According to the Third Man Records twitter, the spoken word Conan O'Brien piece, "And They Call Me Mad?", is now available on iTunes. If you weren't able (or willing) to procure the 7" of this, please take a moment to go buy the digital version.. it is endlessly entertaining and a great companion to your Halloween season.

Being that it is currently October, Halloween is right around the corner. This means you should be listening to the quality releases from Shaboi at least once a day. I suggest, if you don't have it already, going to snag Curse Walk as soon as you can. You might as well snag his Caterpillar 7" while you're at it but most definitely get Curse Walk. I realize I'm coming from a very biased place in my praise for this release but, objectively, it really is the perfect companion to your Halloween rotation. I will never tire of Rapsylvania `88 and there's something undeniably refreshing when Gozer's Boombox comes through the ole headphones. However, tracks like I Once Knew a Ghoul are such a rare combo of humorous, sweet and just a little bit sad. Long story short, I ♥ Shaboi and you should too.

In my opinion, Dia de los Muertos gets far too little attention `round these parts. Halloween certainly plays a hand in the overshadowing but I think next year we should all make an effort to appreciate it a bit more. I mean, check out this collection of arts associated with it - incredible! And that's just a tiny glimpse of the whole. So, for pure artistic appreciation - let's all try harder next year...

Right when I was feeling all proud of my costume I am exposed to this incredible Papercraft head that pretty much blows every other Halloween costume on the face off the Earth out of the water. The details on the creation of it are astounding. I'm absolutely in awe.

Happy Halloween! Enjoy the videos.

• Mysterious Mose - an incredible mix of puppetry / animation. Absolutely everything about this is perfect. via.
• Ramona Falls - I Say Fever - incredible music video for Ramona Falls. It may not seem Halloween related at first but stick with it, you'll get it. I'd also venture to say that the source material used for the video couldn't be more up my alley. Via Jez.
• Monster Parties: Fact or Fiction? - I will never tire of "Jerkin'" James Whitcroft or Dr. Retarded.
• Garfields Halloween - this probably doesn't hold up but I recall having very fond memories of said special during my childhood. Garfield gets a, somewhat deserved, bad rap but there was a time when it was quite enjoyable.
• The Great Pumpkin - a quick snippet of the Schultz classic.. always pleasant.
• Broom-Stick Bunny - another classic Halloween cartoon. Sad that animation pretty much never looks this stylized and still approachable anymore... or as entertaining. Via Chris.
• Internet Classics by Judit & Judit - bizarre, very accurate, re-creations of a number of Internet memes. Maybe there's a Halloween costume idea in there for you.
• Hummingbird Hat - I saw this on Regretsy and decided I'd love to see someone wearing it out for Halloween night. Sure it's not really a costume but it's so absurd I think everyone would appreciate it.

BONUS

• Unbelievable Hole In One - 100% unrelated to Halloween but still something that should be seen.
• Seafarers - Island of Horror - a new animation from Ferris and Kelly - a special Halloween edition. The "Cheese Grater" and the instructive voice are my favorite.
• Werewolf Bar Mitzvah - revisit the 30 Rock classic.
• The Onion: How To Find A Masculine Halloween Costume For Your Effiminate Son - it goes without saying that there is some inappropriate / vaguely offensive language in here.. but it's hysterical.

Reminder: Snag these Halloween mixes if you have not already:

• Dark Despair (Undead Trespass) - my 2009 Halloween mix
• Crepusuclar - my 2008 Halloween mix
• Et Tu, Morte? - my 2007 Halloween mix
• Songs for Spooks - 2006. Halloween. my mix.
• Pure Terror - way back `05 started them off.

Listen, I know I've mentioned Curse Walk from Shaboi a number of times but, please, oblige me this one final mention. Tomorrow is Halloween. After that, the Shaboi record will still be incredibly enjoyable but less appropriate. So, don't waste any time - go download the record. It's completely free! It's a record you can play at a Halloween party, or while waiting creepily on your porch for kids to come Trick or Treating.

Seriously, get it and I won't mention it again (until the next appropriate time).

I have previously expressed my affection for the Everything series from Danny Jelinek and that opinion stands strong. Part 3 is somewhat Halloween themed and, as usual, well worth the watch.

While the name Eban Schletter probably doesn't conjure up many familiar associates you would know his work if you're a Mr. Show fan. He is the man responsible for the music in Jeepers Creepers, worked on 'Run Ronnie Run' and even played the organ intermission on Tool's Aenmia album. So, he's got a worthy resume.

All that being said, he apparently released a Halloween album last year entitled Witching Hour that is filled with a variety of hilarious, ghoulish, spoken word, surf-rock inspired escapades. It's not as silly as one would think but it is as enjoyable as you'd hope. It's a worthy addition to your ever growing collection of Halloween tunes.

You can find out more about Eban here and thank CMikesell for the heads up on its existence.

While I hope you're still enjoying my Halloween mix it never hurts to have more material to support the season. With that in mind, go snag An Experiment in Terror - 27 tracks to supplement your spooky journeys. New mix from Mr. Grosbeck entitled Living the Distance.. a varied mix of recent indie rock bands.

You know the drill.

• Gohn Joodman - just plain weird but seemed appropriate with Halloween right around the corner.
• Symphony of Science - followup to A Glorious Dawn, only featuring a wider variety of scientists. It's not quite as good but does get better on repeated views... Bill Nye is sort of undeniable. I foresee a plethora of these being released.
• How Things Are Made: CDs - Very educational piece via Casey.
• Kramer's Entrance - this isn't particularly funny but just oddly impressive that someone took the time to actually compile it.
• New Robotic Hand 'Can Feel' - again, not funny, but absolutely insane that this technology is not just something you see in movies. Honestly floored this is real.
• Bottle Bank Arcade - this is the third in the series of videos from VW's The Fun Theory - small experiments to inspire change through fun. If you've not seen the Piano Staircase or World's Deepest Bin - do so now.

BONUS

• Turkey
• Lights Over Paris: Crack the Code - very curious bit of possible satire. Real or not, a lot of money was spent.
• Guitar Mouth - I was torn on if this guy was impressive or douche-y.. I think it's both.

Have a great weekend.

If you hadn't noticed it's that Halloween time of year again. For the past four years I've put out a compilation of music that, I felt, sort of embraced the spirit of the season. Each year it gets a little harder to put them together because I try my best not to repeat songs from previous mixes but that's neither here nor there - the fact of the matter is I've finished the latest and hope you take the time to partake in it.

Dark Despair (Undead Trespass) is meant to evoke the feeling of Halloween - ominous, foreboding, sinister, etc. I think it does a pretty good job - so go download it and let me know what you think.

The previous mixes are also available, so be sure to snag those if you like: Crepuscular, Et Tu, Morte?, Songs for Spooks and Pure Terror.

As you embark on your weekend, please remember that if you haven't procured the new release from Shaboi - Curse Walk - you really need to do so now. It will get the gears properly turning for the forthcoming pagan celebration of Halloween.

I love Halloween music. Be it spooky sound effects, amusing songs about the season or a random song that reminds me of Halloween; I consider myself a big fan. So, with that in mind, I am extremely pleased to present my fourth release for yk records - Curse Walk by Shaboi.

The album is a quick listen but it spans a wealth of styles in that time. He manages to cover hip-hop, instrumental electronic, country ballads, traditional pop and even a nod to 1920's Radio Drama. Typically I'd think this was a bit too eclectic for it's own good but the thematic umbrella of Halloween holds it all together perfectly.

Long story short, Shaboi has created a great album of Halloween songs that every single person that encounters these words will find something enjoyable on. As always, it's a free download or a purchasable limited edition CD with artwork courtesy of Amir Raissian.

• Download Curse Walk - completely free, no strings attached. Just promise to enjoy it and pass it along.
• Buy Curse Walk - limited edition compact disc, hand printed and decorated uniquely for each purchase.

October is going to be a big month of projects for me (and, consequently, for you) and I thought it apt to start things off right with a new mix. It's been about a full month since the last one and I've compiled enough new songs worthy of listening. The traditional Halloween mix is coming down the pipe as well but I figured that could wait a little bit before it's unveiled.

Prepare for more treats as the month goes on but for the time being - go download the new mix.

If you find yourself in shortage of Halloween related tunes tonight, please allow me to fill the void with the following:

• Classic Halloween Vinyl Records on MP3 - lots of them.. and I mean lots of them.
• Shaboi - new song posted just in time for tonights activities. Go download "Undead Headcheck."
• Crepuscular - my own Halloween mix for the year. Get it while you can.
• Team Treehouse: These Things That Haunt You - 29 songs of appropriate Halloween spookage.

Happy Halloween everyone! Here are your Friday Videos - watch them above or here.. or individually:

• Francois Macre - Thriller - this is impressive to say the least. via JNon.
• Almost Transfomers - these are Halloween costumes I would like to see more of.
• Wise Words from the Saad - anytime I get a video from C Mikesell I expect it to be this weird. Once again, he delivers.
• Angelic Alien sings James Blunt - what can I say?
• Electric Stimulus To Face - if this is an emerging trend in music videos I welcome it with open arms.
• Baby Laugh-A-Lot commercial - was this intended to be cut exactly like a horror movie?
• Tug of War - Japan proves time and time again that they know how to make a compelling game show competition.
• The Monks Live in Germany - kind of hard to believe this is from 1965.

Have a great night! Watch out for Ghouls.

• Real Ad Men talk Mad Men - and apparently approve
• Charlie Rose, Charlie Kaufman, Philip Seymour Hoffman - Synecdoche, New York - note to self: watch this later.
• The Death of High Fidelity - insights and musings from Paige
• Kitsune Noir - Hellaween Mix - more Halloween mixes for you can't be a bad thing, can it?

It's that time of year again. Halloween is just around the bend and I've posted a new mix, entitled Crepuscular. It's intended as a backdrop to a spooky event - so play it while socializing with friends about the latest potion you concocted or your fleeting encounter with a lycanthropic beast.

The previous mixes are also available, so be sure to round out your Halloween playlist with Et Tu, Morte?, Songs for Spooks and Pure Terror.

For me, the musical works of Shaboi pretty much make every Halloween season just that much more enjoyable. If you're a long time reader of this blog you may remember his work "Rapsylvania `88" from previous Halloween mixes under the pseudonym Lil' Big Lil. He's got a new song called "Curse Walk" and, supposedly, even more coming down the pipe before the end of the month.

Long story short, befriend Shaboi, download the tracks below and take your Halloween enjoyment levels to a whole new level.

Chris Mikesell has the mp3 of "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" if you're hankering to take that one with you.

The Monster Parties video has some NSFW things going on. Be forewarned but it's entirely worth watching multiple times.

ADDENDUM: Halloween Jukebox - 118 songs to wrap your brain around.

Happy Halloween everyone.