GRAND PRIZE: See Kings of Leon Perform at Slane Castle in Ireland

Two lucky fans will be selected by the band to join them on a trip to Ireland for an unforgettable performance at Slane Castle.

I NEED TO WIN THIS!

Artist Spotlight: Not to brag or anything, but some of us over here at The Ivy Leak have been listening to and loving this band of Tennessee kin since 2003. In 2009, their fourth studio album, Only By The Night, turned them into superstars, but we still can't live without their early stuff. So in our spotlight post, we've decided to throw in some songs that a true old Kings of Leon fan will appreciate. Probably Australian or British. Anyway, Lulu just saw them at Madison Square Garden and it was epic.

Side Note: Got a chance to see KOL in Santa Barbara '09 and in Tennessee '07. Worth it to see them live. Get tickets to their tour going on now! And if you go to the L.A., San Diego or Irvine shows, look for The Ivy Leak. We'll be at all three!

Kings of Leon - Wasted Time

Kings of Leon - Milk

Kings of Leon - Talihina Sky

Kings of Leon - Trani

The 80's

I absolutely LOVE the 80's. It's the decade that gave us the CD, Pac Man, The Replacements and Thriller... I mean, come on! Just give these songs a good listen, especially those of you who have never really embraced the genius of the music that was coming out then. So here's a glimpse at some of my favorite songs from the Nintendo years. And remember, not everyone wore side ponytails and hung out at the roller rink.

Side Note: The Replacements do a song called Alex Chilton. Alex Chilton was the lead singer of Big Star until he passed away 2 months ago. Big Star was an awesome band. We'll be doing a post just for them in the near future. RIP
The Replacements - Can't Hardly Wait

The Outfield - Your Love

The Church - Under The Milky Way

Talking Heads - This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)

The Cure - Just Like Heaven

The Replacements - Alex Chilton

New Order - Age of Consent

The Smiths - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

Lou Reed - Dirty Boulevard

Cheers,
Lulu

LCD Soundsystem

Songs: I Can Change, Someone Great
Sounds Like: Junior Boys meets Hot Chip

Side Note: Great musical project coming from James Murphy, founder of DFA Records. LCD has been around since '02 and honestly, I love what Murphy does. The new album, This Is Happening, just dropped. "Someone Great" is from the last album, "I Can Change" is on the new one. Just listen.
LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great

LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change

Cheers,
Lulu

Boards of Canada

Songs: In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country, Kid For Today, Chromakey Dreamcoat, Turquoise Hexagon Sun
Sounds Like: Aphex Twin, Four Tet, STS9, modern hotel music (that's not a band.)

Side Note: If you're internet-chic at all, then you've heard the song "Turquoise Hexagon Sun" by Boards of Canada because it's featured in the weird/genius animated web series, Salad Fingers. Also, if you see a remix done by "BOC" - that's Boards of Canada. They do an amazing redo of Beck's "Broken Drum" on his remix album, Guerolito. This is such a great band and it's a shame they aren't more recognized in the collective music community. Boards consists of two Scottish brothers who have been doing their thing since '95. Check it out.

**Ivy Leak Doctor's Note: Great music for when you're in another "state of mind." wink, wink!

Boards of Canada - In A Beautiful Place Out in the Country

Boards of Canada - Chromakey Dreamcoat

Boards of Canada - Kid For Today

Cheers, Lulu

Kings of Leon

Artist Spotlight: Not to brag or anything, but some of us over here at The Ivy Leak have been listening to and loving this band of Tennessee kin since 2003. In 2009, their fourth studio album, Only By The Night, turned them into superstars, but we still can't live without their early stuff. So in our spotlight post, we've decided to throw in some songs that a true old Kings of Leon fan will appreciate. Probably Australian or British.

Side Note: Got a chance to see KOL in Santa Barbara '09 and in Tennessee '07. Worth it to see them live. Get tickets to their tour going on now! And if you go to the L.A., San Diego or Irvine shows, look for The Ivy Leak. We'll be at all three!

Kings of Leon - Wasted Time

Kings of Leon - Milk

Kings of Leon - Talihina Sky

Kings of Leon - Trani


Cheers,
Lulu

Jay-Z & Eminem

CLICK HERE: JAY & EM IN THE D & NYC

Side Note: Two of my favorite rap artists alive, Jay-z and Eminem, will be pairing up to do two headlining shows in both of their hometowns. I just can't believe this is happening and The Ivy Leak will be at both shows. We've got roots in Detroit and love for New York.

And because of this special occasion, here's that old Jay & Em tune we all love so much:

Jay-Z & Eminem - Renegades


AND CHECK OUT JAY'S NEW MINI-MOVIE (ABOVE)
SPONSORED BY ABSOLUT VODKA

Cheers,
Lulu

Sam Roberts

Albums: Love at The End of the World, Chemical City, We Were Born In a Flame

Songs: Them Kids, Detroit '67, Brother Down, An American Draft Dodger In Thunder Bay, Bridge To Nowhere

Sounds Like: Bob Dylan meets The Stills meets Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Side Note: I may be wrong, but I feel like not enough people know about Sam Roberts. His stuff sounds like The Stills meets recent Bob Dylan. This band is so good. There must be something in the water over in Montreal because its musical exports are really great.

Sam Roberts Band - Detroit '67

Sam Roberts Band - Them Kids

Sam Roberts Band - Bridge to Nowhere

Cheers,

Lulu

Phantogram

Song: Mouthful of Diamonds
Sounds Like: Lali Puna meets Goldfrapp. I really like this song.

Side Note: The first lyric talks about someone who get's high on their own supply...Biggie would be pissed.

Phantogram - Mouthful of Diamonds



Cheers,
Lulu

Alex Winston

Songs: Animal Baby, Danny, Medicine
Sounds Like: Malvina Reynolds meets Rilo Kiley meets a smack in the face with a tambourine and a cool beat

Side Note: We love this girl. Alex Winston, born and bred in Detroit, relocated to NYC and has been working with production team The Knocks on Heavy Roc Music to create this truly unique sound. I'm not sure I've heard anything like it before, which I can't say about much music lately. "Danny," a truly heart melting song about young love with no boundaries, is definitely worth a listen. Animal Baby has a great hook. Just listen.

Alex Winston - Animal Baby

Alex Winston - Danny


Cheers,
Lulu

Holy Rolling Empire

Album: Gigantis
Songs: Bipolar Bear Mania, This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things, Mostly Bananas
Sounds Like: If Spacehog had sex with Dinosaur Jr., Holy Rolling Empire would be their baby.

Side Note: This band from Tucson, AZ has that 90's vibe we all love and miss. Retaining the sounds from a decade that clearly has a strong influence on their music, Holy Rolling Empire somehow manages to keep it fresh. Give them a listen. Or buy a T-shirt ! We'll do you a favor and stay up to date on bands coming out of Arizona.

Holy Rolling Empire - Bipolar Bear Mania

Holy Rolling Empire - This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Cheers,
Lulu

Songs You Should Know

1 I love this song, despite Kenny Rogers. It's in The Big Lebowski and it's far out!
Kenny Rogers & The First Edition - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)

2 JJ Cale is probably one of the most underrated artists of all time
JJ Cale - Cajun Moon

3 He made great music until the day he died
Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around

4 You probably have never heard of this artist. If Richard Buckner released music in
the early 90's rather than the late 90's (when grunge was on its way out),
he'd be the equivalent of Eddie Vedder today.
Richard Buckner - Ariel Ramirez


Cheers,
Lulu

Washed Out

Song: Feel It All Around
Sounds Like: A band called JJ, i'll be blogging about them later.

Side Note: I've been listening to this band for a long time and this is a great song.

Washed Out - Feel It All Around

Cheers,
Lulu

Kele

Song: Tenderoni (XXXChange Dub)
Sounds Like: Bloody Beetroots with a dash of dub...dash o' dub

Side Note: Wait for the song to hit 1:18 and turn the volume up

Kele - Tenderoni (XXXChange Dub)

Cheers,
Lulu

Nas & Damian "JR. GONG" Marley

Song: As We Enter (Tinie Tempah Remix)
Sounds Like: Nas & Damian Marley are making a video game with showgirls

Side Note: Okay, here it goes. I love Nas and I have much respect for the Marley's. I like the East Coast meets The Island vibe. This song is pretty tight, especially when Nas lays it down. I wish we could hear more stuff like Illmatic but, a little Nas is better than no Nas. Plus, Jr. Gong just looks cool. If you want to really enjoy this, turn your volume up. That's all I'm going to say.

Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley - As We Enter (Tinie Tempah Remix)


Cheers,
Lulu

Alexi Murdoch

Album: Time Without Consequence
Songs: All My Days, Song For You, Orange Sky, Breathe
Sounds Like: Colin Hay, Nick Drake

Side Notes: This guy is great, and check this out: He grew up in Greece and Scotland, went to Duke and then moved to LA. He saw K.D. Lang in a grocery store, handed her his demo and two days later when she called him with interest, he declined any help because "he wasn't ready." Shit. Well now look at him. His music was used for pretty much the whole Away We Go movie soundtrack and his hit, "Orange Sky" has been used in countless entertainment projects. Keep your eye on him, which isn't hard to do anyway. By the way, his song "All My Days" is amazing.

Alexi Murdoch - All My Days

Alexi Murdoch - Song For You


Cheers,
Lulu

Lilly Wood & The Prick

Song: "L.E.S. Artistes (Santigold Cover)"
Sounds Like: It reminds me of Zooey Deschanel's voice (with less -twang?-) over Jenny Lewis's musical stylings. So basically, if Zooey Deschanel didn't sing with a frontal lobotomy and covered Rilo Kiley songs.

Side Note: I am a fan of Zooey Deschanel's acting.

Lilly Wood & The Prick - L.E.S. Artistes (Santigold Cover)


Cheers,
Lulu

John Gold

Album: A Flower In Your Head
Songs: We Get High, Fade To Blue, Anytwo, Songsinger, It's Going
Sounds Like: If Citizen Cope was a mellow Jew from Los Angeles; a Clarence Greenfeld per say.

Side Notes: I've been listening to this guy for years now and I love his music. His previous albums are great, probably appealing to more people than his latest effort. However, on his new album "We Get High" is a gem. If you are familiar with the movie, "Mean Creek", he did much of the music for the soundtrack. Great talent

John Gold - We Get High

John Gold - Fade To Blue


Cheers,
Lulu

Big Big Monsters

Album: Their EP is on its way!
Song: Problems
Sounds Like: Motion City Soundtrack got struck by a lightning bolt

Side Notes: This is a really cool band from the Orange County area that's going to be on the radar very soon. Check out this song, and if you want more, email us at theivyleak@gmail.com

Big Big Monsters - Problems


Cheers,
Lulu

The National

Album: High Violet
Songs: Coversation 16, England

Sounds Like: Depeche Mode. At least as far as the voice is concerned; very noir-ish

Side Notes: This is a band that I didn't really get into with their previous albums. However, this album stands out to me more because of the songs listed above. It's worth giving it a listen.

The National - Conversation 16


The National - England


Cheers,
Lulu

The Dead Weather

Album: Sea of Cowards
Songs: Die By The Drop, The Difference Between Us, Blue Blood Blues
Sounds Like: The Kills, The Black Keys, The Raconteurs

Side Notes: The Dead Weather has thrown a little funk into their sound and I like it. Jack White makes music that sounds like he's pulling apart his guitar. I'm listening to "The Difference Between Us." It's that kind of intro that makes your muscles twitch. Same goes for Blue Blood Blues. Yella



The Dead Weather - The Difference Between Us

Cheers,
Lulu

Band of Horses

Album: Infinite Arms
Songs: Blue Beard, Infinite Arms, Laredo
Sounds Like: Rogue Wave, Sea Wolf, Beach Boys

Side Notes: If you've never heard of this band before, check out their other albums, Cease to Begin (their best so far) and Everything All The Time. Their other big songs are, "Is There a Ghost?", "No One's Gonna Love You", "Detlef Schrempf" and "The Funeral." Don't feel obligated to turn away just because Liz from "My Life as Liz" sang one of their songs at her fake high school talent show.

Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost?

Band of Horses - Blue Beard

Cheers,
Lulu