The Leigh Lists....

Lists are fun. They spark debate, inspire people to check things out, and they give clever insight into the person who creates them. So here a few things you should think about or check out....

Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and the Ting Tings got you down? Then...

TOP 6 OBSCURE, UPCOMING or UNKNOWN BANDS YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO:

1)QUARASHI
This little known Icelandic, white, rap, metal group (yes, you read that right)had some success with songs licensed for movie trailers and commercials. They broke up, but these cats put posers like Linkin Park to shame....


2)Electric Six
The beyond cool fusion of arena rock, 80s techno, and straight up rock and roll make Electric Six one of the greatest bands EVER!!! They have a great sense of humor and despite being in the game for years, they stick to their indie band roots. They had one song you probably know, "Danger, High Voltage", but that is far from their best.



3)The Divine Madness
Ok, I'm a bit partial here, but the new album is great!!! They recently licensed a song to the Showtime show The Tudors and have a new music video on the way (directed by yours truly). I say give it another year and they will be everywhere....



4)The Dandy Warhols
Not exactly that obscure...but they are awesome. Can you tell yet that I grew up in the 1980s?



5)The Killdares
Kinda rock, kinda metal, kinda bagpipes. That's right. The Killdares from Dallas, TX are really cool. Every here a bagpipe and wish it was accompanied by Led Zepplin style riffs and driving beats? Wish no more....

The Killdares on myspace

6)Bree Sharp
A very talented singer songwriter who has a thing for Blade Runner? Not bad...not bad.

Bree Sharp's Band on Myspace


This week a group of historians released their list of top U.S. Presidents. I say fooey. Here's my list.

TOP SEVEN US PRESIDENTS

1)George Washington
Really a no brainer. Defeated the British. Became the first president. Walked away when his time was up. Too bad the dollar bill that he's on won't be worth much in three years.

2)Abe Lincoln
Held the country together. Gave great speeches. Freed millions of Americans from the bondage of slavery. Sure, I can see the Obama comparisons. One out of three ain't bad.

3)Ronald Reagan
We don't think the Soviets were that tough because he beat them down so bad they looked like a paper tiger when he was finished. Oh, and he rebuilt the nation's pride after four years of a clueless president who let the US be the whipping boy of the third world and led the country into economic ruin. We may need to bring him back in four years.

4)Teddy Roosevelt
Chuck Norris checks under his bed for the ghost of Teddy Roosevelt. Bully!

5)Calvin Coolidge
What? WTF? Hey, sometimes being a president is like being a good editor, your job should be invisible. No wars, economic prosperity, and no scandals. That's what we should want from our presidents. Right?

6)George W. Bush
Liberated 50 million people. Held the nation together after the largest attack on American soil in history. Just wait. After the liberal hatred has subsided, history will judge him as one of the finest.

7)Thomas Jefferson
Hey, he bought Louisiana. Huzzah!!!



Oscars are boring and lame. The Dark Knight and Gran Torino were the two best films of the year. Here's some non-Oscar nominated movies you should watch....


TOP SEVEN GREATEST 80s MOVIES (In no particular order)

1)Flash Gordon (1980)
2)The Monster Squad
3)Night of the Comet
4)The Empire Strikes Back
5)Back to the Future
6)Buckaroo Bonzai
7)Gremlins