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

12.28.08

by Jane Lambert

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?

12.09.08

by Jane Lambert

Ryan Adams ‘Halloweenhead’ Live

There are two things I am especially excited about in Ryan Adamsville. The first being his returnto writing The Cardinals blog (Thank God) and the second being his all acoustic version he recently posted on there of ‘Halloweenhead.’ This is a big deal. Ryan didn’t even play the song at the Halloween show at the Apollo. Why? Because he said he simply just doesn’t remember how to play it. Well, apparently he learned it again and its so good its insane.

Watch Ryan play ‘Halloweenhead’…from his apartment.

Check out Ryan Adams and the Cardinals at their official site

09.19.08

by Jane Lambert

Ryan Adams. Musician. Author. Wait, What?

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals are set to release their new record “Cardinology” on October 28th. (Happy one day late Birthday to me!) The word from Adam’s label, Lost Highway, also claims the new record will be ‘more concise’ and ‘focused’ then the past few records. I’m not exactly sure what they are getting at here. Is it going to sound more like “Gold” ? I quite enjoy the last few Cardinals records, so a more ‘put together’ Adams may very well just be…..well, less Adams’ freakouts on stage. I’m a pretty big Ryan fan and I wasn’t even aware he was putting out a new record this year. Though really, he can write a record in a day and it would still be beautiful.

Ryan is also releasing a book called “Infinity Blues” that will be out on March 16th next year. If you preorder it you get a signed copy and a book of Ryan’s poems. I never saw “Ryan Adams, Novelist” in his future but I guess there is a place for everything in this world.

Ryan is also heading on a short tour which most likely will stop no where near you. Check out the tour dates here: www.ryan-adams.com

Cardinology” Tracklisting:

01 “Fix It”
02 “Magick”
03 “Let Us Down Easy”
04 “Like Yesterday”
05 “Go Easy”
06 “Sink Ships”
07 “Born Into A Light”
08 “Cobwebs”
09 “Crossed Out Name”
10 “Natural Ghost”
11 “Evergreen”
12 “Stop”