Editor’s note: DeadJournalist.com proudly presents Jon Wolf’s monthly mixtape. As always, to get all the links, join his mailing list: highlyrecd (at) gmail.com or visit his Web site: http://highlyrecd.blogspot.com.
HIGHLY REC’D – THE MONTHLY MIXTAPE
Because good music is a right, not a privilege.
By: Jon Wolf
Happy (not yet) Halloween everyone! I realize this is slightly early in the month, but what good is a Halloween mix on Oct. 31st?
Every song should fit the theme in obvious subject matter, or at least in tone, and I tried to avoid too many camp and novelty songs (no disrespect to Ray Parker Jr., MC Hammer, or DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince), or straight up film scores (which could be a mix on its own). I believe I covered most of the themes associated with the holiday, but was unfortunately unable to find a song about dressing up as a slutty version of your occupation. Almost all of these songs are enjoyable on their own, at anytime of the year, but combined, form a Voltron of indestructible holiday spirit, second only to next month’s special mix: the first-ever collection of Highly Rec’d Thanksgiving Carols! (not really)
Also, if you’re only into music that is hours old, you will find great new tracks from Ryan Walsh (of Hallelujah The Hills)(special thanks: Largehearted Boy), The Protomen, and Black Hat Brigade, as well as a REALLY new track from The Killers off the soundtrack to a little vampire movie coming out next month…
Halloween ’09: 22 Songs Not As Good As Thriller
1. Marilyn Manson – This Is Halloween (Danny Elfman cover)
2. Rob Zombie – Dragula
3. L7 – Pretend We’re Dead
4. David Bowie – I’m Afraid Of Americans (Trent Reznor Mix V1)
5. Bat For Lashes – What’s a Girl To Do
6. The Killers – A White Demon Love Song (Twilight: New Moon sdtk)
7. Rocky Horror Picture Show – The Time Warp
8. Tegan and Sara – Walking With A Ghost
9. Ryan Walsh – Enough Blood To Bathe A Zombie
10. Alkaline Trio – Private Eye
11. The Protomen – The Hounds
12. Black Hat Brigade – Zombie City Shake
13. Oingo Boingo – Dead Man’s Party
14. The Specials – Ghost Town
15. Eugene McGuinness – Monsters Under The Bed
16. Frank Black – Superabound
17. Islands – Creeper
18. Ryan Adams – Halloweenhead
19. Warren Zevon – Werewolves Of London
20. Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
21. Donovan – Hurdy Gurdy Man
22. Rockwell feat. Michael Jackson – Somebody’s Watching Me
23. Michael Jackson – Thriller
Okay, I’ve got to say, I absolutely love five of these tracks.
3. L7 – “Pretend We’re Dead” – A fantastically unintentional dance track
14. The Specials – “Ghost Town” – In 1997 (What’s up with all the 1997 references lately?) me and my college roommate are seemingly alone with everyone else gone on break. We hatch a great plan to call the local modern rock station and request this song. They don’t have it. FAIL!
17. Islands – “Creeper” – Islands is such an unappreciated band and “Creeper” is a brilliant addition to a mix like this.
20. Blue Oyster Cult – “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” – Back to college, there was a movie in the mid-’90s about this song. It came on Comedy Central for seemingly three months straight and has never been heard from again … but this track is legendary.
22. Rockwell feat. Michael Jackson – “Somebody’s Watching Me” – Always dug this song. Yet another college reference, but The Close (who’ve had a nice career in the Atlanta scene) covered this one of their first album. And our dog’s name is “Rockwell”! (Okay, we didn’t name him, but still – Rockwell!)