10 Spooky Season Essentials

In my heart, spooky season starts on October 1st and ends on November 2nd with Día de los Muertos. With that in mind, next week is already the festive climax of spooky season, so I’m here to share some tracks I believe to be essential for your spooky season playlist. It was quite the challenge for me to limit the list to only ten tracks, but I eventually achieved the list.

“R.O.D.” — The opening track to the dark and dramatic Bend Sinister sonically offers a commanding aura to enter your ears. This is a twisted take on 60s surf music, with Brix’s guitar riffing being absolutely stunning. The credit of that riff is debated (Brix said it’s her in a Tweet, but Craig said it’s was him in a podcast), but nonetheless a fantastic track. Be sure to have this as the opening to your spooky season playlist, as the vibes will be transformed appropriately. As a bonus suggestion, you should listen to all of Bend Sinister.

“Goodbye Horses” — Yep, it’s the song made famous from the infamous scene in Silence of the Lambs. It provides such an atmospheric vibe where you can feel yourself floating above the horses as well. Great to slow down the pace of your environment and softly chill either alone, or with others. Maybe even do a little dance like Buffalo Bill. Thank you for such an amazing song Q Lazzarus; enjoy flying high above us. R.I.P.

“Transmission” — The intoxicating bass from Peter Hook, mechanical drumming of Stephen Morris, piercing guitar of Bernard Sumner and Ian Curtis’ gutting vocals all orchestrate one of the best post-punk songs ever. You can’t help but feel the compulsion to cavort until you are numb. There is such freedom in moving your body to the hypnotic groove of “Transmission.” You have to do what Ian Curtis screams and “dance, dance, dance.”

“Bela Lugosi’s Dead (Tomb Raider Mix)” — This mix of the goth classic completely elevates it to whole other level. The guitar’s pitch seductively stings your ears, like bat wings fluttering around your head. The bass and drums are boosted to create the optimal auditory infection for dance by any means necessary. Peter Murphy’s vocals are the final ingredient to complete the curse on your body to enjoy over nine minutes of this gothic party anthem.

“Enjoy the Silence (Hands and Feet Mix)” — What’s not to love about an extended dance mix of an already amazing dark wave dance track? There are many tracks in Depeche Mode’s discography fitting for spooky season, but this mix of “Enjoy the Silence” is the best. The haunting guitar riff, boiling sequenced bass, bombastic beat and (my favourite part) the atmospheric choir. I stand by Depeche Mode being the kings of spooky season tracks, and this song is but a taste of their status.

“Kiss Them For Me” — Just as Depeche Mode are the kings of spooky season, Siouxsie Sioux is the queen. The catalogue of Siouxsie & The Banshees contains eclectic tracks for spooky season. I mean, Juju alone could very well be THE soundtrack for spooky season. But I think something a little more salacious is needed as an essential, and “Kiss Them For Me” is perfect. You’ve got a bubbly club element fused with some sparkling guitars and shimmery electronics. The cherry on top: Siouxsie Sioux’s siren vocals.

“Frankie Teardrop” — You NEED Suicide on your playlist and it HAS to be “Frankie Teardrop.” You will be seen as the boldest person ever if you’ve got this gripping track on your playlist. Use “Frankie Teardrop” to weed out the weak and fake fans of spooky season. For the best experience with this track, make sure you turn off all the lights and turn the volume all the way up. Then just let yourself be completely drowned by the mesmerising electronics and powerful screams of Alan Vega. Forever stan Suicide!

“Blue Bell Knoll” — Cocteau Twins tracks are all about creating isolated islands, where you can let your spirit drift into peace. The title track for their 1988 album takes you to an island with icy winds, surrounded by calm waters. With those ghostly and ethereal electronics, you can feel gusts of chilly winds blow down your spine, and all while Elizabeth Fraser’s dreamy voice echoes in your head. The track builds into a sonic tornado that crashes against every bone in your body. A satisfyingly celestial track.

“Everyday (Is Halloween)” — This track from Ministry is the official anthem for Halloween. Before becoming an industrial powerhouse, Ministry started out as a synth-pop group. We have Al Jourgensen singing in a faux British accent about how they dress and act the way they do because “every day is Halloween” for them. A fun bop of an anthem for one of the best holidays during spooky season. Unless every day is Halloween for you too.

“No One Lives Forever” — If you listen to Oingo Boingo, you are based. The band was fronted by Danny Elfman (yes, composer of your favs from The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride) until their final show on Halloween night in 1995. This track comes from their amazing Dead Man’s Party, which is just an essential album to check out. Everything above is sufficient for why you need to include it to your spooky season playlist.

There you have my list of ten essential tracks needed for your spooky season playlist. Hopefully you were adding each track to your playlist as you read along. Each one has its own unique groove, which perfectly incorporates a variety of dance moods. You (and your ears) are guaranteed a memorable experience and an exciting spooky season.