We are back with our holiday gift guide, lest you think that we are all serious all the time. Each year we compile this list with love and care, and we hope that these will prove useful. And no, we don’t get paid for any of these inclusions, it’s just stuff we like.
“With Teeth” vinyl by Nine Inch Nails
We imagine that gift-giving season was the last thing on Trent Reznor’s mind while timing the new remastered vinyl release of “With Teeth.” When this album came out the reception was mixed. Funny how time changes things. In retrospect this record is full of brilliance. Reznor has been on the vinyl kick, which we fully support, and this 2-LP set looks delicious. $35
Ernesto candle by Cire Trudon
There hasn’t been a year in which we have not included a Cire Trudon candle in our gift guide. This is for a reason – the brand stands for everything we stand for; heritage, craftsmanship, subtle beauty. Every season Cire Trudon puts out holiday candles, and they have proved to be a hit after hit. Ernesto, which combines the notes of bergamot, leather, and tobacco into an olfactory bliss, is one of our favorites. And this year, Trudon, decided to wrap it into a black glass vessel, so what else could you ask for? $125
Cypress Mask perfume by Tobali
Tobali is our discovery of the year as far as the fragrance world is concerned. It’s hard to go wrong with anything from this Japanese newcomer, whose scents are characteristically understated. Cypress Mask narrowly won out against Iron Wind and Spring Snow. $165
Ray Gun: The Bible of Music and Style
Being magazine, book, and music fans, here is our award for book of the year, which is a book about a magazine about music. Ray Gun was fucking brilliant, a magazine that revolutionized publication and became a source of inspiration for countless graphic designers. If you won’t love it, we’ll give you your money back. Or at least the store where you bought it at will. $65
Nike x Undercover Daybreak sneakers
What, we are recommending sneakers? Sneakers? Are we out of our damn minds? Look, we hate sneakers, so if we are recommending a pair, you know they must be pretty damn good. As a matter of fact, we haven’t seen a sneaker this good in forever. And we are shocked that they haven’t sold out yet. Obviously, we are recommending an all-black variant. $160
Ann Demeulemeester – Serax tableware
As far as home goods are concerned, the most exciting news since the invention of the toaster is that this fall Queen Ann released a line of tableware. Democratically priced and wonderfully executed, this should be in the home of every reader of this publication. You really can’t go wrong here, though our favorite strand is the Dé hand painted plates. Starting at $13.
Rick Owens “So Cunt” socks
You know how people give and get cashmere socks for Christmas? Dare we offer an alternative? $106
STUMM43
Here is a gift for a true music geek. Earlier this year Mute records released a vinyl box set of versions of John Cage’s infamous 4:33 piece. For this juggernaut of difficult listening, 58 artists, including Depeche Mode and Nizter Ebb, answered the call of Mute’s founder, Daniel Miller. We dare you to use this as your Xmas soundtrack. $290
The Tyranny of Virtue by Robert Boyers
Dammit, we couldn’t help but finish on a serious note after all. Oh, well. For those of you tired of the overreach of PC/callout/cancel culture that is turning into a kind of well-meaning fascism, The Tyranny of Virtue will provide a much needed breath of sanity. A polemic, an alarm, a call to arms, but also a reminder that we still have courageous left-wing intellectuals left in this country. Perfect holiday reading, we say. $27
