Modern Mystery’s Top 25 Songs of the Year

Finally here it is.  Modern Mystery’s Top 25 Songs of the Year! Yes this was super hard to compile, and yes we left some stuff out, but here is what we consider our personal Top 25. Our Number 1 Spot truly deserves it.

Tomorrow we reveal our Top Records. Oh what fun!

1. Miniature Tigers- Last Night’s Fake Blood
2. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin- Heers
3. Morning Benders- Damnit Anna
4. Chairlift-Bruises
5. MGMT- Kids
6.  Matt Pond PA- First Light
7. Of Montreal- For Our Elegant Caste
8. Casper and the Cookies- Little King
9. Sloan- Cheap Champagne
10. Ryan Adams-Fix It
11. Conor Oberst- Souled Out!!!
12. Sam Roberts Band- Them Kids
13. Okkervil River- Lost Coastlines
14. Vampire Weekend- Oxford Comma
15. Spinto Band-Summer Grof
16. Franz Ferdinand- Ulysees
17. We Are Scientists- Impatience
18. Mason Proper-Lock and Key
19. Ra Ra Riot- Dying is Fine20. Toyko Police Club- Graves
21. She & Him- Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
22. Hollerado-Americanarama
23. Annuals- Confessor
24. Santogold/NERD/Julian Casablancas- My Drivethru
25. Mae Shi- Run to Your Grave

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Modern Mystery’s Top 10 Music Videos of the Year

The Modern Mystery Year End Lists are finally starting, and here goes the first round. We have compiled our Top 10 Music Videos of the Year to share with you.

1. The Morning Benders- Waiting for a War
This video is what introduced me personally to The Morning Benders. ‘Waiting for a War’ is one of the catchiest songs of the year, with a pretty rad video to go along with it. Anyone who feels like they have a dead end boring job certainly gets this video.

2. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin- Think I Wanna Die
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin make some of the most amusing videos we have ever seen, and ‘Think I Wanna Die’ takes the top prize. In this video our poor little SSLYBY boys are nearly killed by their soon to be ex-girlfriends. At least they seem to be having a good time while shooting it.

3. Miniature Tigers- Cannibal Queen
The Miniature Tigers won our hearts this year with their super amazing debut ‘Tell it to the Volcano’ but to add even more, they put out a hillarious video for ‘Cannibal Queen’.  Charlie as the ‘deranged little man’, Rick as the ‘cannibal queen’. It just makes for a good laugh to a great song.

4. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band- Souled Out!!!
Its nice to see Mr. Conor Oberst not take himself so seriously for once. ‘Souled Out!!!’ is a superb video that shows off Conor and the band joking around. From riding bikes with Jason Boesel, to playing in a fake snow storm, the fun never stops for these guys. Oh, and the song is extremely good too!
5. MGMT- Electric Feel
There is something about MGMT that just makes you want to dance ALL OF THE TIME. ‘Electric Feel’ is no exception. The video itself is a psychadelic dance party that doesn’t want to end. With robot-bears and flaming motorbikes, you won’t know what to watch first.

 

6. Tim Fite- Big Mistake
We love cartoon videos and we love Tim Fite, so the combination of the two for ‘Big Mistake’ is just perfect. I’m not sure if haunting is the right word, but the video is just that. This isn’t Tim’s big mistake, its his art.

7.M83- Kim and Jesse
Not only is the song so ‘1980s’ sounding, but so is the video. When Kim and Jessie are thrown out of their high school gym practice space when they are rolling skating, they head over to the skate park where apparently the feel more comfortable. Though wearing pink velvet skating suits never looks cozy, this video is pretty rad.

8. Los Campesinos- My Year In Lists
Music videos don’t always have to cost a lot of money and be ‘super fancy’. Sometimes the best videos are the most simple ones that get you acquainted with the band’s music. Los Campesinos video for ‘My Year in Lists’ is just that. Closeups of the band and their instruments is beautiful on its own.

9. of Montreal- Id Engager
of Montreal does it again with another artsy inspired video. Having characters sync one into another is beyond perfect for the song. You actually have no idea what the characters will turn into until it happens. Its a beautifully crafted video.

10. Vampire Weekend- Oxford Comma
Vampire Weekend manages to make the video for ‘Oxford Comma’ look like a mini movie shoot. No matter where the scene in the video turns though, it doesn’t distract from the music. Also stay tuned for the right lower corner at 3:23 when some kid totally falls on his ass. Ouch!

A Modern Mystery Holiday Party with Matt Pond

Welcome back to another installment of a Modern Mystery Holiday Party. We are nearing towards the end of our celebration, and we are glad to have with us Matt Pond, from the brilliant band, Matt Pond PA.  This year the band treated their fans to a free Ep titled ‘The Freeep’ which you can download at their site, www.mattpondpa.com. You would be a fool not to snag a copy.

I’m not sure what Matt Pond PA’s final plans are for 2009, but I hope it involves a tour and a new full length. I think we have a good chance of seeing this happen. Matt was nice enough to share with us his Top Albums of the year and other words. Let’s raise our glass for more Matt Pond PA in the coming year!

Matt Pond’s Top 10 Albums of the Year

Darker My Love 2
Lykke Li Youth Novels
Portishead Third
She Keeps Bees Nests
The Walkmen You and Me
Higgins Z’s
Spiritualized Songs in A&E
Black Mountain In the Future
The Kills Midnight Boom
Frightened Rabbit The Midnight Organ Fight

The Best Thing that Happened to Me this Year

Going to Spain was the best thing that happened to me. I now have an unquenchable hankering to reconstruct that feeling in New York City.

The Strangest Thing that Happened to Me This Year’

Listening to the critters scratching at the roof of a cabin in Bearsville, NY this summer. It went on for weeks. So it was more of a prolonged strange thing than a specific happening. But I never got used to it. And no matter how much I can withstand in the wild, the seconds became hours while I imagined a million different creatures trying to get in and steal my guitars.

My Favorite Holiday Memory

Holidays and me do not always get along. I accept them as long as they can accept me.

A Modern Mystery Holiday Party with Brad Pemberton of The Cardinals

Another edition of a Modern Mystery Holiday Party you say? Why yes! Today we have with us, and this is certainly an honor, Brad Pemberton, drummer for Ryan Adams and the Cardinals. Brad has been a busy guy this year with The Cardinals. The band released ‘Cardinology’ this fall with a tour immediately following.  We can’t wait to see more of Brad and the Cardinals in 2009! Its going to be a huge year for them. I can feel it.

Brad Pemberton’s Top 10 Albums of 2008

1. Bob Mould-District Line
2. The Pretenders-Break Up The Concrete
3. The Clash-Live At Shea Stadium
4. Metallica-Death Magnetic
5 . The Cardinals-Cardinology (self-serving, I know, don’t care!)
6. Kings Of Leon-Only By The Night
7. Oasis-Dig Out Your Soul
8. Santogold-Santogold
9. The Raconteurs -Consolers of The Lonely
10. REM- Accelerate
11. Jesse Baylin-Firesight (Honorable Mention)
12. She and Him -Vol.1 (Honorable Mention)

Best Thing That Happened To Me This Year

My family is safe and healthy, as is my band, and we have a new president…what more could you ask for?

A Modern Mystery Holiday Party with Sakamoto from Elekibass

Welcome to another installment of A Modern Mystery Holiday Party! Today we have Sakamoto from the incredible indie band from Japan, Elekibass. The band hopes to release their new record in the US in 2009, which we here at Modern Mystery can’t wait for. Elekibass has toured with the likes of Casper and the Cookies, of Montreal and Calvin Don’t Jump which is super impressive.

Here’s to more Elekibass in 2009!

Sakamoto’s Top Favorites in General for 2008

of Montreal/Gronlandic Edit
The apples in stereo/ if you want to wear a hat
Casper&the Cookies/Hey Mr. Superstar
The Olivia Tremor Control/Courtyard
From Bubblegum To Sky/Operation Big Beat
Josh Rouse/Sunshine (Come On Lady)
The Minders/The Loneliest Of Faces
Nick Lowe/Hope For Us All
Sean Lennon/Parachute
Shimmer Kids Underpop Association/Full Color Love Affair

Everysong is great!! every song is No,1

Best Thing that Happened to You in 2008

This year elekibass’s new album recording is finish!!!!! 
I want to release it in the USA. We will release it in japan next year in April.

A Modern Mystery Holiday Party with The Miniature Tigers

Yes, its another edition of the Modern Mystery Holiday party with today’s guests, The Miniature Tigers! This band became one of our favorites this year. Not only are they the nicest and funniest guys you’ll ever meet, but their music is astonishing.  We haven’t heard indie pop as good as this in quite some time. The Miniature Tigers released their debut full length this year titled ‘Tell it to the Volcano’ which hasn’t left our record players yet. Charlie Brand and Daggrr shared their Top Albums with us amongst other things. There may be more Top Albums coming from other Mini Ts members, so stay tuned!

Charlie Brand’s Top 10 Albums of the Year

Department of Eagles – In Ear Park
Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
Beach House – Devotion
Alvin Band – Mantis Praying
Harry Nilsson – Nilsson Sings Newman
Grizzly Bear – Yellow House
Elvis Costello – Armed Forces
The Kinks – Entire Catalogue
Portisthead – Third
Van Dyke Parks – Song Cycle

The Best Thing that Happened to Me This Year

The best thing that happened to me this year was recording our album. That was a great deal of fun. That, and being able to come to new york was fantastic. San Francisco was amazing. Great year.

The strangest thing was probably that waitress.  (Check out our Miniature Tigers CMJ Interview)

My Favorite Holiday Memory

One year my brother and I got a go kart for christmas. We took one lap around the block and by the time we got back to the top of the street, our neighbor was there telling our parents how dangerous they were. They returned it to the store later that day. I’m not sure why that’s my favorite memory. Maybe it’s not?
Daggrr’s Top 10 Albums of the Year

1. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours

2. Beach House – Devotion

3. The Ruby Suns – Sea Lion

4. Atlas Sound – Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel

5. The Kooks – Konk

6. The Streets – Everything Is Borrowed

7. Late of the Pier – Fantasy Black Channel

8. David Byrne – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

9. Princess Ladyfriend – History Time Travel Gig

10. Santogold – Santogold

The Best Thing that Happened to Me  This Year

So many great things happened this year. I am very fortunate to have the life that I do. The most pivotal would have to be discovering Dzogchen, which is a form of Zen Buddhism. It has helped me so much with my day to day life and my constant pursuit to live without fear and see the world in the present moment.

The Strangest Thing that Happened to Me This Year

Being hired to play for Miniature Tigers. Those guys are weird.

My Favorite Holiday Memory

Miniature Tigers had a foosball match at The Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco right before a gig. Rick and I totally spanked Charlie and Lou in what can only be described as 8 rows of foos men, which are plastic, metal, wooden, or sometimes carbon-fibre figures mounted on horizontal metal bars. Each team of 1, 2, or 3 human players controls 4 rows of foos men. There is talk of a rematch but no dates have been confirmed.