Blog Posts by Nicole Cifani

When it comes to holiday shopping, many of us freeze at the mere prospect of trolling a mall with hundreds of others in search of that perfect and unique holiday gift. Particularly when it comes to tech toys, why scour the shelves when we can make our purchases online at the last minute instead? I don't know about you, but I love shopping in my PJs - and have the items delivered directly to my doorstep!

Whether you're shopping at home or in the mall, for yourself or someone else, here are five ideas guaranteed to satisfy the music lover in all of us.

1. The Portable Player, a.k.a. The Boombox

If you're looking for a dock for your iPod or iPhone, the On Stage IV from JBL is your match. The portable speaker system plays music from your device while simultaneously charging it. It travels easily and packs a punch for it's small size.

If you can hold out until January, TDK is back in the game with the TDK Boombox, an excellent reinvention of the classic ghetto blaster. Both a two and

The song "Secrets" by the Denver-based band OneRepublic is seemingly everywhere. 

[Related: Indie rock band provides soundtrack for famed designer]

The second single from the 2009 album Waking Up has enjoyed several TV placements ranging from the show "Lost," to "Gossip Girl," to "CSI: Miami." This summer it was notably featured in the trailer for the Disney film "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," as well as in promotion for the film "Love & Other Drugs."

The single is also enjoying success in the advertising world. It was featured in Apple's much-anticipated promotional video for the iPhone 4 (along with a related parody on comedy site Funny or Die).

[Related: Iconic commercial re-launched with new celebrity voice]

The latest collaboration is a unique foray in the world of not only advertising but interactive branding as well. The cello-driven, memorable tune serves as the soundtrack, theme song, and online feature for clothing designer Ralph Lauren's The Big Pony fragrance collection.

Retail company Target is offering up 13 free downloads taken from songs featured in their current holiday campaign.

The compilation includes music from Coconut Records, the indie pop project from actor Jason Schwartzman; Barcelona-based alternative band The Pinker Tones; and Blackalicious, a hip hop duo made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel.

When visiting the page you can stream or download each track, learn more about the artists and watch the TV spot each song is featured in.

View the full tracklist below and get the free album here. 

"Tiny Christmas Tree" by Guster:

Watch Guster's "Do What You Want" video:

The Christmas Gig Tracklist
 
1. "Tiny Tree Christmas" by Guster
2. "Toy Jackpot" by Blackalicious
3. "Snow Is Falling" by Darker My Love
4.

It's hard to believe it's that time of year again for all things glitter and gold, naughty and nice, and great TV with special messages from their sponsors! If you're a fan of the television show Glee on Fox, you may have caught a glimpse of one holiday commercial in particular last night.

The spot I'm talking about is for the clothing and lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger. It features music by none other than preppy indie rock band Vampire Weekend. 

Known for bringing their pop-collared polos to college boys everywhere and placing the topsider in shoe stores nationwide, the partnership is a perfect fit for the line that brought preppy to American youth culture in the 90's.

The commercial features the fictional Hilfiger family having a holiday meal in the great outdoors:

Can't get enough? Vampire Weekend will be on the American Music Awards this Sunday night as a nominee for Favorite Alternative Rock Artist.

The song "Holidays" is  from the album Contra, in stores now. 

Watch the

There's always been a bit of competition among smartphone users. With mobile technology advancing constantly, there's always a new feature available on one phone that may not be available on the next. For tech geeks like me, it turns into a playful competition between friends of who has the latest and greatest.

The Blackberry vs. Droid vs. iPhone is the battle of the moment. And with Droid as a relatively new runner in the race, the competition between Blackberry and the iPhone has only intensified. While each phone is known for very different features, there's still a strong loyalty for each brand resulting in debates over which one is better (I remain neutral. As an iPhone user I enjoy the sleek design, user interface, and multimedia capabilities. I'm also a Blackberry user and find the mail, calendar, and contact features to be indispensable).

Apple delivers the natural panache that comes alongside their telltale ads featuring bright colors, simple graphics and hip, cutting-edge

This week, Call of Duty: Black Ops, the seventh in a series of games from video game publisher Activision, is officially in stores. Despite taking place during the Cold War, the highly-anticipated blow 'em up, run-and-gun multiplayer game features Vietnam War era music including the Rolling Stones "Sympathy For The Devil" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son."

Also available this week is the 30-song soundtrack, comprised of all original material by Sean Murray who also happens to be the composer on Call Of Duty: World At War. With full-length tracks that are cinematic, orchestral and varied in scope, it's safe to say that the soundtrack can definitely stand on its own. 

Also out this week on DVD and Blu-ray is the video game-inspired flick Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. The film stars Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim, a guy juggling two women who still hasn't recovered from a breakup with his former flame. In pursuit of one of his new love interests, Pilgrim must battle to the

2009

The Grammy Award-winning country and crossover artist Faith Hill has established herself as one of the biggest female country stars and an enormous crossover success. In 2009 Faith continues to build upon that success, performing the opening theme for NBC Sunday Night Football "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" and preparing to release her debut fragrance alongside Coty fragrances.

2008 Joy to the World

Joy To The World is the first holiday album from Faith Hill, featuring new versions of ten traditional as well as modern day holiday classics.

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2005 Fireflies

Hill took nearly three years to return to recording, but when she released Fireflies in August 2005 it was hailed as one of her finest works.

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The Grammy-nominated Backstreet Boys have returned with their seventh studio album entitled "This Is Us". Hear a preview the brand-new release below.

To order "This Is Us" click here.

For more information please visit thebackstreetboys.com.