Indie Halloween Music

By Contributor

October 31, 2011

We're having a playlist-heavy day. BUTTEVER, OKAY?! We couldn't NOT share this epic indie Halloween playlist from an Anonymous Sparkler! —Sparkitors

Listening to some dark-sounding Arctic Monkeys song last month, I found myself thinking, "Wouldn't it be fun to make a Halloween playlist for those indie-lovin' Sparklers?" and suddenly I couldn't wait for the end of October. So, here is a compilation of thirteen of my most favorite spooky songs, just for you guys!

"The Jeweller's Hands" by Arctic Monkeys has a definite eerie quality to its sound that makes it a necessity for any Halloween playlist.

"They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhhh!" by Sufjan Stevens. Probably has the best name in the history of all zombie-related songs.

"Wa lking with a Ghost" by Tegan and Sara is just a given.

"La Llorona" by Beirut alludes to this creepy Mexican folktale about a "weeping woman" who steals little kids. Yes, I Googled it.

"Heads Will Roll" by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs not only makes me think of the crazy Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland (costume idea!), but was also part of a really fun zombie number in Glee that always gets me in the Halloween spirit.

I think "My Pet Snakes" by Jenny and Johnny is about a relationship going wrong, but I'm also pretty sure it talks about magic and homicide and snakes eating people, so it should qualify as a Halloween song.

"Ghost" by Neutral Milk Hotel has stuff about spirits and immortality, and it has this really good "dee dee dee dee" part toward the end. So listen to it. And enjoy it. Or else. Oh, these songs are bringing out my dark side!

"Two Ghosts" by The Finches has...um... it has the word "ghosts" in its name! And no, of course I'm not just picking any song that has "ghost" in its name so I can get to thirteen tracks and be Halloween-y! How preposterous! And, yes, of course it doesn't matter that this song is folky and slightly adorable! Silly, silly people! This song is sinister and...and scary...and...and quite relevant, I'll have you know!

"Death of a Clown" by The Kinks ties together creepy circus people and death, two of the Halloween-iest things ever, so there! See, I haven't run out of good songs! Although the Kinks aren't exactly indie....*ahem* Nonetheless, I'm obviously just saving the best for last. *sighs exasperatedly* Just keep reading...

"Bullfighter Jacket " by Miniature Tigers has less of a scary and more of a fun-masks-and-dress-up kind of vibe, although the lyrics are still nice and twisted at some points (i.e., "take my skin to add to your collection"), so it fits in pretty well here, I think.

"Psycho Killer " by Cage the Elephant involves...well...a psycho killer. Although I think it's a metaphor for something.

"Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair" by Arctic Monkeys is probably the song I was listening to when I decided to make the playlist. It talks about all of these dangerous things you could do (like "go into business with a grizzly bear" and "bite the lighting and tell me how it tastes") instead of sitting down, because evidently Alex Turner has moved your chair. It's funny and creepy at the same time, which I totally love.

Halloween songs, from me to you. Listen to them. Cherish them. Now go and harass people in their homes for free candy, no matter how old you are. That's the spirit!

What's your favorite spooky indie song?