Modern Mystery’s Top 50 Albums of 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Its been a big 2008 for Modern Mystery. We’ve meet some really amazing bands, seen some incredible shows, and made a lot of great friends. We know 2009 will bring even more and we’re very excited!

We have compiled our list of our Top 50 Albums of 2008. Though this was by no means easy, we think we’ve included our all of certain favorites of the year. Below our list you’ll see a few more Top Lists of 2008, so check that out as well.  Hope you like our Top 50 Albums as much as we do!

1. of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping
2. Morning Benders- Talking Through Tin Cans
3. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin-Pershing
4. Miniature Tigers- Tell it to the Volcano
5. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals- Cardinalogy
6. Sloan- Parallel Play
7. MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
8. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band- Self Titled
9. The Spinto Band- Moonwink
10. Okkervil River- The Stand Ins
11. Chairlift- Does You Inspire You?
12. We Are Scientists- Brain Thrust Mastery
13. Tokyo Police Club- Elephant Shell
14. Ra Ra Riot- The Rhumb Line
15. Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s- Animal and Not Animal
16.  Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks- Real Emotional Trash
17. The French Kicks- Swimming
18. The Stills- Oceans Will Rise
19. The Walkmen- You and Me
20. Vampire Weekend- Self Titled
21. Wyldlife- Self Titled
22. Jenny Lewis- Acid Tongue
23. Annuals- Such Fun
24. Ratatat- Lp3
25. The Headlights- Some Racing, Some Stopping
26.  Department of Eagles- In Ear Park
27. Dr. Dog- Fate
28. Born Ruffians- Red Yellow and Blue
29. Los Campesinos- Hold On Now, Youngster
30. The Little Ones- Morning Tide
31. Mason Proper- Olly Oxen Free
32. She & Him- Volume 1
33. Albert  Hammond Jr.- Como te Llama?
34. Death Cab for Cutie- Narrow Stairs
35. Joan of Arc- Boo Human
36. Deerhoof- Offend Maggie
37. Sam Roberts Band- Love at the End of the World
38. Fleet Foxes- Self Titled
39. Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago
40. Atlas Sound- Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel
41. Kings of Leon- Only By the Night
42. M83- Saturdays= Youth
43. Helio Sequence- Keep Your Eyes Ahead
44. Man Man- Rabbit Habits
45. Flight of the Conchords- Self Titled
46. Cold War Kids- Loyalty to Loyalty
47. The Mae Shi- Hlllyh
48. Secret Machines- Selt Titled
49. Santogold- Self Titled
50. Tim Fite- Fair Ain’t Fair

BEST EP OF 2008:
Matt Pond PA- The Freeep

BEST REISSUE OF 2008-
Pavement- Brighten The Corners- Nicence Creedence Edition

BEST LIVE SHOW OF 2008:
Of Montreal at Roseland, NYC. Kevin Barnes on a live white horse? Try to beat that!

TOP 5 NEW BANDS OF 2008:
1. The Morning Benders
2. Miniature Tigers
3. Chairlift
4. MGMT
5. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

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

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.