Halloween is just around the corner, so we should probably point you to one or two of the new offerings for the season of the witch.
Best I've seen this year is Norton's collection "Devil's Comin', Volume 1". It's 13 tracks (it would be, wouldn't it?) of spooktacular Raw Roots Rock. And, really, nobody does Raw Roots Rock better than Norton. Some real gems on this one. Hansil Adkins, of course, The New York Dolls, Los Vampiranos... The set also includes "Zombie Stomp" by the Del-Aires. "Zombie Stomp" was one of several songs the New Jersey band recorded for the deliciously low budget 1964 film "The Horror of Party Beach". So far as I know, the original track for that one has proven elusive, so what's out there is pieced together from the film (including on Norton's collection, if I'm not mistaken). Anyway, an excellent addition to any Halloween library, "Devil's Comin', Volume 1" is, thus far, a digital only release.
Best I've seen this year is Norton's collection "Devil's Comin', Volume 1". It's 13 tracks (it would be, wouldn't it?) of spooktacular Raw Roots Rock. And, really, nobody does Raw Roots Rock better than Norton. Some real gems on this one. Hansil Adkins, of course, The New York Dolls, Los Vampiranos... The set also includes "Zombie Stomp" by the Del-Aires. "Zombie Stomp" was one of several songs the New Jersey band recorded for the deliciously low budget 1964 film "The Horror of Party Beach". So far as I know, the original track for that one has proven elusive, so what's out there is pieced together from the film (including on Norton's collection, if I'm not mistaken). Anyway, an excellent addition to any Halloween library, "Devil's Comin', Volume 1" is, thus far, a digital only release.
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1. HALLOWEEN PARTY -- Jack Starr
2. THE DEVIL'S COMIN' -- Stud Cole 3. ZOMBIE STOMP -- The Del-Aires 4. VOODOO WOMAN -- Gene Maltais & Flat Duo Jets 5. SPOOKS-a-POPPIN' THEME -- The A Bones 6. HALLOWEEN -- Ron Haydock 7. ROCKIN' IN THE GRAVEYARD -- Roy Loney 8. FRANKENSTEIN -- New York Dolls 9. WE GOT A DATE -- Hansil Adkins 10. EL VAMPIRO -- Los Vampiranos 11. FRANKENSTEIN'S DEN -- The Mighty El Dukes 12. VOODOO -- Del Ricos 13. THE WITCH -- Stud Cole |
No audio available for this one, but "Blue Halloween" is a vinyl 7" single. Halloween tunes on 7" vinyl are automatically cool. It's a rule, I promise. The Pine Hill Haints haven't released anything new in 2 years, so that makes this single even cooler. And, making it cooler still is that The Pine Hill Haints sound pretty unique. They call their sound Ghost Music, but its a mix of Folk, Rock, Rockabilly, Gospel, Celtic and Blues (and a few other things). Imagine Mojo Nixon playing Punk Folk music with a Old Timey band. Good stuff...and kinda spooky even when they aren't playing Halloween music. "Blue Halloween" (backed with "Death & Destruction"--which is sorta Punk Calypso) officially drops tomorrow. Get it direct from Arkam Records or any of the other usual spots.
Yeah, but Stubby, I'm on a budget here. Anything new and free? Why, yes. Yes indeed. Glad you asked.
"Greetings From The Grave" is a new album from Creepy Crowley and Ghoulish Kulish--Minnesota people (oooh, that's scary!). There are some throwaways on this Raw Roots effort, but the good stuff is really good (if a bit lo fi). My favorite is that "Two Costumes" track just above, but there's also the Monster Mash like "Night Of The Undead Shamblers", the Garage Rock list of pretentious celebrities, "You're Next", which grows out from "Grim Belieber" (in which our hero confesses to being a fan of the Bieb; it just doesn't get any scarier than that). Fun stuff. I think you'll like it. Free download from Bandcamp, though there's also a cassette version, while they last (5 left, as of this writing).
Nobody really needs another version of "Monster Mash" and this is technically from 2014, but I am digging the sound of this New York group The Bellegards. And they do breathe some new life into the tune. They've got three Halloween tunes you can download free (or name-your-price) from Bandcamp. There's "Monster Mash", an original tune, "Vampire Shenannigans", and brand new as of Wednesday, a cover of Echo & The Bunnymen's "Killing Moon". By the way, The Bellegards get lots of bonus points for putting the words "Vampire" and "Shenannigans" together. You rock, dudes.
"Skeleton Dance" was a 1929 Disney cartoon, considered a classic in the genre. A few years back, the California collective Buxaburn adapted the music into the ultra cool Hip Hop "Skeleton Walk". They've updated the tune for 2016 and you can download the sucker free at Bandcamp. Comes with an instrumental version, too.
Without getting into them too deeply (I've barely listened to the samples myself), here are a few more new releases (not free) you might look into for your Halloween '16 soundtrack.
I haven't got a clue who Billy Cobb is (he's from Philly, if that helps), but I did like his new Alt Rock EP, appropriately titled "Halloween". I especially liked the title track, with a shout out to all the monsters out there.
Halloween Forecast from Optivion If you're gonna throw a Halloween party, you've got to have music that is both danceable AND spooky. Not every track on this album fits the bill, but the best ones here do.
I gather The Krulls are a Horror Rock group and I believe "Halloween Album" is their debut disc. Grab the album from Amazon before it grabs you. Bwahahaha! And we'll close it out with their "Candy Is Dandy".
I haven't got a clue who Billy Cobb is (he's from Philly, if that helps), but I did like his new Alt Rock EP, appropriately titled "Halloween". I especially liked the title track, with a shout out to all the monsters out there.
Halloween Forecast from Optivion If you're gonna throw a Halloween party, you've got to have music that is both danceable AND spooky. Not every track on this album fits the bill, but the best ones here do.
I gather The Krulls are a Horror Rock group and I believe "Halloween Album" is their debut disc. Grab the album from Amazon before it grabs you. Bwahahaha! And we'll close it out with their "Candy Is Dandy".
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