Halloween Fang Socks

posted October 20, 2019 #

you have ten days to buy and wear these socks

Friday Videos - Oct 18th, 2019

posted October 18, 2019 #

I'm doing my best to get into the Halloween mood. It's the 18th and I'm not quite feeling it yet but I suspect spending some time with the Disney Nightmare Mix will get me there. It usually does.

These videos aren't exactly Halloween themed but they will provide a moment for your brain to escape reality and just be stupid for a few minutes.

HyVee Halloween - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Each individual element here is strange but, together, it's an amazingly bizarre dichotomy.
Thirstbusters! - this Ray Parker Jr commercial is enjoyable-y cringe but the very end contains the absolute worst surprise.
Deedee Megadoodoo - the ultimate cringe. oof.
Heaven Let Your Arf Shine Down - I died.
Listermint - I didn't want to but I enjoyed it. A lot.
Contemplative Musings - sometimes /youtubehaiku delivers the goods. This week has been a good one.
Why this chair is on so many album covers - not a goofy, quick, distraction but a delightfully insightful bit of trivia from the folks at Vox.
Would I Lie to You? with Bob Mortimer's "Egg in the Bath" - the UK loves a panel show. Admittedly, they're somehow more clever and entertaining than the US counterparts. This clip is a "lengthy" 6 and a half minutes but enjoyable throughout.

Vintage Obscura Halloween Mix [2019]

posted October 18, 2019 #

The Vintage Obscura 2019 Halloween Mix is out. If you're looking for something a bit non-traditional in terms of your spooky soundtrack, this is the place to go. It's 72 minutes of songs spanning the 40's to the early 90's and sometimes it gets delightfully weird.

via Falfa.

Friday Videos - October 11th, 2019

posted October 11, 2019 #

I found myself explaining the delight of the Inspector Rex intro this week so we're getting a little Rex here in the header. That pup can catch a flying treat! How many takes were involved in this? I like to believe only one. Rex is that good.

Do yourself a favor and go listen to the new Fetching Pails track, it's on the streaming platforms now.

On to the distractions...

Aldous Harding - "Zoo Eyes" - it'll be hard for Harding to ever top the perfect weirdness of The Barrel but I'll be damned if this isn't absolutely delightful (and still quite weird).
Halloween Fright Line - why would you call this based on this commercial?!
Spooky Skeleton Hotline - okay, now I get it.
Bogline Hotline - okay, confused again.
Every time Anthony Kiedis says "California" - 2 minute endurance challenge. Pretty great.
Diabetes v. Diabetuhs - almost sing-song-y.
Nicolas Godin - "The Border" - not so much a wacky video but more of a slow burn journey with the new single from one half of AIR.

The Dead Center

posted October 8, 2019 #

The Dead Center stars Shane Caruth, Poorna Jagannathan and Jeremy Childs. It's a film that slots itself into the Horror genre but it's more of a psychological thriller type situation. It was shot here in Nashville the trailer looks great!

I'm fortunate enough to know several of the individuals involved with directing, shooting and editing of it and can confidently say it's an enjoyably tense viewing. There's a whole mythology to the story of Jeremy Childs character that is only lightly touched on in the trailer, a nice tease for the full release. Good timing for Halloween.

posted October 4, 2019 #

It happened! XENOMORPH ALIEN! Fully freehand #crochet, no pattern! He glows in the dark too!! #Alien #xenomorph #alienvspredator #cosplay #Halloween #costume https://t.co/3aolj4Gp97

Beistle Goods

posted September 30, 2019 #

Creepy Company pumps out Horror related goods year round but near Halloween time, they really double down on their collection of Beistle offerings. If you're not familiar, Beistle is a mail order catalog that's been in business for 120 years and has had offered a particularly memorable set of Halloween goods over the years. Classic you might say.

The Creepy Company set is officially licensed and does a great job of keeping that retro simplicity and color palette while updating it to more modern offerings - i.e. these perfect socks or a ghost glow lamp every child should have at their bedside.

Halloween is quickly encroaching, so now is the time to dive in deep and build that massive archive of Halloween decore you know you need.

posted September 14, 2019 #

Make Halloween Spooky Again https://t.co/sOdDUhKmcA

2018 Mouth Trumpet Christmas Album Reminder

posted December 5, 2018 #

Every year at Halloween, I remind you to listen to Shaboi as it is at its most enjoyable during that month. Along those same lines, every year I must remind you to listen to David Argyle Thacker's Mouth Trumpet Christmas Album.

There is a lot of great Christmas music out there. I've been working on a playlist myself and have a hard time putting together a reasonable edit of the songs included... But The Mouth Trumpet Christmas Album should top any list. This version of "Jingle Bells" is truly the best rendition ever recorded.

Friday Videos - Nov 9th, 2018

posted November 9, 2018 #

I skipped Friday Videos last week because I'd already posted two rounds of Halloween goods, what more did you need!? Our appetite for More Internet is insatiable. I feel it myself.

Please take some time this weekend to read this Rolling Stone article on How Garth Brooks Predicted 'A Star Is Born' mania - basically citing that his stunt with Chris Gaines some 20-years ago laid some groundwork for the breakout movie. This is all great fodder for the Garth Brooks Chris Gaines Countdown to November 2019. Gotta get ole Gaines back in the cultural zeitgeist!

I digress. Here's some videos.

Porch Hands - a horror movie trope turned adorable.
Harriet the Singing Donkey - there's a LOT of buildup but it pays off.
Vista Otters - more surprisingly and beautiful sounds from unexpected creatures.
The End: In Praise of End Credits - this is deserving of its own post but take some time to watch this Kirby Ferguson piece on the meditative benefit of movie credits.
CHAI "Neo" - I can not recall how I ran across this but CHAI is a group embracing the "cute" movement but going full-on weird with it. I love this song and video.
Taking a Year Off - I don't know John from vlogbrothers but I like this take on how difficult it is turn off the attention the Internet requests of you. It's possible to tune out but I understand it's not always easy, he articulates that well.
Orbit - A Journey Around the Earth in Real Time - "Orbit is a real time reconstruction of time lapse photography taken on board the International Space Station by NASA's Earth Science & Remote Sensing Unit." It's 93 minutes so I don't imagine you'll watch it at your desk but it's nice to have around.

DeadAir.co - The Sound Of Halloween

posted October 31, 2018 #

streaming halloween radio. via @falfa

Halloween 2018

posted October 31, 2018 #

You've already got a Halloween 2018 Playlist from last Friday but why not throw another one together that's culled from the years of making these? Not a Best Of, just a compilation.

Crypt Keeper - Crypt Jam - I am still shocked this exists.
Chordettes - Mr Sandman (breakmaster cylinder remix) - bonkers remix set to horror clips and memes; basically perfect.
Sensual Harassment - Creature Feature - another music video built from horror clips. Less modern but still enjoyable.
Simpsons Intro: Halloween Style - I was going to post this Ren & Stimpy style intro but John Kricfalusi is beyond problematic, so let's not.
Haunted Toaster - still love this lady.
Woody Woodpecker vs Death - laugh off.
Dead Man's Bones Dance - still good.
Pumpkin Dance, 10 Hour Version - bookmark it forever.

Reminder: there's also this Halloween mix from Shaboi and this Disney nightmare mix that never disappoint.

San Dimas Today: Deacon Logan, Drug Kingpin

posted October 31, 2018 #

Keeping the Halloween themed podcast episodes going! The latest from San Dimas Today explores the Personal Hell's that Bill & Ted experience in the second movie, Bogus Journey. Just as the hosts remark, I don't think I ever conceived of such a concept until seeing this movie. The Easter Bunny still unnerves me to this day.

Hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you prefer to hear such things (maybe just in that convenient embed above).

Let's Not Meet

posted October 30, 2018 #

While it's not specifically a Halloween podcast, the Let's Not Meet series is pretty spooky. Host Andrew Tate culls stories from Reddit and then transforms them into campfire style retellings. The episodes I've heard so far never delve into the gruesome or gory, it's all usually pretty contained to the unnerving, the unbelievable and the uncomfortable. All and all, great fodder for Halloween!

fan/fiction: Halloween

posted October 30, 2018 #

The latest fan/fiction w/ andrew/zach episode is all about Halloween FanFic. Did you know Michael Meyers and Jason Voorhees summer together at Camp Crystal Lake? Well, according to one story, they do. Do you know what the Most Goth Halloween Story is? You will if you listen to the episode.

The show is streaming all over - Apple, Google and even Spotify. So go listen wherever is most convenient!

Hott Minute: Halloween In Halloween

posted October 29, 2018 #

Just in time for Halloween, Hott Minute launches an extravaganza of spooky delights! They received a bizarre theme song about Halloween Safety from Miss Shelby and Leeann and are joined by their attorney, Brooks Alford to play a game of Smash, Spook or Slash in "Halloween in Halloween."

I'm biased but I think it's another hilarious episode; particularly given the subject matter is more up my alley with Halloween Classics. Do listen and, remember, it's also on Spotify now, so you've no excuse not to enjoy.

Nashville Mixtapes Halloween

posted October 27, 2018 #

Brandon never disappoints

Friday Videos - Oct 26th, 2018 (Halloween)

posted October 26, 2018 #

I suggest shirking your work responsibilities and just cruising Giphy for Halloween images. Sure, it's not a good use of your time but it's a good way to get into the holiday spirit.

It's not Halloween until next week but given that it's Friday, why not go ahead with a heavily themed playlist? No objections? Great.

It's Spooksday My Ghouls! - appropriate, given that Halloween is on a Wednesday.
Spoopy Scary Skeletons - some may say this doesn't work quite as well as the original but I disagree! It works great.
Krispy Kreme - Halloween - sure, I've shared this on previous playlists but it holds up. I'd venture to say his finest work.
Jack Stauber - Pumpkin Song - give it 20 seconds to kick in and then buckle up. Perfect.
Crypt Keeper - The Crypt Jam - from the 1992 chart topping smash Tales From The Crypt (Original Music From).
3AM Halloween - a truly terrifying experience.
Bongo Cat - okay, it's not Halloween related at all but you need to see it.

I'm actually baffled by how long some of my old playlists were. Hopefully the above is enough to satisfy!

posted October 24, 2018 #

My wife made a Halloween costume for my dog Stanley, and I’ve never been more proud of a person or an animal than I am right now. #Philly #Flyers #Gritty https://t.co/XxiWgts9wL

We Own This Town: Volume 119, Spooky Scary

posted October 22, 2018 #

In the latest edition of the WOTT Music podcast, I put together a bit of a Halloween mix. It's 10 songs of various spooky / scary bits ranging from the downright silly to downright atmospheric. If you want to hear me talk about it, here ya go:

If you'd prefer not to hear me gab about the music and just listen to some Halloween tunes, steer that browser over here.

It turned out well and I'm happy to confirm that the task of making a Halloween playlist with only Nashville area artists is very accomplishable.