Bloglander

On Halloween Eve, and inspired by a new take on the classic Halloween movie theme music, we decided to pull together some of the grooviest of ghoulie tunes to help you get in the spirit of the season:

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross: "Halloween Theme"
This quintessential slasher film's unnerving theme song gets a Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross reboot for next years’ Halloween film directed by John Carpenter. As if the old theme wasn’t inimical enough, the duo does their damnedest to ratchet up the flight-or-fight response; the song pounds with signature Reznor style in its final two minutes of industrial howling, screeching, and drum machine beats — perfect to run up a set of stairs to.

Gin Gillette: "Train To Satanville"

A dusty black jewel from yesteryear, Gin Gillette’s raunchy rockabilly song hits
the spooky spot. The warbling and demonic guitar licks like the fires of hell
and Gin Gillette’s snarky high pitched twang resonates some vintage fun in this
'50s throwback. The ghostly “Whoa yeahs” in the caboose adds some festive kitsch — so you have something to play rather than the same old, tired “Monster Mash."

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: "Up Jumped the Devil"

Saint Nick has built his career with lyrics dealing with the murderous and grim, but
“Up Jumped the Devil” has an especially dark and antagonistic sound. Slightly
out-of-tune pianos always do the trick, but a crawling bass line and rib-cage
xylophone add texture to the theatrics of this devilish treat. Nick Cave growls the song with his head down and recounts a cursed existence. From concept to execution, “Up Jumped the Devil” delivers the dark.

Gravediggaz: Diary of a Madman

Putting the spooky beats on loop, '90s hip-hop group Gravediggaz pioneered Horrorcore
before it became synonymous with clown makeup and Guy Fieri frosted tips (looking at you, Violent J).  “Diary of a Madman” is dark and cartoony, yet another socially relevant report on being straitjacketed in the hopeless landscape of early '90s New York City.

Vanilla Fudge: Season of the Witch

The proto-goth hippiedom in this 1968 cover of Donovan’s folk-rock classic has all the elements of a moonlit. acid-drenched séance. With the windy vocals and volume oscillating, the organs continue on like a slow funeral. This nearly nine-minute dirge indulges some weird hippie clichés, with a brief spoken-word proselytizing “shimmering rainbows” and “a city of thinking.” Either way, it’s a freaky song that feels kinda deep if you end up laying on the bathroom floor of some Halloween party with the spins.