Sometimes the scariest part of a movie is when it is dark and quiet. The same is true of music, and that is what these selections for my huge Halloween mix have in common.
Liz Durrett’s Outside Our Gates was my 3rd favorite album of 2008, and sometimes I think it should have been first. It has turned out to be the one I go back to the most. I also like her older albums, Husk and The Mezzanine. The title song from Husk starts out with: “There’s a ghost at the edge of the yard.” I just found out that Liz will be in Los Angeles with her uncle Vic Chestnutt on December 1. I have to go.
Liz Durrett - Creepyaskudzu from The Mezzanine (2006)
MySpace | Buy
Swedish band Saw is proof that a band can have a great sound and great songs and still not make it. I love everything on their only album, The Yellow Light. The band was unable to get a deal with a label and for a while offered the entire album for free download. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be available anywhere anymore, and the band hasn’t logged into their MySpace site since last June.
Saw - Controlling My Fear from The Yellow Light (2006)
MySpace
The self-released Out Like Lambs debut CD is also not available but hopefully will be soon.
Out Like Lambs - Bygones from Out Like Lambs (2009)
MySpace | Website
Division Day’s second full-length was released in August. Its tone is different from their first, but it is still pretty wonderful. Almost every song fits our creepy theme.
When he flicks an ash, when he frees a breath.
When he stays your hand, when he shows your death:
Finally, please…”
Division Day - Visitation from Visitation (2009)
MySpace | Buy
Soulsavers just released their second full-length, another dark-themed collection. Many songs feature the vocals of Mark Lanegan, known also from Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age. Two more good, scary songs from this album are “Death Bells” and “Unbalanced Pieces.”
Soulsavers - Pharaoh's Chariot from Broken (2009)
MySpace | Buy
I just latched onto this song by Syracuse, NY, band Phantogram, and their self-released debut EP Eyelid Movies. It is really neat and eerie.
Phantogram - When I'm Small from Eyelid Movies EP (2009)
MySpace | Buy
Art: Creepy “Ghost Camp” by Benedict Apuna
- alt-gramma (371)
- indie.mom (395)
- Uncle T (7)
Hey, thanks for the great mix, all these songs are great!
Do you happen to have the Saw album still? Like you said, I can’t find it anywhere.
October 26th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Thanks! I do have several more Saw songs. I will try to bring them around more often.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Phantogram isn’t from ‘Cuse, they’re from Saratoga.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I usually go by what location their MySpace site says, but I guess I goofed somehow on that one. Saratoga Springs, to be exact.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:13 am