Iggy Azealia "Change Your Life"

I really have come around to love Iggy. Chances are, homegirl is too busy getting that paper to laugh at Flopzelia Banks. If you aren't familiar with Iggy, check out her iconic video for 'Work'.

I need her figure.

New Music Post!

Chance the Rapper

I feel like Chance the Rapper is what Lil Wayne would be like if he came onto the scene today as a 20 year old from Chicago who cares about sick production and can actually function in society. I've listened to his mixtape about five times this week, and I cannot gush enough about how great it is. Some gems include "Juice", "Favorite Song", and "Lost".

Please, please, PLEASE listen to the mixtape many times. Ya welcome!

CHVRCHES

I'll admit, I haven't listened to much of their other music, but what I have heard, I love. They're similar to Purity Ring, and I love Purity Ring. It's not that I'm not interested, I'm just lazy about obtaining music. HOWEVER, every time this song comes on, I'm jamming and putting it on repeat. Actually, I'm seeing them at Virgin FreeFest soon (around when their album comes out), so I know it's going to be fab.

Volcano Choir

Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) seems to turn everything he touches into gold. This new album, Repave, by his side project Volcano Choir, is fantastic. It sounds like a nice mix between For Emma, Forever Ago and Bon Iver. A perfect mix of folk and experimental electronics. Comes out September 3rd.

Listen here! (NPR)

Praise the Lord

We're back! Sorry for the hiatus, but we're busy gals. Lucky for you, that means we're coming back with new Kanye and other wonderful things to post about :) Stay tuned.

For now, bask in the glory that is Yeezus Christ. No flaws or lies detected.

The Calm Before the Storm

It is Inauguration Weekend and, as a DC-resident, I am terrified. I made it through the traffic last night after a tiny hiatus at my parents' house in northern Maryland, but I know Monday is going to be a little crazy with all the tourists in town. So, to gather the last of my marbles before tomorrow, I've been relaxing on my couch, reading all day. Here's a few pieces of my day:

Totalitarian Restaurants and the New Tyranny of Today's Top Chef by Corby Kummer for Vanity Fair (via Layla)

Merrick's Art: Tutorials The DIY addict in me is dying for a sewing machine thanks to this blog.

Jenna Lyons, the Woman Who Dresses America NYTimes

trinidad james for matchbook mag

trinidad james for matchbook mag by aliciacollision featuring a sheer blouse

Sheer blouse
sheinside.com

J.Crew slim pants
jcrew.com

Del Toro skull slipper
matchesfashion.com

River island
$13 - riverisland.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs marc jacob
marcjacobs.com

Lanvin
theoutnet.com

Prediction: This is going to be a great year for women (musically, at least)

HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL.

Sorry for the lapse in posting. You know how the holidays are. The other day, I was talking to my lovely boyfriend who mentioned how surprised he was to notice that his Best of 2012 album list has a ton of women on it. Isn't that wonderful? Maybe my man is an anomaly, but I like to think 2012 was an amazing year for women artists, commercially or not. Here are some of my favorites from 2012, so keep an eye/ear out for these talented women in 2013, as well as others.

image

New Music Post

These songs are new to me and I figure I'd let you in on what I'm listening to these days. It's pretty electronic and hip hop.

I hope you like!

Instead of watching CNN, BOW.

LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN

Rihanna is our hero here at Alicia and Layla headquarters. "Rude Boy" was my ringtone for years and she's pretty much flawless in our eyes (save for gross Chris Brown dramz). I don't have much to say about this except it is just ratchet flawlessness incarnate. Honestly, based on the snippets I've heard, this is the first Rihanna album that I would actually buy. The first song, "Fresh Off the Runway" had me DYING. It's all so, so good. The Chris Brown song (ugh) is even okay, but not the best on there. Seriously Rihanna, well done. 

I am so thankful for this because it took my mind off of the election, which is stressing me out massively. Bless.

Azealia Banks "1991"

Azealia Banks might be the only 21-year-old I want to be like.

Watch the video here (it won't embed :\ )

"A$AP. Get like me."

I love A$AP Rocky. I think he's fine, fresh and has the benefit of some seriously sick beats (mostly produced by Clams Casino). You should really listen to him, starting with Palace or Peso. That said,  there's a lot working against this song for me. Kendrick Lamar isn't really my cup of tea [JK listened to good kid m.A.A.d city] and Drake... is Drake. There is also the issue of being totally offended as a woman, but I've learned to ignore it in this genre because, come on.

But I really love this song. I'm about to ruin it and listen to it a million times. Enjoy!

Just Tell Me That You Want Me

I have to say, I am excited for this! In case we are just now meeting, I love -- LOVE -- Fleetwood Mac. Every time I listen to them, I think, Why do other bands even try? Luckily for me, another thing I love is indie music, whatever that means. So here is the meeting of both of those worlds. Not surprisingly, many indie rock bands have drawn inspiration from the flawless Mac (especially Best Coast), so this makes sense. Just Tell Me That You Want Me: Tribute To Fleetwood Mac comes out August 14th. The tracklisting and "Think About Me" by the New Pornographers below:

01 Lee Ranaldo Band Featuring J Mascis – “Albatross”
02 Antony – “Landslide”
03 Trixie Whitley – “Before The Beginning”
04 Billy Gibbons & Co. – “Oh Well”
05 Best Coast – “Rhiannon”
06 The New Pornographers – “Think About Me”
07 Marianne Faithfull – “Angel”
08 Lykke Li – “Silver Springs”
09 Karen Elson – “Gold Dust Woman”
10 Matt Sweeney And Bonnie “Prince” Billy – “Storms”
11 Washed Out – “Straight Back”
12 Tame Impala – “That’s All For Everyone”
13 Craig Wedren with St. Vincent – “Sisters Of The Moon”
14 The Kills – “Dreams”
15 Gardens & Villa – “Gypsy”
16 The Crystal Ark – “Tusk”
17 MGMT – “Future Games”

source

Album of the Moment: Fear Fun by Father John Misty

This album is pretty fantastic. Father John Misty is the nomme de plume of the former Fleet Foxes drummer, J. Tillman. Like Fleet Foxes, it's very modern folk, if you will. His music is dark and hauntingly beautiful. Actually, it probably sounds just like the photo above-- strange and surreal yet casual. I had a pretty low key weekend and listened to it on vinyl (which probably makes it sound better, to be honest.)

I recommend you buy it on iTunes, but you can stream it here on YouTube.

Also, I'm absolutely obsessed with this song:

Bon Iver, Bon Iver

This post is past due. In June, I was introduced to what is probably my favorite album of 2011, Bon Iver's Bon Iver. I had heard "Skinny Love," off For Emma, Forever Ago, but otherwise I was pretty new to Justin Vernon. There are so many things I love about him: he has Shakespeare's "birthday," he's from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and he writes and records his music secluded in a cabin.

Every time I listen to a song off of this album, I can't help but continue to listen to the entire album. When I first heard it, I think I listened to it six times in a row. My brother said he listened to it eight times in a row. It's incredibly hypnotic and beautiful. 

I assume Vernon's friendship and producing sessions with Kanye have really influenced this album. It's rather electronic, especially the last song, "Beth/Rest," which sounds reminiscent of a romantic scene in an 80's movie. His vocals are touching even when you don't know what he's saying.. but you kind of don't want to know, lest it ruin anything. It's so gorgeous, I'd rather not risk it.

Bon Iver - Towers

Bon Iver - Beth/Rest