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!

Playing 20 Questions with The Morning Benders

The Morning Benders are currently my ‘Autumn Obsession’ band. Last fall it was all about Caribou, but this year The Morning Benders have won my heart. I have been listening to ‘Talking Through Tin Cans’ daily since it came out and it actually gets better with every listen. I’m not sure I’ve ever fallen in love with a band this fast as I have The Morning Benders. Every note, every melody, every little harmony on their record is literally flawless. The Morning Benders had agreed to do an e-mail interview for Modern Mystery from the road which I have been very excited about. My favorite part is how hillarious they are…and how they got the ‘Almost Famous’ reference. Enjoy the interview. I know I am!
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How did the Morning Benders come together as a band?
We all grew up together in the same house in Berkeley. We aren’t all full brothers, but most of us are.
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Who are your influences?
We watch a lot of Seinfeld and Stella. Truffaut. We listen to a lot of NPR. Ray Charles, Grizzly Bear, Kate Bush.
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At what age did you start to love music?
Age 5 3/4
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What was the first instrument that you learned to play?
Chris: Piano
Tim: Bassoon
Julian: Tambourine
Joe: Guitar
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Who does most of the songwriting in th band?
Chris usually writes the chords and words, then we all take it out back and add the special sauce.
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What inspires you to write a song?
This crazy world we live in.
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Is a song better if it comes from a real personal experience?
Where else would it come from?
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Who is ‘Damnit Anna’ about?
Not someone named Anna.
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Was there a lot of pressure on making ‘The Bedroom Covers’, in terms of hoping it lived up to the original band’s recording?
Well we were giving it away for free on the internet, so we didn’t feel too much pressure. We love the songs we covered and don’t think our versions even came close, we just had fun doing them…
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Were you nervous about going into the studio to record ‘Talking Through Tin Cans’?
Not really. Those songs had a long enough incubation period, and they were ready to be put on tape. It was a cathartic experience.
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At what point in your life did you think that being a musician was something you would love to do for a living?
Well, we’re all broke as hell, so I wouldn’t exactly call it making a living. I just love music, it’s what I need to do.
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What was the first band that you ever played in?
the morning benders
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If you weren’t in the Morning Benders, what would you be doing?
Playing in a band that sounded a hell of a lot like the Morning Benders.
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How is the tour with Ra Ra Riot going?
ra ra awesome
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What are your favorite and least favorite parts about being on tour?
favorite: playing shows every night
worst: eating crap food every night
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Besides being all acoustic, how does the Puma instores different from a regular Morning Benders show?
We play a lot of songs we don’t like playing as a full band, or don’t work as well in the band setting. A lot of the time we just take requests. It’s generally just a more intimate thing…
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What album do you wish you had written?
Ready to Die
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Where do you see the Morning Benders 5 years from now?
Rocking the free world
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What do you love about music in general?
Well to start… everything
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What board game can you kick anyone’s ass at?
ping pong
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Check out the Morning Benders and Tourdates over at their Myspace