracial marriage.
You can see McConnell getting dragged below:
Mitch McConnell, who is in an interracial marriage, just voted against interracial marriage.
There are no greater hypocrites than Republican Politicians.
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