Over at the Pop & Hiss blog, Mark Milian has posted an item that should prove of interest to Brand X readers (not to mention music fans in general) about Spotify, the digital music service that has taken Spain, the U.K., France, Sweden, Norway and Finland by storm.

Soon the service will be available stateside:

Spotify is a program similar to iTunes that lets users listen to just about any song on demand. For free. The application takes a page from the Google model -- give a fantastic product away and plan to make money from ads.

It also has a "freemium" component -- that is a business model where the cow and milk are free, but the bells and hormones cost extra.

In order to play music on smart phones (including a spiffy iPhone app) or store songs to be played without an Internet connection, users must subscribe to Spotify Premium, a 10-euro-per-month plan. Each subscriber can sync three devices with up to 3,333 songs.

As Milian writes, Spotify "blows the doors off" its competition, to which I'd just add: What competition?

If you're curious about trying out Spotify ahead of its U.S. launch next year, you can do what I did: set up a proxy account for a U.K. IP address. For 14 days you'll have a "floating" account that would allow a "proper" (that is a resident of Spain, the U.K., France, Sweden, Norway and Finland) to travel and still use the service. But be warned, after two glorious weeks of using Spotify, when they cut off -- and they will -- be prepared to cry. I know that as a reporter I'm supposed to be neutral and present both sides of a given story, but it's next to impossible to remain impartial about a service this great.

-- Richard Metzger

Striking, influential and controversial, Shepard Fairey's "Hope" poster, featuring a graphic tri-colored image of Barack Obama, was wheat-pasted all over the country and became one of the most inescapable images of 2008. This year, Fairey, alongside Jennifer Gross, has compiled a 150-page, full-color volume of Obama-inspired visuals from artists including Robbie Conal, Date Farmers, Aaron Axelrod and Mike Murphy. Finally: You can give the gift of street art without having to peel it off a telephone pole.

$22.50; published by Abrams Image, www.abramsbooks.com

-- Alie Ward

We don't know whether "Avatar" will live up completely to its billing as "a game-changer" for special effects, but director James Cameron certainly pulled that off with his 1991   film "Terminator 2" and its then-startling quicksilver CG effects. I'm a bigger fan of the first movie in the franchise (better story and none of Ed Furlong's petulance), but this limited-edition packaging of the sequel is too sweet to ignore with the 14-inch skinless, glowing eyeball bust of the T-800. A great gift, too, for any friends in the Schwarzenegger administration who are spending their last Christmas in Sacramento.

$104.99; www.amazon.com

--Geoff Boucher

Image courtesy Lionsgate

Not everyone has a green thumb; for those who don't, even the little bit of water needed by succulents can seem an overwhelming task. The perfect aesthetic solution: wax candles crafted to look like the real deal.

$36 for a set of four;  www.shopalphaonline.com

-- Alexandra Le Tellier

Photo credit: Tara Godvin/Los Angeles Times

The French make such a big deal about Champagne, you'd think it was rocket science. The L.A.-based Spike Your Juice company has come up with a simple, yeast-based powder that can be added to fruit juice, turning it into a sparkling wine within 48 hours. It might not be as strong as the moonshine you've got brewing in your garage (it's only 3.5% to 6% alcohol), but since it's made with pomegranate, cranberry or grape juice, it sure tastes a lot better. The kit also comes with a stopper, six customizable labels and an air lock, which you'll need for the fermenting process.

$9.99 for six packets;  www.spikeyourjuice.com

-- Krista Simmons

Photo credit: Su-Etan

The Swedish artist has turned her work -- often quirky, expressive characters juxtaposed against stark backgrounds and muted colors -- into a stunning calendar for the new year. It's like having a snippet of an art gallery hang beside your desk.

$28; www.camillaengman.com

-- Alexandra Le Tellier

Image courtesy Camilla Engman

A partnership between legendary rock business managers RZO and award-winning winemakers Mendocino Wine Co., Wines That Rock seeks to capture the spirit of music in its portfolio of vintages and iconic album art for labels. Together, they've launched three varietals: Forty Licks Merlot, Woodstock Chardonnay and the Dark Side of the Moon Cabernet Sauvignon. The goal, says winemaker Mark Beaman, is to create a "bottle of wine that truly captures the essence of an album."

$16.99 a bottle; www.wines-that-rock.com

-- Sarah Ardalani

Image courtesy Wines That Rock

To: The person who has everything.

From: The person with really deep pockets.

If a fishbowl is akin to a shack and the traditional aquarium is a house, then the Labyrinth Aquarium is like the sprawling Spelling Mansion. If a fish doesn't like the scene in one Lucite acrylic aquarium bowl, it has several others to choose from.

$5,500 without table and $6,500 with table;  www.opulentitems.com

-- Alexandra Le Tellier

Image courtesy OpulentItems.com

Computer addicts who can't tell the difference between their home address and their home address will appreciate a doormat that connects the dots.

$39.99; www.thinkgeek.com

--Alexandra LeTellier

Image courtesy ThinkGeek.com

Solar hanging LED lights

Got a neighborhood rivalry for best holiday decorations? These solar-powered LED hanging snowflake lights will let you steal the show without crashing the grid. The panels are highly sensitive and can collect energy even on L.A.'s relatively rare cloudy days. Hang them from trees or the eaves, and let natural light do the dazzling.

$99.99/ set of four;  www.mrlight.com

Living Christmas Tree

These living Christmas trees come to you in a pot, with roots, and a tray to protect your floor from watering spills. Once the season is over, the Living Christmas Co. will pick up the tree and return it to a lot to grow. (Trees ready to be planted are donated to the Urban Reforestation Project.) The company also offers pre-decorated trees with eco-friendly ornaments and LED lights.

$65, 3- to 4-foot tree; $85, 4- to 5-foot tree; $110, 5- to 6-foot tree; www.livingchristmas.com

--Krista Simmons

Images: LED lights Madelyn Bradley/tree courtesy Living Christmas Co.