Monthly Archives: December 2008

12.18.08
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A Modern Mystery Holiday Party with Jon Eaton of The Spinto Band

Happy Holidays from Modern Mystery! Today we are starting what we like to call, ‘The Modern Mystery Holiday Party.’ We have questioned a few of our favorite indie bands about their Top Albums and Songs of 2008.

We also have them sharing with us their favorite Holiday memories and anything else they wanted to add. Who will appear on here in the next couple of weeks or so? Well, you’ll have to wait to find out, and we’re not even done with getting all of the results back.

We are honored to start off with Jon Eaton, guitarist of The Spinto Band. The band released their new record ‘Moonwink’ this year, and if you haven’t picked it up yet…well we think there is something wrong with you.

Jon Eaton’s Top 10 Records of the Year, (in no particular order.)

Q-Tip The Renaissance
And The Moneynotes- New Cornucopia
Dr. Dog- Fate
Silver Jews- Lookout Mountain Lookout Sea
Ra Ra Riot The Rhumb Line
The Breeders- Mountain Battles
Thao and The Get Down Stay Down- We Brave Bee Stings and All
Nick Freitas- Sun Down
Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend
Man Man- Rabbit Habits

The Best Thing That Happened to Me This Year:
Meeting Jamie from Myth Busters . (You can watch the VIDEO of this hillarious event here)

Strangest Thing That Happened to Me This Year: 
I actually was fortunate enough to celebrate the dawn of the new year in North Queensland Australia listening to a guy named Potsy talk about the best way to kill a wild pig. This was actually a great holiday memory as well… Everyone should spend at least one holiday in the tropics.

Stay Tuned Next Time to See Who Joins Us for Our ‘Holiday Party’….

12.16.08
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Indie Goes A Cappella….Again?

Its been less than a month since we were exposed to the college A cappella group, The Stereotypes, peforming Of Montreal’s ‘Wrait Pinned to the Mist (And other fun games).’ While looking for something today, I have come across this brilliant video of  another college A cappella group called The Carleton Singing Knights from Minnesota. They chose one of my favorite songs, which is ‘House Fire’ by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. How could this be? When did this all start to happen? I’m not sure, but I love it.
What a brilliant twist on this song. The harmonies are nothing but astonishing. I’m almost at a loss for words.

Check out the band on their Myspace
They cover Death Cab for Cutie’s ‘Soul Meets Body on There’ (What?!)

Watch The Carleton Singing Nights perform Somone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s ‘House Fire’

Also Check Them Out on Youtube which they perform everything from MGMT to Vampire Weekend to the Postal Service to Flight of the Conchords.

12.15.08
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Merry Mixmas, Part 2.

The Strokes Christmas

I guess its the Holidays that have my head in a fog, but somehow there were a few Christmas songs that I forgot to add to the list this weekend. One of them being a current favorite, ‘Seasons Greetings,’ by Robbers on High Street.

Speaking of Robbers on High Street, we here at Modern Mystery have some Holiday surprises up our sleeves for the next couple of weeks. Not to give anything away, but it includes bands such as Robbers on High Street,  Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Phantom Planet, Sloan, Miniature Tigers, Of Montreal, and more…….

Its pretty awesome if I may say so myself, and you will just have to wait and see what some of these bands had to share with us.

Merry Mixmas Part 2

Robbers on High Street- Seasons Greetings
Belle and Sebastian- O Little Town of Bethleham
Feist- Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming
Great Lake Swimmers- Song for the Angels
Blitzen Trapper- Christmas is Coming Soon
*The Hives with Cyndi Lauper- Christmas Duel
Low- Just Like Christmas
Long Winters- Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas
Pedro the Lion- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Polyphonic Spree-Merry Christmas (War is Over)
Rufus Wainwright-Spotlight on Christmas
Of Montreal- Christmas Isn’t Safe for Animals
Marbles- Gift for You
Fabulous Bird with Bill Doss- Its Christmas Time Again
Summer Hymns- Santa Couldn’t Fit You Under My Tree
The Sixth Great Lake- Always After Christmas Boring
Elf Power- The Winter is Coming
Jet- Back Door Santa
Belle and Sebastian- Santa Claus

Sufjan Stevens- That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
* The Hives and Cyndi Lauper doing a duet? I know. Its just as weird as it sounds. They seem like a pretty unlikely duo.  Ironically for Christmas when I was about 4, I had gotten my first cassette tape. It was of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘True Colors’ album. I still have it. I had to be the most hip kid in Kindergarten.

 

12.14.08
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Merry Mixmas!

Merry Christmas

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. One of the things I enjoy about the season, is Holiday music. But of course, the Modern Mystery version of Christmas music is a bit different from Lou Monte and Peggy Lee. I always find great amusement out of indie bands’ versions of Christmas songs. They just seem to put an unusual and surprising twist on Holiday tunes that get me into the Christmas spirit. Move over Perry Como, there are some new kids in town….

Below for your downloading convience, are some of my favorite indie Christmas songs. Enjoy!

Casper and the Cookies- “Kiss Me Beneath the Christmas Tree”
My First Keyboard- “Christmas Time is Good if You Are a Girl (Boy)”
Bright Eyes- “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Phantom Planet- “Winter Wonderland”
Ryan Adams- “Hey Parker, Its Christmas”
OK Go- “Father Christmas”
The Raveonettes- “Christmas Song”
Death Cab for Cutie- “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
Ladybug Transistor- “Holiday Extravangza”
Of Montreal- “My Favorite Christmas (in 100 Words or Less)”
Sufjan Stevens- “Come On, Lets Boogie to the Elf Dance”
Rooney – “Merry Christmas Everybody”
Essex Green- “Deck the Halls”
The Bird and the Bee- “Carol of the Bells”
The Features- “Christmas Wishbook”
Frightened Rabbit- “Its Christmas So We’ll Stop”
Matt Pond PA- “Snow Day”
Old 97’s -“Holly Jolly Christmas”
Reigning Sound-  “If Christmas Can’t Bring You Home”
Rogue Wave- “Christmas”
Reindeer Section- ” You Are My Joy”
Dressy Bessy- “All the Right Reasons”
Pete Yorn- “Do They Know Its Christmas?”

12.11.08
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LAST DAY TO ENTER OUR ANNUALS CONTEST!

Today is the last day to enter our  ANNUALS CONTEST. If you haven’t entered yet, now is your chance. Winners will get a copy of ‘The Confessor’ by Annuals.

This is a MUST HAVE ALBUM for 2008!

Again, for more information you can read the original post here.

Though here is the most important part you need…..

To Enter to Win our Annuals CD Giveaway, You can either attach a comment to this post or email me directly at ModernMysteryBlog@yahoo.com

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS! This contest ends TONIGHT!

12.10.08
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Matt Pond PA ‘The Freeep’

Adding to the lovely holiday spirit of giving, Matt Pond PA has released ‘The Freeep’ for free to their fans.  Nine songs of absolute genius make up the EP which feels just perfect for cold winter nights. Once again Matt Pond PA prove to be one of the most talented bands out there. Pouring their hearts and souls into every bit of music they write and play.

You can download ‘The Freeep’ for free over at Mattpondpa.com

I suggest that you do. You have nothing to lose (but i’m sure you’ll be gaining alot)

ps. ‘Freeep’ is now my new favorite word to say since Rilo Kiley released ‘The Frug’.