Suggested Halloween music

Now that Halloween is approaching, and now that the days are getting shorter (and the nights longer), I thought I would talk a bit about 3 of my favorite goth albums and bands..

But first, I should expound a bit -- yes, for a period of 3-4 years, during college mostly, I was an aspiring goth -- you know, wear nothing but black (or "were" nothing but black! get it?? hahaha!!!.....in a related story, I have been invited to appear on SNL this week.....but is it because that joke was funny, or because that joke was INCREDIBLY stupid??), become fascinated with death and Egyptian culture, and attempt to live a vampire lifestyle as accurately as possible (I never drank blood though -- I figured that Cherry Kool-Aid would taste better, though it lacks the nutrients of blood necessary for a healthy goth.)

The question you might have is why? Why was the WeirdWebGuy, good ol' Jeff, the harmless Web dork a dark, sinister goth?....I just answered my own question [tear]...but seriously -- that is another blog in itself....so keep reading, and stay tuned...

Anyway, here is my unofficial list of gothic classics:

(1: Fields of the Nephilim: Dawnrazor



Released in 1987, this album was FOTN's 1st full length effort. This sounds more like how gothic music originally sounded (Factoids: gothic music came from punk rock of the late 70's -- the two bands that are generally cited in founding gothic music were Bauhaus and Joy Division) -- this is guitar driven, with flanged noise all over the map, and it is danceable, more in a new-wave kind of way. The best part of the music are the vocals, which are sung with a low growl/moan, and which are very cryptic in meaning. This band is unique for somehow fusing the 80's goth sound with a spaghetti western feel...It sounds like a combination for disaster, but it actually works out quite well. Highly recommended Halloween listening: you have songs about psychopaths, suicide, and just a general feeling of despair.

(2: Black Tape For a Blue Girl: Ashes in the Brittle Air



This is a more modern type of goth music called "Darkwave"...this is not danceable music. This is basically more like depressing soundscapes with overdramatic themes and lyrics. And this album is decidedly feminine. However, how would I know this unless I listened to it? (Jeff's a girl! I knew it!)...Sorry, the insults from Middle School still inhabit my brain -- anyway, although it is definitely marketed for alternative 19-year-old girls, it IS really good music. I love the production of this album, and I have often imitated it in my own electronic music. (Yes! I make electronic music -- more on that some other time)...Basically, this album's concept concerns the trials and tribulations of a relationship, which ultimately fails at the end. This is great Halloween listening, but it's not for a party -- listen to it if you want to be alone a gloomy winter day, when it's 5:15PM, and it's already pitch black outside.

(3: Opeth: Deliverance


Not only is this a great album, but it's 17% off! (actually, it's 100% off using KaZaA -- Opeth is VERY easy to download using file-sharing programs) -- Anyway, this 2002 release is a mix of goth-metal and death metal. There's 6 tracks total, with all except for 2 being near or over 10 minutes in length. I think there might be an overall theme, but I'm not sure. I LOVE the goth metal tracks on this album -- it's not too heavy, while being very melodic and -- you guessed it -- gothic sounding, with a mix of less conventional rock instruments like piano. I remember at least one death metal track on there, called "Wreath"..and it's your average death metal song, but it's way too long (11 min. +), so after a while, the scream from the lead vocalist sounds more like a never-ending, and just plain bad cookie-monster grunt -- it actually makes me laugh at times, rather than being scared, which is the intended effect. But in summary, this is very good, up-to-date, goth music, with a heavy sound, and some nice melodic hooks..

This has been a gothic music review -- now go and illegally download these songs...Thank you.