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The Great Rock & Roll Gift Guide

From box sets to lunchbox amps; this year's must-haves for music fans

Posted Dec 25, 2008 9:36 AM

G1
T-Mobile, $179 with contract

A full keyboard makes messaging on the Google phone a breeze.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Centro
Palm, $80 with contract

Syncable e-mail and a 1.3 megapixel camera make this a steal.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Instinct
Samsung, $130 with contract

The best for on-demand TV, from CNN to Beavis and Butt-head.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Krave ZN4
Motorola, $150 with contract

No more cracked phone screens! The Motorola Krave is protected by a see-through flip, which is touch-sensitive so you can still stream your favorite TV shows using Verizon?s sweet VCast network.

V1 Bluetooth headset
Blue Ant, $100

This comfy Bluetooth headset is powered by "Voice Isolation Technology," which provides killer noise suppression, wind noise reduction and echo cancellation.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

iPod Nano and Nike+
Apple, $149-$199; Nike, $30

The nanochromatics — available in a rainbow of colors — have won raves for their knockout looks and slim, supersleek bodies. Using the Nike+ to track your training regimen, so will you.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

iPod Boombox
Lasonic, $190 at insound.com

The staff was roughly split at the appearance of Lasonic's ghetto blaster iPod dock in the RS offices. Half thought it was cool, the other half thought it was ridiculous. We agree: It's ridiculously cool.

Zune 120GB
Microsoft, $250

Bill Gates' favorite MP3 player has been drawing favorable comparisons to the iPod classic, and it even outdoes its nemesis with Wi-Fi download capability and an FM antenna.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Sansa slotMusic Player
SanDisk, $20

Sick of downloading, ripping, syncing? With SanDisk's new slotMusic player, you can listen to albums from artists such as Coldplay and Katy Perry on microSD chips. No computer required.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Beats by Dr. Dre
Monster, $349

Dr. Dre designed these comfy headphones, which deliver crisp highs and thumping lows, and block out most ambient noise. Bonus: take calls while listening to tunes on your iPhone.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Sonos Music System
Sonos Bundle 150, $999; ZoneBrige, $99

The ultimate wireless home system now offers even more music: In addition to Rhapsody, you can use Napster, Sirius, Last.fm and Pandora. The coolest thing about the updated system doesn't cost a cent: a free app that turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a full-service controller.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Debut III Turntable
Pro-Ject $379

With vinyl making a comeback, the Debut, the standard for entry-level-price audiophile-worthy turntables, is a great way to dig Capitol's remastered 180-gram reissues of classic LPs like Radiohead's OK Computer.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Model TT-15S1 Turntable
Marantz, $1,599

Hard-core audiophiles consider the TT-15S1 a bargain. Aesthetically and aurally, the turntable is simply stunning.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Lunchbox 2
ZT Amplifiers, $289

Sure, it looks kitschy-cool, but don't let that fool you: This lunchbox-size guitar amp, from a new Berkeley, California company, cranks 200 watts of screaming raw power.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Kaossilator
Korg, $200

Heads up, Daft Punk wannabe's. With the touch pad of this "pocket synthesizer," you can create virtually limitless synth lines, techno beats and orchestral flourishes at the slide or tap of a finger.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Joan Jett Melody Maker and Elvis Costello Jazzmaster
Gibson, $999; Fender, $1,599.99

More rock stars are designing their own signature guitars than ever before. Two of the coolest are Joan Jett's Gibson Melody Maker — a dead-on replica (down to the Blackheart sticker on the back) that Jett actually plays herself — and the Elvis Costello Fender Jazzmaster, a remake of the classic Seventies surf guitar that features fat-sounding humbucker pickups, multiple switches for endless tonal colors and a gorgeous walnut-stain finish.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Singstar Vol. 2
Sony, $40

Forget dropping your hard-earned cash to do karaoke at a dive bar. With this video game, you can belt out hits by Weezer, Paramore, Eminem and 27 other acts with your PlayStation 3 at home. Bonus points for nailing the high notes on Gnarls Barkley's "Run."

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Gonzo
Shout! Factory, $60

Instead of taking notes, Hunter S. Thompson recorded his ideas on tape. This five-CD set captures that audio of the Gonzo journalist as he prepped his books Hell's Angels and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Limited-Edition Beatles Box
Bloomingdale's, $599

Get the Beatles on your MP3 player — legally! — with this massive box set, which includes CDs of every studio album and a limited-edition 120GB Fab Four iPod.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Motown: The Complete No. 1's
Motown/UMe, $170

This 10-cd, 192-track set — packaged in a replica of Motown's headquarters — features all of the label's Number One hits, including classics by Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5 and more.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Led Zeppelin: Definitive Collection
Swan Song, $200

Coda? Totally underrated! This 12-CD box includes all of Zep's studio albums, which are housed in miniature replicas of the original vinyl sleeves.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Grateful Dead: Winterland 1973
Rhino, $100

Spark a fatty and cue up Jerry Garcia's intergalactic guitar soloing on "Dark Star," featured on this nine-disc set from the Dead's fabled three-night run in San Francisco.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

The Doors Vinyl Box (Limited Edition)
Rhino, $175

Packaged in (what else?) faux lizard skin, Rhino's box includes the Doors' six studio albums in 180-gram vinyl, as well as a mono of the band's classic self-titled debut.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Flaming Lips' Christmas on Mars Mega Deluxe Edition
Warner Bros., $39.99

The Flaming Lips' holiday-themed, whacked-out love letter to retro sci-fi flicks gets a deluxe edition packaged with the CD soundtrack, trading cards, T-Shirt and a sticker. Bonus: the popcorn is totally edible.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

2008 Holiday Reading Round-Up
Various Publishers, $175

From top: Mark Seliger: The Music Book includes some of his most iconic portraits of rockers from George Harrison to Metallica; Get Your War On compiles David Rees' satiric comic from 2001 to 2008; Revolutions in Sound chronicles the fabled history of the Warner Bros. label; Mikael Gilmore's Stories Done examines music legends like Bob Dylan and John Lennon during the Sixties; The Clash traces the history of the U.K. punks with hundreds of previously unseen photos; Traveling on a High Frequency collects 30 years of photographer Jay Blakesberg's stunning live shots.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

_ of 1500
Higher Ground, $25

For ten years, JDK Design have partnered with the Burlington, VT hippie-haven Higher Ground to create collectible, numbered poster prints for rock concerts ranging from Sonic Youth to Feist to Rob Zombie. This limited-edition book — whose title refers to the number of prints created for each poster — collects all of those eye-popping posters, plus annotations from the poster designers.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

He Is ... I Say: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Neil Diamond
Da Capo Press, $25

Neil Diamond: Jewish Elvis or male Celine Dion? In smart, funny and deeply personal tribute, longtime RS contributor David Wild passionately argues the former.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

MovieMate 55
Epson, $699

The Epson Moviemate 55 projector is good for anyone who doesn't have the real estate and wallet for a screening room. Not only is it incredibly easy to set up and use (it comes with a built-in DVD player and stereo speakers), but combine it with their very portable Accolade Duet screen ($150) and you have a movie theatre you can store in the closet and fire up anywhere for under $900.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Pure Country: The Leon Kagarise Archives, 1961-1971
Daniel 13/ Process, $35

Starting in the 1950s, a young music fan named Leon Kagarise started photographing many intimate, outdoor country music concerts happening in the American South, just as the genre was moving from a more regionalized music towards a more mainstream audience. His book "Pure Country" collects ten years of those pictures, including warm, naturally lit shots of legends like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and George Jones.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Tävo Gloves
4Sight Products, $40

Finally, a stylish way for iPod users to handle pesky touch wheels and screens in winter temperatures.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Iconic Rock & Roll Prints
Morrison Hotel Gallery, $500 and up

Neil Diamond: Jewish Elvis or male Celine Dion? In smart, funny and deeply personal tribute, longtime RS contributor David Wild passionately argues the former.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

FoxL Personal Audiophile Speakers
Soundmatters, $199 ($249 with Bluetooth)

We could not believe the sound that came out of these tiny speakers. Although the unit — measuring 5.6 by 2.2 by 1.4 inches — is small enough to fit in your pocket, it delivers deep bass through its patented woofer design.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Slacker G2 Portable Personal Radio Player
Slacker.com, $200 for 4GB, $250 for 8GB

The G2 downloads and updates your favorite stations from Slacker's excellent Internet radio service. It's the perfect alternative for music fans whose first response to an iPod is "How am I going to fill that thing with 10,000 songs?" rather than "It only holds 10,000 songs?"

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

JamVox
Vox, $250

Vox's description of the JamVox as a "jam and practice tool for guitar" doesn't quite do the product justice. It's more like a guitaraoke machine — only way cooler. The software allows you to add tracks from your iTunes library and then strip out the guitar lines of your favorite songs and play along. You can even record the jam if you feel worthy. Think of it as Guitar Hero for real guitarists.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

V1 Bluetooth headset
Blue Ant, $100

This comfy Bluetooth headset is powered by "Voice Isolation Technology," which provides killer noise suppression, wind noise reduction and echo cancellation.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Tommy Bolin Signature Fuzz
Hartman Electronics, $190

Many rock fan/guitarists want the same ax as their heroes. True obsessives want their tone. Guitar effects whiz Theo Hartman has become a favorite of gearheads of taste because he shares their obsession. His latest pedal reproduces the tone of the cult guitar hero Tommy Bolin's original, long unavailable Sam Ash fuzz box.

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades
Activision, $49.99 with controller, $34.99 without

Wail on tunes from the Seventies to the present day anywhere you damn please on your Nintendo DS. Impressive 28-song set list includes Oasis and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Tokio Hotel and Paramore.