The Halloween Playlist

For starters, we have to get the classics out of the way: Marilyn Manson's cover of "This is Halloween," Michael Jackson's "Thriller," and maybe even the original Ghostbuster's theme.

But there are some great songs that are perfectly capable of complementing the Halloween classics--even if they weren't made with Halloween in mind. Let's get started...

1. The Used - "Blood On My Hands"
So, the Used are getting a little weird. And by weird, I mean dark. And by dark, I mean creepy. And what's more Halloween than a creepy song about murdering people? Check out the video for "Blood On My Hands" below.



2. The Fashion - "Dead Boys"
In "Dead Boys," this indie-pop band sings about how they're "coming out tonight" and how they used to be "sleeping in the ground." Sounds to me like these are some ZOMBIE dead boys. Take a listen below:



3. Saves the Day - "As Your Ghost Takes Flight"
First, ghosts are scary as hell. But if that wasn't enough, Saves the Day singer Chris Conley sings, "I drink your blood and feel it dripping down my throat as it heads for my heart." Thanks Conley, you're a creep.



4. The Smashing Pumpkins - "The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning"
Ready for the best association of all time? Ok, so this rarely heard Smashing Pumpkins song was featured in the trailer for The Watchmen and NOTHING is scarier than Dr. Manhattan's giant blue penis. Nothing.



5. The Veils - "Vicious Traditions"
Another movie association. This song came in at the end of the movie Mr. Brooks, just as (spoiler alert!) Kevin Costner got his throat slit and the credits started rolling. It starts of slow with Finn Andrews crooning drowned in heavy reverb. As the drums add in over what was first only a bass and some low guitar, and the lead guitar trickles through, the song climaxes a few minutes in with Andrews belting, "Fight your way out of this one! Fight your way out of this one!" It's like being trapped in a never ending version of Goosebumps with Kevin Costner hunting you down with his gun.



6. Armor For Sleep - "Basement Ghost Singing"
The original idea behind Halloween is Dia De La Muerte, the Day of the Dead. And Armor For Sleep's second album, What To Do When You're Dead, is a guide for being dead. So really, What To Do is a guide to Halloween.



7. Band of Horses - "Is There A Ghost?"
Well, is there? If you consider a bed sheet with holes in it a ghost, then yes.



8. Bat For Lashes - "What's A Girl To Do?"
As I said on the show last night, this is probably one of the creepiest songs I've ever heard. And the video isn't much better. Check it out here (Embedding is disabled).