by Jane Lambert

Ryan Adams Has a Youtube Channel Now? Our Life is Complete!

Though we still haven’t gotten over the fact that Ryan Adams has ‘retired’ from making music, at least we still get to see the altcountry rocker online. Not only is he chatting it up about his new website project(s), http://ryanada.ms , but he also gives us some stripped down live performances from his house, complete with stuffed animal intro (be sure to check out his video of ‘Crossed Out Name’. Classic. Ryan also promises some unreleased Werewolph tracks on his new site, which if we recall was his fake ‘hard rock’ project.

Check out Ryan Adam’s Youtube page at DrAdamsFilms

One of Ryan’s latest videos titled ‘Ryan’s World’

01.01.09

by Jane Lambert

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

12.31.08

by Jane Lambert

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

11.12.08

by Jane Lambert

Ryan Adams’ Covers the Foo Fighters and Welcomes You to His Room

To me everything that Ryan Adams does is perfect. Every note he sings and plays gives me the chills. I have been reading Ryan’s blog for quite a while (http://cave.cardinology.com/) and somehow, I often think that what he writes on the blog was taken directly out of my own head. If I ever meet Ryan Adams I would have so much to say to him, though I think it would be more like me smiling at him and saying ‘Thanks.’

If you read Ryan’s blog, you already know that he was planning on doing a cover of the Foo Fighters’ ‘Times Like These’ on BBC. He was trying to perfect it, which he did and I actually enjoy it more than the original version. The only way to describe Ryan’s take on the song is haunting, for he manages to make the song sadder than it really intended to be. Maybe its because he brings more soul into it (in my opinion).

Ryan also posted on his blog today a in-hotel room version of ‘Natural Ghost’ which is unbelievable to say the least.

Download Ryan Adams’ cover of ‘Times Like These’

Watch the video for ‘Natural Ghost’ on Vimeo

10.29.08

by Jane Lambert

Ryan Adams on Letterman Tonight

Yesterday Ryan Adams and the Cardinals released another superb album titled ‘Cardinalogy’. I almost forgot that they were appearing tonight on the Late Show with David Letterman. My guess is that they will play ‘Fix It,’ but damn do I wish they would play ‘Cobwebs’. The past couple of albums we have found Adams to be at his best. Apparenly off of all his addictions and so on. I still think the best Ryan is when he’s ‘totally with it’. I once sat through a show where he fought with an amplifier for most of the night…and by fought I mean he was screaming at it like it was a child who just drew on the freshly painted wall with a crayon.

Ryan and a few of the Cardinals (but mostly Ryan) have started a blog over at Ryan-Adams.com.
Adams shows personal pictures and shares his daily thoughts from day to day. It certainly is a good read.

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals are headed your way so be sure to check them out over at www.Ryan-Adams.com. This also includes his second annual Halloween Show in NYC this Friday.

Watch The Cardinals play ‘Fix It’ live in Boston.

ps. Yes, I have to finish all of my CMJ stuff. I know!

10.13.08

by Jane Lambert

Ryan Adams ‘Cobwebs’

This morning I was complaining (to myself) about the fact that I haven’t come across any leaked Ryan Adams’ songs for the upcoming record ‘Cardinalogy’ that is due out in two weeks. This will actually be his last record for the label Lost Highway and no one really knows what he has in store after that.

I’m not sure what to make of the new album that I previewed almost all of this afternoon. It seems to me, it some parts, it is like ‘Rock N Roll’ meets ‘Easy Tiger’ and everything in between. I’m already prepared for the Adams bashing that usually takes place whenever he releases a record, but to me, everything he touches is gold.

‘Cobwebs’ is so far my favorite, and can just be described as a beautiful song. I think that Ryan Adams is one of the most poetic songwriters of our generation. His voice the past couple of records has been incredibly smooth. He has really been in full form.

Download Cobwebs
Check out Ryan Adams tourdates at his Myspace