Staff Pick's Playlist - October 2024

Currently Listening To:
1. Artless Jesus - B.F.U.
2. The Aces - The Magic
3. Poppy - they're all around us
4. Dead Allies - Backbite
5. Noah Polino - Did I Just Bust The Nut of the Summer?!

"I'm starting off my October picks with a Big Fuck You. Which is the latest release from new on the scene pop-punkers Artless Jesus. Next is The Magic by The Aces, a band I recently came across and have been obsessively diving into their shimmery indie pop discography. Up next, Poppy's latest manic masterpiece they're all around us, doing what she does best. My fourth pic is local power duo Dead Allies, coming in with Backbite. The guitars and drums in this track are menacing and groovy, and William Faucett from Spiral provides guest vocals. Love those guys. Lastly is an instrumental track by Noah Polino. You may have come across him on instagram like I did, and were blown away by the catchy pop punky riffs he comes up with. He's mesmerizing to watch. Happy Halloween everyone!"

Currently Listening To:
1. The Twilight Sad - There's a Girl in the Corner
2. Molchat Doma - Судно (Борис Рижий)
3. Twin Tribes - Fantasma
4. Casket Cassette - Into the Sun
5. The Cure - Love Song

This month’s playlist has a bit of a theme—and no, it’s not just "moody post-punk forever." I’m getting married to my best friend and the love of my life! So naturally, I’ve picked the songs that’ll be playing during the big day. Molchat Doma made the list because their album was on when I popped the question to Caitlin (romantic, right?). The rest? Well, they perfectly capture that “hauntingly beautiful Oregon wedding” vibe we’re going for. Plus, who doesn't love a bit of moody tunes to celebrate eternal love?

Currently Listening To:
1. Coffin Caddies - Skeletor Am I
2. Tiger Army - Rose of the Devil’s Guardian
3. AFI - Kill Caustic
4. Misfits - Twilight of the Dead
5. Dead Devils - Cancel the Living

I’ve always has a deep love for Horror Punk since as far back as I can remember. So here are 5 tracks, I adore, that either fit the genre straight up or skirt the lines but more than anything, fit the Halloween aesthetic nicely.

Currently Listening To:
1. Sisters of Mercy – "Valentine"
2. This Cold Night – "Black Cathedral"
3. The Raveonettes – "I Wanna Be Adored"
4. Wildermiss – "Carry Your Heart"
5. DECEITS – "Fate (Is When I'm With You)

"For October’s playlist submission, I put together a collection that really captures the emotions Tim and I are feeling as we get closer to our elopement. "Valentine" by Sisters of Mercy kicks it off with that deep, gothic intensity that stirs up feelings of love and longing—something that resonates with this moment for us. "Black Cathedral" by This Cold Night keeps that energy going, with its darkwave sound that feels haunting yet beautiful, almost like the weight of the life-changing step we’re about to take. The Raveonettes’ version of "I Wanna Be Adored" brings in this dreamy, shoegaze vibe, perfectly matching that soft but urgent desire to be loved fully, which I definitely feel thinking about Tim. Wildermiss’s "Carry Your Heart" lightens things up, bringing in more of an indie rock feel—an upbeat, hopeful song that speaks to love’s strength and how far we’ve come together. And then DECEITS with "Fate (Is When I’m With You)" wraps it all up, blending new wave with romantic lyrics that perfectly reflect the serendipity we feel leading up to October 17th. This mix of goth, indie, and post-punk really hits the mood of our relationship as we head toward this next big step together.

Currently Listening To:
1. Green Jelly - Three Little Pigs
2. Primus - Winona's Big Brown Beaver and Mr. Krinkle
3. Alice Bowie - Earache MY Eye
4. Ozzy Osbourne - Bark At The Moon
5. Frank Zappa - Cosmic Debris

I'm all over the place this month, however as it's the Halloween season, and I've been known to listen to some weird stuff from time to time, I've chosen some music I'm sure the majority of those reading might not have never heard.
If your into the strange and bizarre, you simply MUST go see the YouTube videos of these rare artists that didn't get the notoriety they justly deserved.
Who's heard of GREEN JELLY? Three little pigs is entertaining to say the very least!
If your a Primus fan, you'll appreciate the macabre mind of Les Claypool. See Winonas Big Brown Beaver for sure, but you have to check out Mr. Krinkle...I won't spoil this one...go check it out.
Creech and Chong's "Alice Bowie" performs " Earache MY Eye" ...always a laugh fest....and lastly, yes, I included two mainstream numbers by classic artists fit for the season.
Ozzy's "Bark AT The Moon, I think fits our present mindset and Frank Zappa's "Cosmik Debris" puts your head in a strange place, which so many are seeking during this season of the witch...ENJOY!

Currently Listening To:
1. The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
2. Dave Matthews Band - The Dreaming Tree
3. Billy Joel - Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
4. Andrew Bird - Manifest
5. Dire Straits - Telegraph Road

The Cure have a new album coming out in November and I haven’t been this excited about a new release in a while. The new single has been looping. They’ll probably be on next month’s list too.Dave Matthews Band was just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I’ve only seen them a couple of times but have listened to every album over and over. The greatest jam band in the world deserves to be in the Hall. Fight me! The Dreaming Tree is an all time favorite.I shot the UWF Homecoming pageant and one of the contestant’s talent portion was singing The Piano Man live. And I was in Revolver Records and there was a Billy Joel’s greatest hits vinyl in the used bin and it was marked $75. Eric said Joel is hot right now and I’m all for it. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is a rock opera. Joel’s early stuff is still outstanding.If I need to chill, which has been needed a lot this month, Andrew Bird always hits the spot.I watch a lot of reaction videos and I went through a stretch of watching Gen Z hearing Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits for the first time. That solo is magical but nothing tops Telegraph Road for me. Another incredible rock opera from the era of rock operas.

Currently Listening To:
1. Casey Dubie, Timothy Edward Carpenter - Hallow's Eve
2. Life After Youth - Beetlejuicebeetlejuicebeetlejuice
3. Attic Basement - A Werewolf
4. Mr. Kitty - XIII
5. Rosegarden Funeral Party - Another Dead Soul

This is a little collection of my favorite Halloween-ish songs. “Hallow’s eve,” “beetlejuicebeetlejuicebeetlejuice,” and “A Werewolf” have names explicitly linked to the holiday in some way, so their inclusion was only natural. The other two songs I included more so fit Halloween’s general vibes: “XIII” has a great dark-wave sound with sort of ominous voice distortion, while “Another Dead Soul” perfectly encompasses the goth/post-punk sound that I associate with Halloween’s haunting aesthetic. All the songs I chose technically fit that sort of spooky sound, but the last two songs do so the most, at least in my opinion.