There’s nothing we enjoy more than a good Halloween party. Costumes, drinks, general merriment of a creepy sort. Music can make or break your Halloween party; we know this, and that’s why we’ve already offered you some gruesome songs for your Halloween playlist. Perhaps, though, you’re the rare breed who wants things even darker than Nick Cave (and there isn’t much that’s darker than Nick Cave). Or possibly you’re using the occasion of Halloween to celebrate the remarkable achievements in witch house this year. Or maybe you just want to keep kids from ringing your doorbell. Regardless, your author, who’s in the midst of writing a book on the witch house scene, has handcrafted a spooky mix of dark, new songs for your Halloween party brooding. From the opening haunted house drones of The Haxan Cloak through the shocking zombification of Brooklyn’s own Class Actress, this is the soundtrack of nightmares. Don’t worry, though, there’s a chance to dance at the end.
Earlier this week, we had the privilege of hearing the new Atlas Sound record. Our professional opinion thus far is that the album is really good, and it got us thinking about how much more we like Bradford Cox’s solo project than his work with Deerhunter. Anyway, this in turn got us thinking about other cases where we’ve enjoyed a musician’s side project more than their “real” band. We’ve pulled together a selection of our favorites after the jump, and for these purposes, we’re calling anything formed while the musician was still in their former band a side project (so Sebadoh count, but a band like, say, New Order doesn’t). Anyway, as ever, we’d love to hear your suggestions.
For an art form that so mythologizes rebellion, rock ‘n roll has developed its fair share of orthodoxy over the years. If you go with the canon, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the best album ever, while cover versions started and ended with Jimi Hendrix’s take on “All Along The Watchtower.” Happily, Flavorpill doesn’t really buy into any of that. With a (god-awful) cover of Biffy Clyro’s “Many of Horror” taking the coveted Christmas No. 1 slot across the Atlantic, it seems an auspicious time to look back at some unsung excellent cover versions. Listen to them all after the jump — and for convenience, we’ve also embedded a Grooveshark playlist of the whole lot at the end.
When you’re Ke$ha and competing with the likes of Lady Gaga, perhaps you feel like masquerading around Soho wearing a tiger-head mask is the way to go. Because here’s the thing: While for normal people masks serve as a disguise, when you’re already famous, they only get you noticed more. Click through for a roundup of musicians who have embraced the masked look, and in certain cases, prepare yourself to be a little frightened.
On a rainy Monday night, beat-seeking hipsters and a few pretentious trannies sought shelter at Webster Hall. Green laser beams pierced the sold-out crowd as five costumed musicians started beating conga drums and electronic drum machines on stage. One vocalist dressed like Cousin Itt; a drummer looked like a bishop made up as a Russian doll; the remaining band members reminded us of hooded druids. It was strange and exciting — like being an extra on the set of The Dark Crystal.
As smoke swirled like liquid in the green light- and incense-filled the room, a blonde pop star took the stage, joining her band. She looked like Diana, goddess of the hunt, but without her usual mask. Finally we got a good look at Karin Dreijer Andersson: Swedish electronic artist, mother of two, and one half of the famously elusive brother-sister duo, The Knife. Read More »
The latest Viva Radio broadcast featured psych-folk freak outs, mixtape mash-ups marrying the L.E.S. to the Dirty South, and a danceable take on Swedish domestic life. Culling our favorite cuts from the show, Viva la Mix is back again to hook you up with 11 of the best new tracks you’ll find online. Click through for downloads from our last Viva Radio playlist, and be sure to check back and listen to the show itself — we update every week. Read More »
What’s this? A round of sweet MP3s? That’s right, nothing says spring like a mighty mix tape, so it seems about time we drop a new Viva Radio round-up. You know, because it’s April and still freezing outside. Click through for downloads from our last radio playlist and be sure to check back and listen to the show itself — we update every week. Read More »
Fringe music is an elusive beast. Whereas the points of slick tales of love and loss are usually pretty obvious, the undercurrents of the avant-garde are infinitely harder to navigate. Enter your intrepid guide: Earplug. In this bi-monthly series, Flavorwire’s sister publication — home to several experimental, indie, and techno experts — will separate the hidden gems from the record bin rejects, helping the adventurous pluck new albums from the outer edges. After the jump, reviews of Baltimore bleeper Dan Deacon’s new electronic opus and the Knife off-shoot Fever Ray’s magnesium-bright debut. Read More »
