Haunted hits for hot Halloween playlists
By Megan Carneal
mcarneal@mscd.edu
It takes careful planning for a Halloween party-the perfect costume, just the right amount of dry ice for the punch, and strategically placed cobwebs for that oh-so-scary ambience. And, of course, the all-important Halloween playlist to set the mood and get those undead feet dancing. Here are some suggestions from the staff to lift those "spirits." Pick and choose and find the perfect songs for a spooky soundtrack.
The Hellbillies - "Rockin' in the Graveyard"
This is a surf-rock song out of hell complete with werewolf-like howls and fast-paced riffs sure to get those dead bones moving.
Siouxsie & the Banshees - "Halloween"
Siouxsie has an uncanny ghostlike voice, and banshees are a type of phantom, so this is a great addition. Plus, the eerie new wave/punk sound creates an ominous mood
TSOL - "Code Blue"
The classic punk rock necrophilia anthem. Sinister lyrics and sexual innuendos about why the dead are so much easier to love make this a perfect choice.
Nekromantix - "Haunted Cat-house"
Another great psychobilly song full of allusions to classic horror movies and infamous ghosts. The bass line is smooth and melodious and the vocals are reminiscent of the Screamin' Jay Hawkins Halloween classic "I Put a Spell on You."
David Byrne & Brian Eno - "The Jezebel Spirit"
Creepy world music with "found" vocals of an actual exorcism. Guaranteed to get the skin crawling! - CC
Enon - "The Nightmare of Atomic Men"
Chirpy synth-pop on a collision course with a planet peopled by hardcore noise fans, with a lyric that could be a plot summary for a classic '50s B-movie. - CC
High on Fire - "Devilution"
No Halloween playlist is complete without a little metal, and a nod to the Dark Lord himself. This track has both. - CC
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - "Nightmare On My Street"
A classic old-school jam takes the plot from the 1984 horror movie "Nightmare on Elm Street" and flips it into a fun Halloween classic. - CH
Geto Boys - "Mind Playing Tricks on Me"
The Geto Boys did a fine job of giving psychotic paranoia a home on wax. This track is a trip down the dark alleyways of the ghetto -- a sure scare.
Ozzy Osbourne - "Bark at the Moon"
The classic werewolf anthem, a must-have for any Halloween mix. - SH
Psychedelic Furs - "Ghost in You"
Ghost in the title + Richard Butler's haunting voice = Another '80s synth-pop contribution to the perfect mix.
Warren Zevon - "Excitable Boy"
Here we meet a boy, who, among other things, rapes and kills his prom date. Then, 10 years after being released from "the home," he digs up her grave and builds a cage with her bones. Scary stuff, indeed. - TD
Bloodrock - "D.O.A."
A song about a plane crash from a dying victim's point of view, with one of the most haunting melodies in rock history. Add distorted guitars that sound like an ambulance siren and lyrics such as, "Life is flowing out my body / Pain is flowing out with my blood / the sheets are red and moist where I'm lying / God in Heaven, teach me how to die," for a truly chilling song. - TD