Up Jumped the Devil:
The Modern Pea Pod's Halloween 2005 Mixtape

Christmas...who needs it? From Robert Johnson to Black Sabbath to the Cramps, if the last century of music history has taught us anything, it's that Halloween rocks a hell of a lot harder. And why shouldn't it? Halloween is theatrical. All that candy is bad for your health. And God probably hates it. In short, it's the essence of rock'n'roll, coming around once a year to spook us thoroughly just as the leaves are beginning to fall and the nights are beginning to lengthen. We salute this most hedonistic of holidays with our very first MPP mixtape, 23 hair-raising tracks selected by the Modern Pea Pod staff especially to creep you out. This is, of course, far from a "definitive" list of Halloween-worthy songs...but grab yourself a spare C-90, use our handy track markings, and it won't be long until a costume party mix to die for is in your sweaty little paws. "Monster Mash" free, guaranteed.

Side A

0:05 - Gravediggaz: "Diary of a Madman" (4:34)
We kick off our excursion into the dark side of pop with this choice cut from Prince Paul/Wu Tang side project Gravediggaz. Jon: "Gravediggaz was such a good project I can't believe there's not more hip-hop in this vein. Maybe the court scene that bookends the song is a little cheesy, but the descriptions of murder and exorcism are just so much fun. Also, the beat is perfect. Prince Paul should be worshipped night and day for this kind of quality."
(Available on 6 Feet Deep)

4:40 - The Who: "Hall of the Mountain King" (4:19)
Look out kids, it's Grieg in go-go boots! The Who get their Modtastic haunted-house thang on with this 1967 outtake, perfect for the Halloween party-goer who isn't afraid to bust out the Batusi. Zach: "The band's 'spooky' background gibberish is just hilarious...or on second thought, maybe that's just Moonie after a handful of uppers."
(Available on The Who Sell Out, Expanded Edition)

9:00 - Old Time Relijun: "Vampire Victim" (2:36)
As that goth kid down your street can surely attest, Halloween ain't nothin' without at least one vampire. And if anybody knows vampires, it's Arrington DeDionyso. Hell, his name even kinda sounds like an Anne Rice character's. Megan: "This song holds special creepy significance for me because in my childhood my older sister used to toment me over my fear of vampires. I spent many a night wearing turtlenecks to bed, as well as stealing my mother's garlic for fear that she would appear next to my bed wearing her fake fangs. So when Old Time Relijun sings about becoming a vampire victim, I lived through that fear for a good two years. Man, I'm glad I'm not a vampire."
(Available on Lost Light)

11:36 - Bauhaus: "Mask" (4:36)
And speaking of goth kids, here are the original goth kids with a snappy little number about every trick-or-treater's costume staple. Jon: "Bauhaus knew how to do it. Swampy drums, tape running backwards, and synth that could be so cheesy if it weren't used so well. The song would be great even if it didn't have that towering build and beautiful acoustic release."
(Available on Mask)