Tag Archives: Stephen Malkmus

01.15.09
by

Ben Weaver “White Snow”

It is freezing here in New York. Like, ‘Oh no, I can’t feel my feet!’ freezing. Is there anything more appropiate than a song about snow? Thanks to Ben Weaver, we’ve found the perfect one.

Mr. Weaver, who hails from Minneapolis has been making waves lately on the indie singer/songwriter circuit. If I could possibly make any sense of this, sometimes he reminds me a little bit of Stephen Malkmus with Jon Brion playing behind him. Maybe someone out there will get what I’m talking about.

But here it is for your downloading convience on this frigid winter day…

Download White Snow

Check out Ben Weaver on his Myspace

01.01.09
by

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

10.24.08
by

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks ‘Gardenia’ Video

Today I came across the newest Jicks video for ‘Gardenia’ which is oddly enough, my favorite song off of ‘Real Emotional Trash’. Every time Stephen Malkmus makes a video it manages to get a bit wierder if that is humanly possible. ‘Gardenia’ takes the new album artwork and brings it to life, literally. It features lip synching cameos from Girl Talk (and his forever attached headphones), Ratatat, The Cribs, and even Brian Bell. Sadly though, there is no Malkmus in the video which is always a downside. I don’t know about you, but I miss his thespian song acting. Either way this video is brilliant.

Watch the video for ‘Gardenia’ which you can view currently only at Pitchfork.tv

10.05.08
by

Stephen Malkmus “Gardenia”

I finally caved in and brought the new Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks record, ‘Real Emotional Trash.’  I am especially in love with the super happy track, ‘Gardenia’. I always wish I was lucky enough to be part of one Malkmus release. At my time at Matador I was never lucky enough to be there when the Jicks put out a record.  I would have been in my glory. I know more about Stephen Malkmus and Pavement then he does. I must say I’m really loving the new record. It brings me back a little to old Pavement around “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain’.  The female harmonies on the track are superb. There is always a few Malkmus/Pavement tracks out there that make me feel like dancing around the room. ‘Gardenia’ wins the grand prize.

One day if you’re lucky i’ll tell you the story about the time I met Stephen Malkmus and made an ass out of myself. If you’re super lucky I’ll post the drawing of it.

Download Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Gardenia
Check out The Jicks on Myspace

09.23.08
by

Pavement Due to ‘Brighten The Corners’, Again.

Pavement will always be a very dear band to me. When I was about 12 years old, I remember getting glimpses of them on 120 Minutes if I was lucky. 120 Minutes was on so after my bedtime that I had to sneak downstairs to watch it. Pavement were frequently played, and I remember being in love with a certain song that still remains to be one of my favorites until this day…”Shadey Lane.”  I did my best to find ‘Brigthen the Corners’ in my little suburban mall, and to my surprise, they had it. I played that cd to no end.

To me, Pavement is the essential indie rock band. They are what got me into music. They are what made me in love with music. Stephen Malkmus was my first musician crush. They were my first party band. I’m not sure where I would be if I never discovered Pavement, or where a lot of us reading this would be.

Matador is reissuing ‘Brighten the Corners” due out November 11th, filled with b-sides, compiliations, outtakes, etc. This is beyond exciting. Its kind of sad though that after this, all that is left to reissue in deluxe edition is ‘Terror Twilight.’ Hint Pavement: Reunite because you were awesome….and so I don’t have to stalk Mark Ibold at Stephen Malkmus shows and giggle ‘haha IBOLD!’ to my friends.

Check out one of my other favorite songs off of ‘Brighten the Corners’, ‘Stereo’. Look for the squirrel….