The last frontier in Halloween’s fight to be the best holiday may just be the battle for recognizable songs. Your school dance DJ likely sprinkled “Monster Mash” and “Thriller” in with an array of radio staples and called it a day, but the writers of WRVU are here to assert that Halloween’s lack of musical canon is a strength, not a weakness. If you still find yourself struggling to fill your Halloweekend playlist, here are a few last minute additions to keep the party going. From fuzzed-out riffs and reminders of the end times to classic 80s hits, here’s our staff picks for this Halloween.
“Funeralopolis” – Electric Wizard
Coming off an album only made possible by the band “getting really stoned,” let your Halloweekend fun this year start with positive lyricism and a good time! Remember to Party Responsibly. — Carter
“Wolf at the Door” – Radiohead
It reminds me of a dream I had once, in which I had a lot of fur and was terrorizing Thom Yorke. For the record, I was just there to ask for a pot of sugar but it may have gotten a little out of hand. Some threats may have been made, but I think I felt righteously aggrieved about it. Liam Gallagher who lived upstairs was somewhat more obliging. — Yuxuan
“Somebody’s Watching Me” – Rockwell
Epic key solo in the middle 😛 — Sorin
“It’s Halloween” – The Shaggs
When talking about Halloween, everyone’s mind always goes to horror and gore. I find my favorite part of the holiday (minus the candy of course) to be the unbridled amount of fun and creativity I get to exercise every year on October 31st. This unabashed playfulness is on full display on the ninth track from the now iconic album from the trio of sisters, and despite its “interesting” approach to song craft, never fails to get me in the spirit. — Brennen
“Psycho Killer” – Talking Heads
The Zodiac Killer stopped writing letters in the 1970s, but maybe he didn’t disappear. Maybe just maybe he started Talking Heads, giving the band, and their spooky classic “Psycho Killer,” its edgy, slightly unsettling energy. Who knew serial killers had rhythm? — Mia Claire
“Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)” – David Bowie
Is Halloween an overrated holiday? Probably. But, this song highlights an underrated album for Bowie that truly adds to his constantly experimental style with a spooky, Halloween-friendly sound. — Jesse
“Lucretia My Reflection” – Sisters of Mercy
Dark, sexy, and full-bodied, Sisters of Mercy hit the nail on the head with this goth rock hit. Pairs nicely with “Black Magic Woman” by Fleetwood Mac and “How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths. — Caterina
“Lonely in Your Nightmare” – Duran Duran
Nothing night-marish about a classic hit from the 80’s. Something about the ambience, something about the snake that slithers throughout the cloudy, artistically interesting (?) music video. Here, Duran Duran reminds me of the dimly lit streets of my neighborhood at night, almost gentle yet persevering in my memory. — Daphney
“Right On, Frankenstein!” – Death From Above 1979
We can thank Josh Homme for convincing men of the late aughts and early 2010s that dark grit, subtle polish, and repeated mentions of ghouls and goblins were a one-way ticket to rock-radio success. The result – a lifelong association between fuzzed-out guitars and late October. Death From Above 1979’s “Right On, Frankenstein!” simply solidifies my enduring belief, with tales of grave digging, zombies, and reanimation. — Sydney