170 songs, albums, videos submitted for review this week
Given that tomorrow is Halloween and this weekend is Day of the Dead in Mexico, I am focusing on songs suitable for the occasions, some spooky, some happy.
The Dead Dance, single by Lady Gaga. Released alongside Tim Burton’s Wednesday season 2. Classic Gaga pop but with a spooking edge, a very sharp edge. Stream everywhere.
Dracula by Tame Impala – Psychedelic horror from the new album Deadbeat. Good music. They pulled off unsettling and earworm. Stream everywhere.
Everybody Scream, single by Florence + the Machine. New haunting track and coven-themed music video. I love F+M and this is no exception…but it is. Spooking organ music, devilish choir, and Florene’s voice in a scary set with low octaves and high-pitched screams. Wow!. Stream on Spotify and all major platforms.
Archbishop Harold Holmes by Jack White. Talking horror humor with White’s screaming guitar and very fast, very clever preacher-style lyrics. Scary on several levels. Stream on Spotify and all major platforms.
Calaverita de Azúcar (Sugar Skull) by Carlos Azucuaga. Official Day of the Dead song celebrating Mexican traditions. Children singing the praises of the sugar skulls they suck on during Dia de Muertos. Illustrates the fun of the holiday (as opposed to the horror of Halloween. It will make you smile all day. Stream on Spotify and other major platforms.
La Llorona single by Lizi Lay. Mexico’s classic story of mourning by the cantante known for soulful vocals, intricate guitar riffs, and ethereal synthesizer arrangements. This rendition of La Llorona is intensely personal, Lay’s trademark. It brings the grief of the legendary wandering mother close so you feel it. Stream on Spotify and other major platforms.
Fantasmas by HUMBE. – This viral hit is a heartfelt pop ballad that reflects on grief, longing, and the enduring power of memories after losing a loved one – the reason we put up altars on Day of the Dead. HUMBRE sings of ghosts to explore how absence and nostalgia can haunt us, ultimately celebrating those unforgettable connections. His voice soars and sways, carrying you through his memory those he loved now in Mictlán (where the dead rest and return from in Mexican tradition). Stream on Spotify and other major platforms.
Patrick O’Heffernan
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