by jill ettinger

Midnight Spin Debuts Video for “Trigger Finger Itch”

On the heels of their well-received EP, Through the Mojo Wire, Brooklynites Midnight Spin do what quirky musically inclined Brooklnyers oft do…make music videos about “cereal killers” who jeopardize the breakfast pleasures of residents in Mojo City.

Directed by Kevin Miller at Comedy Central Studios, “Trigger Finger Itch” is the bands first video with Miller and offers a healthy dose of humor and hooks as fans wait for their forthcoming full-length debut album on the way.

And watch out for cereal killers:

12.28.10

by Justin Sarachik

Lower Dens Plays a “Yours Truly” Session, and Releases First Single, ‘Batman’

Female fronted Indie rock band from Baltimore, Lower Dens, has announced their 2011 tour dates. Starting on January 3rd in Washington DC, they will finish March 15th in Norman, Oklahoma.

Previously releasing their first album, Twin-Hand Movement, the new single “Batman” is off the upcoming EP of the same name to be released January 18th. They recently performed the single for a “Yours Truly” Session that you can watch here.

Listen to previous single, “Blue and Silver”

Tour Dates

01/03 – Washington DC – The Kennedy Center
01/12 – Carrboro NC – Cat’s Cradle $
01/13 – Atlanta GA – Variety Playhouse $
01/14 – Asheville NC – Grey Eagle Tavern $
01/15 – Nashville TN – Exit In $
03/11 – Washington DC – Black Cat !
03/12 – Chapel Hill NC – Local 506 !
03/13 – Atlanta GA – The EARL !
03/15 – Norman OK – The Opolis !

$ = w/ The Walkmen
! = w/ Wye Oak

Check out their Myspace for more information.

12.21.10

by Jane Lambert

Modern Mystery’s Top 25 Songs of 2010

1. Of Montreal – “Sex Karma” featuring Solange Knowles
2. Vampire Weekend – “Cousins”
3. Love Language – “Heart to Tell”
4. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – “Everlyn”
5. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti -“Fright Night (Nevermore)”
6. Morning Benders – “Promises”
7. Jukebox the Ghost – “Half Crazy”
8. The Drums – “Let’s Go Surfing”
9. Surfer Blood – “Swim”
10. We Are Scientists – “Rules Don’t Stop”
11. Wavves – “King of the Beach”
12. Free Energy – “Bang Pop”
13. Magic Kids – “Hey Boy”
14. Robbers on High Street – “Electric Eye”
15. Beach Fossils – “Youth”
16. Javelin – “Oh! Centra”
17. Matt Pond PA – “Starting”
18. Miniature Tigers – “Gold Skull”
19. Ra Ra Riot – “Boy”
20. Best Coast – “Boyfriend”
21. Sufjan Stevens – “From the Mouth of Gabriel”
22. Hot Hot Heat – “21@12”
23. Tame Impala – “Alter Ego”
24. Caribou – “Odessa”
25. Jenny and Johnny – “Big Wave”

04.06.10

by Jane Lambert

Lollapalooza Announces 2010 Lineup

Lollapalooza is almost here! The festival just announced this morning the full line up, and we must say, it’s the best batch of bands we’ve seen in years. It makes us wish this was still a show that went on tour. The fun all goes down from August 6th to 8th at Grant Park in Chicago.

Reunions and big name stars will be gracing the stage and you won’t know where to go first. Some of the bands and artists that will be appearing include the recently reunited Soundgarden, The Strokes, Lady Gaga, MGMT, New Pornographers, The Morning Benders, Arcade Fire, Spoon, The National, Gogol Bordello, Mutemath, Metric, Dirty Projectors, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Phoenix, the xx, Blitzen Trapper, The Miniature Tigers, Grizzly Bear, The Walkmen, Waaves, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Javelin, Harlem, Hockey and TONS more.

The tickets will only set you back $ 215 at the Lollapalooza site.

Check out the full lineup!

Soundgarden
Green Day
Lady Gaga
Arcade Fire
The Strokes
Phoenix
Social Distortion
MGMT
Jimmy Cliff
Hot Chip
The Black Keys
The National
Spoon
Devo
Cypress Hill
Cut Copy
The New Pornographers
Erykah Badu
Slightly Stoopid
Grizzly Bear
Gogol Bordello
Chromeo
Wolfmother
Yeasayer
X Japan
MUTEMATH
Metric
Dirty Projectors
AFI
Mavis Staples
Matt & Kim
The xx
Drive-By Truckers
Blues Traveler
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
The Temper Trap
Jamie Lidell
Frightened Rabbit
F**k Buttons
Deer Tick
Blitzen Trapper
Stars
Raphael Saadiq
The Cribs
Minus the Bear
Switchfoot
The Walkmen
Mumford & Sons
Wild Beasts
Rogue Wave
Los Amigos Invisibles
The Big Pink
The Dodos
Hockey
Cymbals Eat Guitars
B.o.B
Dawes
Warpaint
The Antlers
The Soft Pack
Rebelution
Balkan Beat Box
Wavves
American Bang
The Ike Reilly Assassination
Company of Thieves
Nneka
Harlem
The Constellations
Miniature Tigers
Mimicking Birds
The Kissaway Trail
HEALTH
Javelin
The Morning Benders
Foxy Shazam
Violent Soho
Royal Bangs
NEON TREES
Freelance Whales
Semi Precious Weapons
Dan Black
The Band of Heathens
Dragonette
My Dear Disco
Shawn Fisher
Neon Hitch
Skybox
The Ettes
Jukebox the Ghost
These United States
MyNameIsJohnMichael
PERFORMING AT PERRY’S
2ManyDJs
Empire of the Sun
Digitalism
Perry Farrell
Tiga
Felix da Housecat
Rusko
Erol Alkan
Kaskade
Flosstradamus
Wolfgang Gartner
Joachim Garraud
Mexican Institute of Sound
Caspa
Peanut Butter Wolf
Dirty South
NERVO
Cut Copy (DJ Set)
Beats Antique
Steve Porter
Didi Gutman of Brazilian Girls
Ancient Astronauts
Ana Sia
Team Bayside High
Dani Deahl
FreeSol
DJ Mel
BBU
Vonnegutt
Only Children
Lance Herbstrong

02.08.10

by Jane Lambert

Secondhand Sunday: French Kicks “So Far We Are”

This Secondhand Sunday goes out to The French Kicks. I’ve been craving new music by them lately. I once met the band in my college days when I interned at a pretty rad TV show. I compared scarves with the Stumpf boys that day. Here’s an oldie but a goodie, “So Far We Are.”I’ll let the video speak for itself. The will always be one of the coolest bands around. For sure.

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