“But that’s not all! You also made yourself look like a jerk in front of millions of people! And you brought shame and disgrace on your family name for generations to come! You don’t get to come back tomorrow! You don’t even get a lousy copy of your home game! You’re a complete loser!”
Weird Al Yankovic “I Lost on Jeopardy” (Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D, 1984)
Well people, another month is over. I feel like November flew by, and when I go back to work on Monday I only have 3 weeks until winter break. Time is just weird right now.
Thanksgiving in my house was quiet. Made a small dinner for the parents and I and we also got to talk to my brother for a bit. I finished up a bunch of homework and I only have 3 more assignments for my math class and 1 final speech for my com class. In January, I start my last two classes at GCC.
So the mix this month has a few commemorations. First up, “Philadelphia Freedom” to celebrate Pennsylvania giving Biden the election. “I Lost on Jeopardy” to mark the passing of the great Alex Trebek, and to mark the end of the election, “This Land is Your Land” by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. Finally, some “Carry on My Wayward Son” as I said goodbye to a show I’ve loved for ages, Supernatural. (dean girl 4 lyfe!)
Honestly, there is so much new music on this mix. More so than any other I’ve done in awhile. I’m enjoying the new albums from Bad Bunny and Ariana Grande. The new Cautious Clay is already really catchy. I also really recommend the single “chinatown” from Bleachers feat. Bruce Springsteen. I’m just enjoying the last glut of new music until January.
There aren’t too many throwbacks this month: two versions of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road“, some ska from Bruce Lee Band as well as Prince, Sheryl Crow, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Alright kids, I’m going to go and enjoy the rest of my weekend. Lots of testing to do this week and I need to actually go to my school campus tomorrow (yuck). So make sure you wear a mask and stay home if you can!
There’s a certain swing-for-the-fences feel and a hurried nature that I think you have when you’re making your first record and have much to prove. Now that I’m in a higher gear, I don’t have to press so hard on the gas, and I’m loving it.
John Mayer, Billboard 2003
Hello guys, welcome to another new idea I’ve been throwing around after last week’s favorite song post. I want to add into the mix talking about albums that I love. This week we’re gonna start with one of my favorites of my early twenties, John Mayer “Heavier Things“.
Let’s talk about my relationship with Mr. Mayer. I discovered John Mayer around 1999/2000 when a friend of mine from college gave me this mixed CD (remember those?) with all of his acoustic stuff. Most of it was off his album “Inside Wants Out” which he released in 1999, and also had some live acoustics songs as well.
I was instantly hooked. You know that feeling when you listen to a song and you react with “OMG is this person following me around and writing about my life?”. Yeah, it was instantaneous that feeling. I was obsessed. I picked up “Room for Squares” when it came out in 2001 and I’ve been a Mayer fan ever since.
So fast forward to September 2003. I’m in my first semester at NAU, and kind of trying to adapt to being away from home for the first time. I picked this up the day it came out and it proceeded to be the ONLY thing I listened to for an honest straight month. I just connected with so many songs on this album, they just spoke to where I was in life at the time. Even now when I listen to it, I get flashbacks to Flagstaff and being 22 all over.
Heavier Things came out on September 9, 2003 by Aware and Columbia Records, and was Mayer’s second studio album. The album has mostly positive reviews, and debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200. It also has an aggregate score of 67/100 on Metacritic. The album had three singles: “Bigger than My Body“, “Clarity“, and “Daughters” which would be John’s first #1 single. He also took home two Grammy’s in 2005, one for Best Song of the Year (“Daughters”) and for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
HEAVIER THINGS TRACK LIST
01 – Clarity
02 – Bigger than my Body
03 – Something’s Missing
04 – New Deep
05 – Come Back to Bed
06 – Home Life
07 – Split Screen Sadness
08 – Daughters
09 – Only Heart
10 – Wheel
Now, here are some of my favorites tracks:
CLARITY – Mayer said he wrote this song about those first few minutes after you wake up, where you forget all of your problems. Not gonna lie, this is possibly my favorite John Mayer song. It’s introspective, conveying the weight that worries have on you. I also feel that it also portrays a sense of trying to find your place in the world. One of my favorite lines: “is there a second of time I looked around, did I sail through or drop my anchor down“.
BIGGER THAN MY BODY – Mayer wrote this after attending a Coldplay concert, about his frustration with not being able to get the music out of his body. To me it’s about someone on the cusp of greatness who not only wants their chance to shine, but is willing to do anything to prove themselves. Favorite line: “Someday I’ll be so damn much more, cause I’m bigger than my body gives me credit for“.
SOMETHING’S MISSING – During my time at NAU, I had a MAJOR quarter-life crisis and this was a song I kept coming back to. This is a song about loneliness while trying to figure out your place in the world. It’s hauntingly sad and just spoke to the experience I was having when I didn’t have the words. Favorite line: I can’t be sure that this state of mind, is not of my own design. I wish there was an over the counter test, for loneliness, for loneliness like this.
HOME LIFE – I love the electronics on this song. This one is about John’s desire to have a home life that doesn’t revolve around being on the road all the time. It absolutely speaks to that want of having normalcy and something dependable. It’s bouncy and fun, but filled with honesty. Favorite line: “And I will go to my grave with the life that I gave, not just some melody line on a radio wave“.
SPLIT SCREEN SADNESS – This is honestly one of the saddest breakup songs and it gives me the feels every time I hear it. They’ve broken up, but he’s not angry or bitter…he doesn’t say one single mean or cruel thing about the girl in this one. You can hear the sadness in every word. This is absolutely one I’m gonna feature in my favorite song series because it just kills me. Favorite line: “”All you need is love” is a lie ’cause we had love but we still said goodbye now we’re tired, battered fighters“.
Alright, that’s it from me. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving, and wear your damn mask!
So I owe you guys an entry because I skipped a couple of Sundays ago. I wanted to try something different. I want to showcase songs that I love and kind of go into what makes them special and why you should give them a listen. Yay new stuff!
So I’ve been listening to this song OBSESSIVELY for the last couple of days. Like, seriously to the point that I’m afraid my family is going to make me stop soon. It’s just so freaking good.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973
So this song is the fourth track off the record of the same name released in 1973, and it was the second single to be released from it. The music was composed by Elton, and longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics. It’s considered to be one of Elton’s best songs, and ranked #390 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Songs of All Time list.
Right off the bat, I LOVE the groove the piano has. There’s this almost dirty bluesy groove (particularly in the left hand) but it’s sprinkled on top with these soft 70’s rock vibes and it just melds together so wonderfully. I also love how the background vocals and the strings blend together on the bridge, it feels so dreamy and grand. It really is beautiful and easily one of my favorite parts of the song.
And the lyrics…..Bernie Taupin uses biting sarcasm to say goodbye to fame so he can go back to living a simpler life. I particularly love the line “Maybe you’ll get a replacement, there’s plenty like me to be found“. The lyrics to me just speak to that feeling of “I need to do what’s right for me, fuck everything else” and I am 100% here for it. Just, my god when Elton and Bernie fire on all cylinders they really do create magic.
ADDED BONUS: SARA BAREILLES
This stripped down acoustic version is absolutely haunting, and the intro and bridge done in a minor key, and how it transitions into the second verse……chef’s kiss. Her voice is beautiful and this is a lovely arrangement of a classic.
Alright kiddos, that’s all from me today. I hope you enjoy my take on a rock classic, I’m going to go back to work stuff. Later Days!
The Go-Go’s “Beautiful” (Return to the Valley of the Go-Go’s, 1994)
Well, guess who’s a dumbass who forgot to update last week? I’m gonna try and put an extra post up this week, but we’ll see how that works out.
So this was my mix for November 2018, and it’s a nice little time capsule from a really fun month. The highlight was my Thanksgiving, because I got to go to NYC and spend it with my brother and his girlfriend. I’m telling you, NYC during the holidays is cliche and magical as shit. It was such a fun trip, and we ended it by seeing the musical “Head Over Heels“. It was a jukebox musical featuring the music of the Go-Go’s and it was just super fun and cute.
A few more notes:
King Princess – 1950. My BFF introduced me to this artist and I just freaking love her. This song is so sweet and has the best groove. The album is also stellar from start to finish.
Queen – Seven Seas of Rhye. I believe this was put on here because the work wife and I went to see Bohemian Rhapsody and I was just listening to Queen obsessively after that. BTW this one is one of my favorites.
David Bowie – Life on Mars. I can’t really remember why I put this one on here, but it’s Bowie….mixes always need Bowie on them. God this song is just so.freaking.good.
Bauhaus – The Man with X-ray Eyes (live @ Hammersmith Palais, London). Usually people go through their goth phase in high school, I entered mine in my thirties. I freaking love Bauhaus and this one is a goodie.
Alright kids, that’s it from me. I have this week of school, two days next week, Thanksgiving, 3 weeks, and then Winter Break. I think I might be able to make it. See you kids later!
she’s the second best killer that I have ever seen
they don’t come much more sick than you
I could go on if you want me to
The Fratellis “Flathead” (Costello Music, 2006)
Well, Halloween weekend has come and gone. I could have been doing full-moon shit with my friends but NOOOOOOOO, we were responsible and stayed home because pandemic. I watched some Universal Monster movies (Frankenstein, The Wolf Man & The Mummy) as well as The VVitch and The Descent. It was good; I got a bunch of homework done and enjoyed myself.
So let’s talk the October 2020 mix. We said goodbye to Eddie Van Halen, Tony Lewis of The Outfield, and Spencer Davis of the Spencer Davis group. It was the 20th anniversary of Linkin Park’sHybrid Theory, and there was A TON of great new music this month.
First off, the new Future Island’s record is KILLER. Blackpink “Pretty Savage” is the best little ear-worm I’ve heard in a long time. Black Thought (lead singer of The Roots) solo album is fantastic, and the Gorillaz new album is incredible with tons of guest stars. The song I chose (Valley of the Pagans) features Beck and is amazing. Also, WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME ABOUT CLIPPING.! Sign me up for more horror-core (and Daveed Diggs) please.
For rediscovered loves, I had to put Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” as well as a few spooky songs to pay homage to Halloween. The Nekromantix, Gnarls Barkley, and The Cramps all make appearances. I personally feel like there’s more hip-hop this month and it just works really well.
Ok, that’s it from me. I’m going to go have some candy and then call it a night. Happy (belated) Halloween!
So this is a day late, but in my defense I was lying in bed until almost 4am having a gallbladder attack. It was my first episode in over a year, and not nearly as bad as the last one I had. However it did keep me up (the pressure in my stomach and back was just enough to keep me from falling asleep) and I went to work today on about 90 minutes of sleep. Guys, don’t be like me. TAKE THE FUCKING SICK DAY. I dragged ass all day, and just…..that’s what sick days are for, don’t feel guilty for taking one. (This advice given to you from an A type personality Capricorn.)
Anyway, here’s my last entry for October. I was scrolling through my lists because I didn’t want to post my mix for this month until next week (I’m still adding to it) when I found this gem. She’s 10 years old, and she is SO GOOD. A fun mix of popular and Indie, with some sing-a-long jams in there for good measure.
So next week will be my Oct. 2020 mix, and then I’m not sure what November will hold. It’s almost time for me to start thinking about my Best of 2020 mix as well as my Birthday mix. So yeah, just a friendly reminder that there is a still a global pandemic happening and to make sure that you vote.
So today I’m going to showcase my October playlist from 2018.
I love this playlist. So back in 2018, I wasn’t making my mix as a monthly personal diary of sorts. I very much made them as a theme, adding songs about that particular month or songs about that season or time of year. They were also much shorter, not like the monster mixes I’ve been making this year.
Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. I really felt that this one worked so great. This was a month before I visited my brother in NYC for Thanksgiving, and I had visions of the Big City and cold weather dancing through my head. To me, it feels like Fall wrapped up in 22 songs.
I also think this was my first mix without any clear Halloween songs. I did however feature two (“Spirits in the Material World” by The Police and “You’re Gonna Miss Me” by Connie Francis) that were used on AHS Apocalypse. Speaking of AHS, Ryan Murphy and his distracted ass get cookies because their soundtracks are always killer.
I added Garbage “Medication” because in October, Kai and I trucked out to Tempe to see them on their Version 2.0 20th Anniversary Tour. So freaking good, although I hope the woman in front of me who blocked my view the ENTIRE show because she recorded the ENTIRE show on her phone, I hope things are going terribly for her.
Also, can I talk about how much I love “Clarity” by John Mayer? His second album “Heavier Things” is still my favorite he’s put out, and one that I lived and breathed my first year at NAU. Just, it was one of those albums that spoke directly to my soul and this song in particular, just nailed that feeling I had of feeling rudderless and with no direction whatsoever. “Do I sail through or drop my anchor down“, fucking GOD DAMN John.
Again, I just love the vibe of this mix. I hope you like it too. Rock on, kids.
Gnarls Barkley “The Boogie Monster” (St. Elsewhere, 2006)
Hello everyone, and happy Sunday!
So in following my last post (about Halloween movies) I decided to give you some songs for your Halloween party that probably is, let’s be honest, not going to happen this year (damn you Corona!).
I find that when it comes to supplying the soundtrack, subtlety is key. I mean, don’t be afraid to put “The Monster Mash” on your playlist, just don’t play “Thriller” afterwards. I’m offering some maybe not so obvious (and obvious) bangers to get you in that spooky state of mind.
Gnarls Barkley “The Boogie Monster”
Bauhaus “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”
Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Heads Will Roll”
David Bowie “Scary Monsters”
The Misfits “Vampira”
Rocky Horror Picture Show “Time Warp”
Rockwell “Somebody’s Watching Me”
Kanye West “Monster”
Marianne Faithful “Witches’ Song”
The Rolling Stones “Paint it Black”
The Rolling Stones “Sympathy for the Devil”
Annie Lennox “Love Song for a Vampire”
Talking Heads “Psycho Killer”
Warren Zevon “Werewolves of London”
Dusty Springfield “Spooky”
Morissey “Ouija Board, Ouija Board”
The Cramps “Sheena’s in a Goth Gang”
The Ramones “Pet Semetary”
Donovan “Season of the Witch”
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds “Red Right Hand”
Echo & the Bunnymen “People are Strange”
Blue Oyster Cult “Godzilla”
ACDC “Hells Bells”
Oingo Boingo “Dead Mans Party”
Rihanna “Disturbia”
Alice Cooper “Feed My Frankenstein”
Outkast “Dracula’s Wedding”
Siouxsie and the Banshees “Spellbound”
The Eagles “Witchy Woman”
Santana “Black Magic Woman”
Fleetwood Mac “Rhiannon”
The Black Keys “Howlin’ For You”
Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf”
Cigarettes After Sex “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby”
Rob Zombie “Living Dead Girl”
Princess Nokia “Brujas”
Joy Division “Dead Souls”
The Woggles “Dracula’s Daughter”
Pink Floyd “Careful With That Axe, Eugene”
Beck “Scarecrow”
The Weeknd “The Hills”
Sonic Youth “Halloween”
Billie Eilish “Bad Guy”
Lady Gaga “Monsters”
Nelly Furtado “Maneater”
The Smiths “Cemetary Gates”
Devo “Jocko Homo”
Vampire Weekend “Walcott”
Meatloaf “Bat Out of Hell”
Kate Bush “Get Out of My House”
The Cramps “I Was a Teenage Werewolf”
Okay guys, I feel like this should be enough to get you through this super spooky month. I go back to work tomorrow (boo!) and it’s going to be a busy week. I have a meeting with my advisor, my brother’s bday is tomorrow, and I need to fill out my early ballot and mail it in. So on that note be excellent to each other, and go listen to some music!
The Misfits “Halloween” (Legacy of Brutality, 1985)
Hello everyone, I’m currently in the beginning of my fall break and getting ready for a whole week of absolutely nothing. But since we are in October we are now in my absolute favorite time of the year, FALL! That means cooler weather, delicious eats, and HALLOWEEEN!
Now even though I’m not going to get to do a lot of what I love to do this month, (travel, the AZ State Fair, etc.) I am going to share with you some of my favorite Halloween Spooky Time things to watch. Something that I should add: not all of these are traditional horror movies. Horror is a genre I came to late in life, and it’s just really not my bag. I tend to like suspense and high creep factor, which I feel some of these have in spades. So pop some popcorn, grab a cup of apple cider, and ENJOY!
Hocus Pocus, 1993
What can I say about this film that hasn’t been said already. It’s charming and funny, and just so much fun to watch almost 30 years later. Basically, three kids have to save their town from the Sanderson sisters, who need to take the souls of children to stay young forever. It’s perfect, a classic, and just SO MUCH FUN. I like to watch this after my house has been fully decorated, and with appropriate snacks.
SEE IT: Disney+, VUDU, iTunes
The Devil’s Backbone, 2001
I freaking love Guillermo del Toro, I feel like he just has such a mastery and a wonderful eye when it comes to creating visually beautiful shots. And this ghost story set during the Spanish Civil War is so creepy and beautiful all at once. It is not a traditional horror movie, but it still has some great jump scares and really creepy imagery that will stay with you. If you like GdT, or if you just haven’t had a chance to delve into his Spanish language films, I cannot highly recommend this one enough, October would be the perfect time to watch it.
BONUS: If you love creatures, give Shape of Water a look.
SEE IT: VUDU, Amazon Prime, Youtube
Pan’s Labyrinth, 2006
Another gem from Guillermo del Toro, he actually considers this to be a spiritual sequel to The Devil’s Backbone, so I will usually turn these two into a double-feature. This gothic fairy-tale is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking with incredible imagery amidst the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War. It is in the same breath beautiful and frankly graphic, and is I think one of his finest films. This one stayed with me for days afterward, and is one I do love to watch late at night.
BONUS: Check out Mimic if you want even more creepy creatures.
SEE IT: Netflix, VUDU, Amazon Prime
The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad, 1949
Okay, so this is an absolute staple of my childhood. And fun fact: when I worked at a video store, I used to play this during EVERY single shift I had during the month of October. Ichabod Crane is in the second half of this feature, and features the dulcet voice of Bing Crosby narrating the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. It’s just so much fun and the next best thing to actually spending Halloween in Sleepy Hollow, NY.
BONUS: Don’t skip Mr. Toad, it’s narrated by Basil Rathbone and is just cute. Plus, it makes me think of Disneyland.
SEE IT: Disney+. VUDU, Amazon
Sleepy Hollow, 1999
Again, I almost always watch this after the Disney version, and I freaking love this movie. It is one of my favorite Tim Burton movies, and it’s just so freaking CREEPY. For me, I just love the visuals in this movie, which i feel Burton always nails the visual look of a movie even if everything else in the movie is trash. This though, is far from trash. It has some really graphic haunting imagery (Christopher Walken going full Horseman, HORRIFYING) and it’s just wonderful. I truly love this one, and it’s definitely perfect for a late night watch.
SEE IT: Netflix, Hulu, VUDU, Amazon Prime
The Dark Crystal, 1982
This is a classic of my childhood, and one that I still love even after all these years. The Jim Henson Company’s puppetry and animatronics are simply astounding, because this is a live-action movie with no visible humans on screen. I absolutely LOVE the character designs in this movie, and while it is aimed at children, younger kids may get the bejesus scared out of them.
BONUS: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is a prequel to the movie and just won an Emmy….and was cancelled by Netflix (BOO). It was absolutely outstanding.
SEE IT: Netflix, VUDU, Amazon Prime
Labyrinth, 1986
Part of another double-feature, this is the perfect follow-up to The Dark Crystal. Another piece of my childhood, it has great special effects & puppetry which hold up extremely well, an amazing soundtrack, and it is also the movie that introduced tiny Lainey to David Bowie. This one is again aimed at families, but it too might be a bit much for young ones. However, it’s just a wonderful fantasy tale of a girl trying to get her baby brother back after asking the Goblins to take him away. And as the older sister to a younger brother, I can totally relate. Love it.
SEE IT: Amazon Prime, VUDU
The Sixth Sense, 1999
One of the things I’ve noticed with horror movies, is that they don’t necessarily have a great re-watch factor. With comedy the jokes aren’t as funny the tenth time you’ve heard them, and with horror you already know the big twists and ending. This is one I feel is still creepy after many rewatches, with non-stop suspense and jumps that still make my heart skip a beat. We know all the pop-culture references, we know all the lines, but you should still give this a go if you haven’t seen it in awhile….late at night….with all the lights off.
SEE IT: Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes
The Shining, 1980
This is my brother’s favorite Kubrick movie, and it’s a classic for a reason. This is another movie that made it into the pop-culture lexicon, but even after all these years it is still creepy and shocking and wonderful. Even though it creeps me the fuck out, I have to watch it late at night in the dark, and follow it up with the Simpsons “The Shinning” (more Simpsons later).
BONUS: If disturbing is your Halloween wheel-house, than I recommend A Clockwork Orange. You will never hear “Singing in the Rain” the same way again.
SEE IT: Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes
Coraline, 2009
From the director of “The Nightmare Before Christmas“, this stop-motion film based on the book by Neil Gaiman is both charming and creepy in equal parts. I absolutely love the look of this film and the character design, not to mention the style of the animation. The design of the Other-Mother and the button eyes will make you want to be extra nice to your own Mom. This is yet another late at night in the dark movie that makes October so much better. Also, this one might be intense for really little ones, but should be good for the whole family.
SEE IT: Hulu, Starz, Amazon Prime
The Nightmare Before Christmas, 1993
This is usually first in a double-feature with Coraline, and its just so freaking good. Great animation, even better music. The amount of detail that went into creating all the citizens of Halloween Town is just mind-blowing. Speaking of the music, the whole score is in a minor key UNTIL the ending when Jack and Sally are on top of the hill. The movie ends on a perfect major chord. So yeah, perfect for all ages and just think; you can watch it again in December too. Also, the overlay of the Haunted Mansion into Halloween Town at Disneyland is SPECTACULAR.
SEE IT: Disney+, Amazon, iTunes, VUDU
Beetlejuice, 1988
I love this movie so much I could just die. I love a good horror comedy and this one absolutely doesn’t disappoint. This one is a staple from my childhood, I mean I watched the cartoon as a kid, I even cosplayed as Lydia at Phoenix Comicon! I simply love the look of this movie. It’s pure Tim Burton with contrasting dark and bright visual. Also, I love the special effects and costuming as well. This movie is a regular in my all time rotation, but I love busting it out for October. It’s just perfect. It’s oh so quotable which I feel makes it especially perfect for parties or even family night if you have slightly older kiddos.
SEE IT: Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes
Coco, 2017
There are no words to describe how hard I ugly cried at the end of this movie. But I feel at this point that’s to be expected from Pixar at this point. This is equal parts funny and touching, and will really just make you want to spend time with your family once it’s over. The animation is spectacular, I mean the amount of detail in this film is just astounding. There’s a scene where an office worker has pan dulce (sweet bread) on a plate and it looks freaking REAL. This is the perfect movie for a family movie night,
SEE IT: Disney+, Amazon Prime, VUDU
Children of the Corn, 1984
Fun story: The first time I saw this movie I had just had all my wisdom teeth taken out and I was high as FUCK on pain meds. It’s not gory scary, but Isaac is creepy as hell as the leader of a town full of evil children and the whole movie is just really unsettling. Also, this movie makes for really effective birth control. This is one that is somewhat dated, but still absolutely worth a look.
BONUS: South Park does a GREAT parody of this movie in the episode “The Wacky Molestation Adventure”.
SEE IT: Hulu, Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes
Shaun of the Dead, 2004
Zombies and British humor, it’s the perfect combo. If you want a dry-humor horror comedy than this is the one for you. It follows Shaun, who just wants to go to the Winchester, have a pint, and wait for this whole thing to blow over. It’s just so quotable and contains the most perfect use of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” ever captured on cinema. An absolute perfect start to the Cornello Trilogy.
BONUS: You could totally watch “Hot Fuzz” after. While not horror, it is a smashing good murder mystery/action flick.
SEE IT: Hulu, Amazon Prime, iTunes, VUDU
Rosemary’s Baby, 1968
I saw this on Netflix a few years ago, and I found it so uncomfortably creepy that I slept with the lights on. It was just disturbing to me on so many levels, from the creepy imagery to the gaslighting of Rosemary by everyone around her. This would be a great one for late at night, or as birth control because y’all I felt my ovaries SHRIVEL after I watched this. Either way, it’s a classic and worth a watch.
BONUS: If you don’t want to give this a watch because Roman Polanski is a piece of shit, check out The Stepford Wives.
SEE IT: Hulu, Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes
IT, 2017
My freaking brother made me watch this, and holy CHRIST it was scary. I hate clowns, but despite that I used to LOVE watching the miniseries of this in the 90’s, (with Tim Curry playing Pennywise) whenever the local station played it on random Sundays. This is truly scary, with jump scares that will make your heart drop into your butt. Also, the casting of the kids is SPOT.ON. I really need to watch Chapter Two this month.
BONUS: Rewatch the 1990 miniseries, some of it doesn’t hold up but Tim Curry steals the show as Pennywise.
SEE IT: Hulu, Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes
Clue, 1985
I didn’t discover this comedy gem until college, but it quickly found its way into my all the time rotation. The cast is absolutely perfect from top to bottom, but for me I LOVE Tim Curry and Madeline Kahn the most. It’s not scary, but I feel a lovely murder mystery is absolutely spot on for the Halloween season. I also feel like if you want a great party movie, this one is so quotable and hilarious that it would be great for a get together with friends. It would also be good for a family movie night. Give this one a watch if you’ve never seen it, you won’t be disappointed.
SEE IT: Pluto TV, Amazon Prime, iTunes, VUDU
Young Frankenstein, 1974
Similar to horror movies, I find comedies sometimes difficult to rewatch. The same joke after awhile just won’t make you chuckle the same way anymore. This movie though, I still giggle hysterically every time I see the “Putting on the Ritz” scene. It is non-stop deadpan humor from start to finish and is quite possibly my favorite Mel Brooks movie PERIOD and probably one of the most quotable of his movies too. I just love it so freaking much. FUN FACT: Most of the equipment in Frankenstein’s Lab is from the original 1931 Universal Frankenstein movie. Gotta love that attention to detail! Also, this would be PERFECT for your Halloween movie night with friends or family.
SEE IT: Hulu, Starz, Amazon Prime
The Rocky Horror Picture Show, 1975
There are no words for how much I love this movie. I’ve seen shadowcasts perform it, I’ve been to sing-a-longs of it, it is just the bees knees. Fun story; at Phoenix Comicon a few years ago they had the cast (minus Tim). Waiting for the elevator at the Sheraton, the doors opened to reveal none other than Barry Bostwick. We made eye contact, and I waved. He gave me a head nod. I digress, but if you like weird as hell musicals about aliens and rock and roll, then you should absolutely give this a watch.
BONUS: If you love the music, check out “The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show” a cover album.
SEE IT: Amazon Prime, iTunes, VUDU
Repo! The Genetic Opera, 2008
Speaking of weird-ass musicals, I discovered this one back when I worked at the video store. The premise, there is an epidemic of human organ failures, and GeneCo will give you money to replace said failed organs, but if you can’t make the payments then they take back the organs and it is just as bloody and gory as you think it will be. This one is high on the gross factor, but the songs are catchy and it’s just great gory fun. Also, you get to see Paris Hilton’s face fall off. Everybody wins! Also, I feel like if you have a group with a quirky taste in movies, this might be an interesting choice for movie night.
SEE IT: Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, 2007
Finishing up this trio of creepy musicals, this is probably the darkest one on the list. It’s a story about revenge, murder, and cooking people into pies. This movie is graphic, and don’t be fooled by the musical moniker, this is NOT meant for the whole family. I love how this is stylized, and it’s a wonderful adaptation of the musical by the same name from Stephen Sondheim. The cast handles the music well, and Johnny Depp & Helena Bonham Carter play against each other so well in this one. The imagery is graphic, the violence is pretty brutal, but this one is such pure fun set to an amazing score & soundtrack.
SEE IT: Pluto TV, Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes
The Omen, 1976
When it comes to horror movies, you can give me scary creatures, tons of blood and gore, and I will barely bat an eye. You focus your horror around religion, and I’m fucking DONE. This movie is just so creepy, and just proof that if you take a baby from a church and convince your wife that it’s your baby and that your real baby didn’t die during birth, you deserve all the bad shit that happens to you sir. There is a remake from 2006, but if you’re going to sit with this one you should really stick with the original.
BONUS: Again, check out the South Park episode “Damien”.
SEE IT: Hulu, Starz, Cinemax, VUDU
Spritied Away, 2001
If you have never seen a Hayao Miyazaki movie before, first off, what are you even doing with your life? Second, you have been depriving yourself of not only breathtaking animation, but really complex beautiful storytelling. Chihiro and her parents are driving to their new home when they find an abandoned amusement park. This movie is fantasy in every sense of the word and an incredible work of art. While it might be a tad scary for really young kids, this would be a great pick for the whole family.
BONUS: If you want a slightly darker Miyazaki movie, I suggest Princess Mononoke, it’s has more graphic violence but the same incredible animation.
SEE IT: HBO Max, VUDU, Amazon Prime
The Corpse Bride, 2005
This movie is perfect for the whole family and would be a great companion piece to The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. I love the character design and coloring of the film, and the voice casting is spot on. Also, the attention to detail is insane. I love the Danny Elfman score, particularly the piano solo that Victor plays throughout the movie. It’s just a wonderful film, equal parts spooky and funny, with an ending that always puts a smile on my face. Pass the popcorn, this should absolutely be on your Halloween playlist.
BONUS: Not enough Tim Burton on this list? Watch Frankenweenie.
SEE IT: Hulu, Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror, 1990-Present
I saved the best for last, kids. The Treehouse of Horror episodes are the episodes I look forward to every year. I love sitting and watching to see what they are going to parody or satire. Last year for Halloween I showed my students “The Raven” from Episode 1, and they really enjoyed it. I’m kind of sad we’re in distance learning because I totally would have shown them another one this yea. I will definitely be marathoning these over the month.
BONUS: I highly recommend Treehouse of Horror III, IV, & V. Although to be honest the first 10 are some of the best episodes of the entire run of the show, period.
SEE IT: Disney+, Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes
Alright kids, it’s taken almost 4 hours to write this and I am pooped. I hope you enjoyed this list of stuff I love unabashedly during spooky season. What are your faves? Next week I’ll dive into spooky tunes, and then a throwback playlist before posting my October 2020 playlist. So stay safe out there kids, and Happy October!
Goo Goo Dolls “Broadway” (Dizzy Up the Girl, 1998)
Happy Sunday guys, we made it through another week!
Work life is going….well. My school district is having us begin to prepare for in-person learning. We’ve hit two of the three metrics for re-opening, but our zip codes still have a really high positive testing rate. However, when we are going to go in person, we will have five weeks to prepare to transition. Not going to lie, I live with immune compromised people and I’m scared about going back. Like I’m going to have to set up a changing station in my storage room (which has no entry into the rest of the house) and showering immediately when I get home. It’s stressful to think about, but I honestly don’t see us back in the classroom until at least January, especially since cold & flu season is coming up. Speaking of, I do have to work from campus tomorrow because I’m getting my flu-shot in the morning. I also have to arrange my classroom desks and unplug everything for Fall Break. (Which, BTW, I have this week of classes and then Fall Break and OMG I CANNOT WAIT.)
So the mix for September 2020 has a lot of new stuff. Here are a few of my faves:
Cuco – Piel Canela
Pixies – Hear Me Out
First Aid Kit – Come Give Me love
Yo La Tengo – Bleeding
Fleet Foxes – Can I Believe You
Alicia Keys – Me x 7
Bartees Stranger – Boomer
The Front Bottoms – Montgomery Forever
There were also some throwbacks:
Offa Rex – The Queen of Hearts
Goo Goo Dolls – Broadway
The Who – The Seeker
Earth, Wind & Fire – September (duh, like i WASN’T going to add this)
Other notable entries:
Ozzy Osborne – Mr. Crowley (Lee Kersake, drummer, passed from pancreatic cancer.)
Toots & the Maytals – Country Roads (Toots Hibbert, passed away from COVID-19 complications)
Barenaked Ladies – Tonight is the Night…(20th anniversary of the album Maroon)
Amy Winehouse – Valerie (It was Amy’s birthday on September 14th)
Overall it’s a mix that flows very nicely, and was surprisingly upbeat considering the current amount of stress I’m feeling in my life. So yeah, just three more months in this cesspool of a year, I’ll see you guys next Sunday!
Mixtape-Postcards 