Matt Pond PA is undoubtably my favorite band to listen to in the Fall. There is something about their music that just goes perfect with every autumn day. The colors of the leaves, the chill in the air, the overcast sky…they go so well with the music. Pond has one of the greatest voices in indie rock. A little bit scruffy, a little bit smooth, a lot of brillance. For today’s Secondhand Sunday we share with you Matt Pond PA’s “Locate the Pieces.” Enjoy this lovely Fall afternoon!
Sunday night we had the amazing chance to experience The Wooden Birds open for Great Lake Swimmers at the Bowery Ballroom. Okay, as soon as we found out that the band had both Andrew Kenny from American Analog Set and Matt Pond in it, we were intrigued.
The band, which is the brain child of Kenny, released Magnolia (Barsuk) back in May and have been supporting the album ever since. This is one of the greatest records I have heard all year, hands down. At their live show, the band gives even more life into the songs. Listening to the record, the first thing you notice that there are no drums on any of the tracks. A careful decision made by Kenny.
Onstage the band brings on drummer Sean Haskins to liven up the live show. Guitarist and sometimes vocalists Leslie Sisson has one of the most beautiful voices you’ll ever hear, especially on stage. Matt Pond makes a nice addition to the live lineup, playing the new songs like an old pro. Kenny takes on the part of lead vocalist and bass player, with the most infectious bass lines you’ll ever hear. The Great Lake Swimmers had a hard act to follow that’s for sure.
Check out MORE LIVE Pictures of The Wooden Birds @ The Bowery After the JUMP
Check back later on in the week for our exclusive interview with Andrew Kenny!
If you live in the greater North East, you know we are being attacked by snow right now. At least it is a good excuse to stay in and listen to some good music, right? The crew here at Modern Mystery has put a little mix together for your wintery snow day. We hope you enjoy it.
Matt Pond PA- Snow Day
Elk City- Cherries in the Snow
The Secret Life of Sofia- Snow Room
Elf Power- The Winter is Coming
Fleet Foxes- White Winter Hymnal
Olivia Tremor Control- Frosted Ambassador
Ben Weaver- White Snow
The Leisure Society- On the Last of the Melting Snow
Snow in Mexico- You and My Winter
Otter Petter- Winter Days
The Lisps- The Winter That I Missed
The Arcade Fire- No Winter for a Year
Harlem Shakes- Winter Water
O’Death-Crawl Through Snow (Live)
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
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
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.
Modern Mystery 
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