Here are my top five songs to start off a Halloween playlist. Some of the first albums mentioned have several other spooky songs that are more than appropriate so be sure to check them out!
1. They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh! – Sufjan Stevens. Here’s a song from “Come on feel the Illinoise” while Stevens’ was toying with the concept of a 50 states project. During this project, Stevens’ did actual research on the state of Illinois to use as song material. Many songs on this album make references to some of the scary but true things he found such as UFO sightings, serial killers, and ghost towns.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e0Ju4eDROE
2. Cemetery Lawn- The Rosebuds. This song is pulled from the album “Night of the Furies” that is made up entirely of dark fantastical stories. “The Furies” are mythological creatures of torment and evil. “In the dead of night, better hold on tight to your loved ones. The rumor is the truth: the Furies are here upon us.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxDrn92Cwk8
3. The Killing Moon- Echo & the Bunnymen. A great song from the post-punk English band with an impressive cult following. One day Ian McCulloch woke up with the soon to be lyrics “fate up against your will” stuck in his head. This song, in my opinion, is David Bowie meets The Doors in the best and most haunting way possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX1PwkgwsG0
4. Lose Your Soul- Dead Man’s Bones. First of all, it is scary how hott Ryan Gosling is and how his band just adds even more to his appeal. Sometimes it’s overkill for celebrities to take on more projects but Gosling’s band is a very cool and unique venture for him. For the album, he invited the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir to sing with him. Their chants about monsters, werewolves, graveyards, etc. make it even creepier.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnEkboR86h0
5. The Monster and the Count- The Extraordinaires. This band turns all sorts of stories into songs. They went so far as to release two albums in hardback handmade and fully illustrated books.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzhnaWXiOrw
Everyone expects you to have Thriller and The Monster Mash so throw those in IF YOU MUST and then here are 10 more songs to make your playlist last roughly about an hour! Sip on some Beetle Juice or a Bloody Mary and get yo dance on!
6. Black River Killer- Blitzen Trapper
7. Dance for the Dead- Cloud Cult
8. Satin in a Coffin- Modest Mouse
9. Walking with a Ghost- Tegan and Sara
10. Phantom Limb- The Shins
11. Vampire- Dr. Dog
12. Shape Shifter- Local Natives
13. Animal Backwards- Minus the Bear
14. Psycho Killer- Talking Heads
15. The Ghost of you Lingers- Spoon
Happy Halloween from WKNC!