VINYL VIEWS: WEEK OF 10/26/20
“Hello, Boils & Ghouls! SPOOPY VINYL VIEWS is our CREEPY blog where we feature album recommendations from our “SCREAM TEAM” – SHAYNE “THE SKINWALKER” & JAXON “STILL AT LARGE”, and also from our GUEST UNDERTAKERS.
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Sandra is a research scientist, dog and lizard owner, and local Oak Parker. Music is a huge part of how Sandra makes sense of the world around her. Her picks this week all revolve around an elusive figure that’s haunted her since childhood: Lucifer, the Devil, Satan, el Diablo. What is spoopier than a red formless possibly deformed evil figure? Probably the reality of our world today. Let’s get into her first pick, by one of her favorite up and coming artists, Angelica Garcia.
Artist: Angelica Garcia
Album: Cha Cha Palace
If you have not listened to Cha Cha Palace by Angelica Garcia do yourself a favor and go on Youtube or Spotify and take a listen right now. I’ll wait…Angelica Garcia has a way of making you want to celebrate life and embrace really intense and deep-seated emotions while dancing (i.e. Karma the Knife, It Don’t Hinder Me). Lucifer Waiting is one example of this. The song talks about Lucifer waiting in the corner…that elusive figure that might just come to get you if you’re not careful. To me, this song is about being self-aware and empowering yourself, even if you’re afraid. The devil is a very prominent figure in Latino culture; you did not grow up in a Spanish household if you didn’t hear at least one story about ‘el chamuco’ that scared the crap out of you and kept you up at night as a kid (and might still keep you up as an adult). In this song, Angelica Garcia sings of the evil that is all around us. Truth be told we all have a little bit of it in us too…and if you’re not paying attention and let yourself go too far, the devil might just catch you.
Check out the track Lucifer Waiting.
Artist: Tenacious D
Album: The Pick of Destiny
Beelzeboss by Tenacious D is probably the spoopiest song about the Devil that I have ever heard. Jack Black and Kyle Gass challenge the Devil (played by Dave Grohl) to a rock off. The Devil agrees and a rock battle ensues. We’ve got metal, we’ve got killer riffs, we’ve got self-doubt, but in the end, it is about overcoming fear (the risk of being raped by the devil is very real here) and believing in yourself.
Check out the track Beelzeboss.
Artist: Rolling Stones
Album: Beggars Banquet
Finally, Sympathy for the Devil from Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones is such a classic and brings me back to the initial argument that was made that our current world is pretty horrific and has been for a very long time…There have been many articles written about the meaning of this song in that we are invited to understand the Devil and see the world from his perspective. It is very fitting for the times we are currently living in, but also serves as a reflection of the continuing fallacy that is our humanity. From the trial and death of Jesus Christ to the European wars of religion, World Wars, the killing of the Kennedys, etc. Personally, I think the Devils of our generation (the one you and I are living right now) are the 1%. However, as the song continues, we discover that the Devil is all of us, whether actively complicit or totally in denial, we perpetuate evil and enable it both by our actions and inactions. So, the moral of the story here is to believe in yourself, watch out for the devil, and don’t be afraid as we watch the world burn. Oh, and thank the gods for rock and roll!
Check out the track Sympathy for the Devil.
Artist: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Album: He’s The DJ I’m The Rapper
Think back to a time when Will Smith couldn’t buy literally anything and New Line held the cards. That improbable scenario resulted in the best of many Freddy songs. It’s still Freddy, it’s still the iconic theme, it’s still everything until it’s very much not. I’m really worried about Ready Rock’s “Girl” though. Someone should check up on her.
Check out the track Nightmare On My Street.
Artist: Aphex Twin
Album: Come To Daddy
Aphex Twin certainly plays around with “creepy” quite a bit, but here we get full horror. This video, directed by Chris Cunnigham is one of the best horror movie shorts I’ve ever seen! Personal anecdote: Years ago a girl I was courting enlisted me to help with a “Haunted Forest” attraction. I came correct, providing lighting equipment, vignette scenarios and a soundtrack including this played behind me eating her alive. It was good stuff, unfortunately, it was for a church youth group and a lot of kids ran away crying…
Check out the track Come to Daddy Back.
Artist: Type O Negative
Album: Bloody Kisses
It’s way past time for Type O Negative to get the credit they deserve. Sure they were successful and my friends were huge fans but it seems like the satire was largely missed. They were able to pull a trick so subtle and so nuanced that they can be both one of the best of the genre and Weird Al That is an incredible tightrope to walk and Type O deserves it’s spot up there with Spinal Tap & Shaun of the Dead. We know you’re faking it “again” Pete. Now is the time!
Check out the track Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All).
Artist: Alice Cooper
Album: Killer
This album is a great shock rock album, but I shouldn’t need to tell you that. While it is undeniably dark, parts of it are also fun (not the song I chose, though). This record has a very anthemic feel to it, while still having layers of darkness and grim imagery. My favorite song on this album is Dead Babies, which is an extremely grim song about neglected children. I felt there was no better time to talk about this album than the spookiest time of the year.
Check out the track Dead Babies.
Artist: This Heat
Album: Deceit
This Heat fused Post Punk, Jazz Rock, Electronic Music, Avant Garde Music, and Progressive Rock, creating a unique, creepily dark sound. Listening to this album will make it clear why I chose it. It is one of the freakiest, creepiest albums of all time (in my opinion). It is darkly minimalist at times, and it is definitely not an easy listen. The song that I feel that embodies this darkness of this album is Makeshift Swahili.
Check out the track Makeshift Swahili.
Artist: Black Widow
Album: Sacrifice
Black Widow was a prog band from England similar to Coven, who was talked about previously during these Halloween Vinyl Views. Black Widow used occult imagery in their lyrics and in their live performances. In contrast to This Heat, most of the “darkness” in Black Widow comes from the lyrical content rather than the soundscape. For example, the song Attack of the Demon, fits right in with other prog songs, but delving into the lyrics reveals a much darker side to the music.
Check out the track Attack of the Demon.
How Do I Order Music (Or Other Things)?
Val’s is now open again (safely)! Bring a face mask and we will sanitize your hands on the way in. Social distancing, of course. Val’s halla has worked hard over this quarantine period to launch its Online Store which has thousands of titles for you to choose from. We will continue to add inventory everyday, but just let us know what you are looking for! We are happy to look through our off-line inventory of over 50,000 titles to see what we have for you. Also, we place orders with our distributor every Monday which means we see them in our store by Tuesday (most of the time). We sell records (as well as turntables), CDs, cassettes, 8-tracks, DVDs and more. To get started, you can Click Here to access the Online Store, or fill out the form below to let us know what you are looking for.
What About Delivery?
Val’s is offering Curbside Pickup and No-Contact Delivery Service to customers who live within a 5-mile radius of the Oak Park Arts District. Orders can also be shipped to customers outside that radius for a flat fee of $5. Order as much as you want – still $5 shipping! Stay safe and be well!