Elvira's Vinyl Macabre

Found this great release of Halloween faves from Elvira over at Vinnie Rattolle's Records. Vinnie also has two more collections from the "temptress of the turntable" over there, too. "Vinyl Macabre" includes some true Halloween classics like the "Munsters theme" and "Purple People Eater" but this isn't a generic compilation by any means. There are some really obscure little ditties on this vinyl rip (or should I say R.I.P., haha!). The Shaggs' "It's Halloween" and Jim Parkers' "The Vegas Vampire" are definitely worth a listen. Of course, the whole thing is narrated by the Mistress of the Dark, herself, and no one can quite set the mood like Elvira.

1. Intro - Elvira
2. Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett
3. Haunted House - Jumpin' Gene Simmons
4. The Munsters - The Comateens
5. Horror Movies - The Bollock Brothers
6. Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley
7. It's Halloween - The Shaggs
8. End of Side One - Elvira
9. Beginning of Side Two - Elvira
10. Twilight Zone - Neil Norman & His Cosmic Organ
11. The Vegas Vampire - Jim Parker
12. Out of Limits - The Challengers
13. Horror Movies - Dickie Goodman
14. Drac's Back - Red Lipstique
15. Outro - Elvira

Download "Vinyl Macabre" @ 192

Coil - Unreleased Hellraiser Themes - Vinyl & CD Versions

I thought it would be appropriate to follow up the official Hellraiser score with this unoffical version by Coil. The Unreleased Themes for Hellraiser (subtitled The Consequences Of Raising Hell) was the fourth album that Coil released in the year 1987. The album was released on the CD, cassette and 10" vinyl. It was the proposed soundtrack to the film Hellraiser. A common misconception is that this version was deamed "too scary" to use, however in all actuality it was turned down because it was not considered commercial enough by the studio. The following quote by Cliver Barker, which was included on the album cover to the vinyl version, may have helped to perpetuate this myth: "The only group I've heard on disc whose records I've taken off because they made my bowels churn"

A-side tracks from the 10"/cassette version and all tracks from the CD version later appeared on the Unnatural History II compilation. B-side tracks from the 10"/cassette version later appeared as a single track on Unnatural History III.
This is the only release on the record label Solar Lodge, with catalog number COIL 1. The cassette version was licensed to Soleilmoon and released in 1990, with catalog number SOL 4. The cassette features a different cover than the CD and vinyl release.

10" Vinyl & Cassette Track List
Side A: "The Unreleased Themes For Hellraiser"
1. Hellraiser
2. Box Theme
3. Main Title

Side B: "Music For Commercials"
1. Airline 1
2. Liqueur
3. Perfume
4. Video Recorder
5. Airline 2
6. Natural Gas
7. Cosmetic 1
8. Cosmetic 2
9. Analgesic
10.Road Surface
11.Accident Insurance

CD Track List:
1. Hellraiser Themes
2. The Hellbound Heart
3. Box Theme
4. No New World
5. Attack of the Sennapods
6. Main Title

Download: Coil - Unreleased Hellraiser Themes (Vinyl Version) (20MB)
Download: Coil - Unreleased Hellraiser Themes (CD Version) (27MB)

Christopher Young - Hellraiser OST

In 1987, during a decade riddled with slasher movies, Clive Barker released one of the most original horror movies of the 80's. It also happened to be accompanied by one of the best horror scores of that time as well. While most horror movies were primarily using electronic synthesizers at that time, Christopher Young opted to use a full orchestra instead. Young had previously composed the score for A Nightmare on Elm Street 2", in which synths did play a major role, but he showcased his versatility to great effect with the score to Hellraiser. The use of powerful brass, sweeping strings, and menacing piano cues helped to set this score apart from others during the same era. Young's score combines magical amounts of mystery, horror and intrigue that reflects the black magic nature of the film. The evil atmosphere is laid on so thick in the music that some tracks are actually bone-chilling.

The score consists of many pieces which sound dramatically different when separated, but they all fit together like a puzzle to bring the listener hell on earth, much like the Lament Configuration itself. The first and most obvious was "Resurrection," a creepy but attractive waltz. "Seduction and Pursuit," was easily my favorite track. Clocking in at just under three minutes, it still manages to transition multiple times. It begins with what sounds like hellish carnival music, or a satanic jack-in-the-box, which gradually transitions into menacing strings before finally exploding into a climax filled with powerful percussions and horns. Young seemed to conceive his score as a whole, rather than as a series of cues to accompany scenes, and it worked that way, having a cumulative effect.

Track List:
1. Hellraiser
2. Resurrection
3. Hellbound Heart
4. The Lament Configuration
5. Reunion
6. A Quick Death
7. Seduction and Pursuit
8. In Love's Name
9. The Cenobites
10. The Rate Slice Quartet
11. Re-Resurrection
12. Uncle Frank
13. Brought On By Night
14. Another Puzzle

Download: Christopher Young - Hellraiser OST
Download Size: 59MB

Zombies ate my Network

As some of you may have already noticed, the Digital Meltd0wn social network is down at the moment. I'm sure that it isn't a problem with the host site (Ning) because all of the other networks hosted by them are still up and running. I fear that it may have been taken down due to some of the content on the network, but it is impossible for me to be sure at the moment. I have sent several e-mails to the Ning team, but I have yet to receive any type of response other than an automated e-mail informing me that "the Ning developers have received my inquiry and will address my concerns promptly". I will inform you of any news concerning the network as soon as I receive it, and should the network come back online, I will send out an e-mail to all of the members. If for some reason the network does not come back online, I will pursue other options for creating another community. I still have plans to get a domain for Digital Meltd0wn eventually, which would eliminate such problems in the future, but for the moment we can only wait.

Bernard Herrmann - Psycho: Original Film Score

UPDATE: This post was re-uploaded 11/20/2013.

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho was a film that was well ahead of it's time. Although it may be tame in comparison to modern horror films, the score by Bernard Herrmann is anything but so. It is inarguably one of most powerful scores in cinematic history. Herrmann masterfully captures the frenzied state of a psychopath commiting violent acts of murder. Both "The Bathroom" and "The Murder" are perfect examples of this, in which a "stabbing" technique with the violin is used in order to create a high-pitched shriek, which casts the listener into a frantic state of mind. Utilizing both violins and cellos to perfection, Herrmann slowly constructs an atmosphere of almost unbearable dread with ominous overtones during the buildup to such moments.

There have been several versions of this score released over the years. In 1975 Herrmann conducted the National Philharmonic Orchestra in a recreation of the score in it's entirety. However, this release would mark the first time that the music was made available from the actual soundtrack of the film. A transfer from the original master tapes, which were recorded on high quality analog equipment, was finally made available to the public after 36 long years of waiting.

Track List:
1. Prelude; The City; Marion and Sam; Temptation
2. Flight; The Patrol Car; The Car Lot; The Package; The Rainstorm
3. Hotel Room; The Window; The Parlour; The Madhouse; The Peephole
4. The Bathroom; The Murder; The Body; The Office; The Curtain; The Water; The Car; The Swamp
5. The Search; The Shadow; Phone Booth; The Porch; The Stairs; The Knife
6. The Search; The First Floor; Cabin 10; Cabin 1
7. The Hill; The Bedroom; The Toys; The Cellar; Discovery; Finale

Download: Bernard Herrmann - Psycho: Original Film Score (decryption code in comments)
Download Size: 126.6MB

The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection - Five Discs

It is time for me to pay homage to another celebrated horror writer. It would be impossible to imagine how literature, let alone fictional horror, would have evolved in the 20th century without the influence of Edgar Allan Poe. Much like H.P. Lovecraft, those who lived during Poe's time were unable to grasp the true nature of the genius he possessed, and the enormous influence that he would have on countless aspiring authors for decades to come. Ironically, during his lifetime Poe was widely regarded for his literary criticism, rather than for his contributions to literature and poetry. For those of us alive today, Poe is best remembered for his short stories and poetry. However, he is also credited for inventing the genre of detective-fiction, acknowledged as a major contributor to the emerging genre of science fiction, one of the first American short story authors, and the first well known American writer who attempted to make his living solely as a professional writer. Needless to say, Poe was a major catalyst for American literature in the 20th century, and undoubtedly for centuries to come.

Basil Rathbone

Vincent Price

It would be hard to imagine more fitting narrators for Poe's classic horror tales than Price and Rathbone, two superb, classically trained actors who became household names starring in movies of suspense and mystery. Poe's work is especially well-suited to audio, and these remastered, archival Caedmon recordings, originally released on phonograph records, showcase the two actors at their finest. Both Price and Rathbone perfectly convey the prototypical Poe narrator trying to come to grips with the horror he has experienced. In "Berenice," Price's voice sounds refined yet deeply troubled as he struggles to explain the insidious, neurotic obsession taking over his life. "The Cask of Amontillado" finds Rathbone chuckling with evil pleasure at the well-planned murder of one who has slighted him. Among the remaining featured tales are "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Raven," "Annabel Lee," "The Black Cat" and "The Pit and the Pendulum." I can't recommend this audio collection enough, especially for Poe enthusiasts.

Disc One - Basil Rathbone
1. To-
2. Alone
3. The City In The Sea
4. The Fall of the House of Usher
5. The Haunted Palace
6. The Pit and the Pendelum

Disc Two - Basil Rathbone
1. The Mask of the Red Death
2. The Tell-Tale Heart
3. The Black Cat

Disc Three - Basil Rathbone
1. The Raven
2. The Facts of the Case of M. Valdemar
3. The Cask of Amontillado
4. The Bells
5. Annabel Lee
6. Eldorado

Disc Four - Vincent Price
1. Ligeia
2. The Imp of the Perverse
3. Morella

Disc Five - Vincent Price
1. Berenice
2. The Gold Bug

Download: The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection - Disc One
Download: The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection - Disc Two
Download: The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection - Disc Three
Download: The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection - Disc Four
Download: The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection - Disc Five

Roky Erickson & The Aliens - The Evil One

As I explained in the previous "Return of the Living Dead (OST)" post, I began my excursions into the underground picking up albums by the artists on that soundtrack and this was the first Roky Erickson album that I owned. Well sort of, that is, I picked up "I Think Of Demons" first which is actually the same album as "The Evil One". The difference is in the addition of two tracks on this release, "If You Have Ghosts" and "Sputnik". So "The Evil One" is even better! The Aliens were definitely Roky's most rockin' band. Full of blistering guitar riffs, catchy hooks, and Erickson's signature lyrical style, these songs were signaled Roky's re-emergence after the 13th Floor Elevators and his stint in a mental hospital. Produced by CCR's Stu Cook, who also plays bass on two of the tracks, this was a dramatic change from the Elevators dreamy psychedelic sound. Satan, zombies, horror movies, and aliens serve as the characters in Roky's songs of this period and, mixed with the heavy rock and roll sound of the Aliens, this album is one of the progenitors of the horror-rock/goth genre. But Roky is not one to be pegged easily and his early rock influences show in songs like "I Walked With A Zombie" and the title track. The blues are also represented in songs like "Two Headed Dog" and "Don't Shake Me Lucifer". Lyrically though, there is no precedent that I know of that can explain his choice of words and subjects. Not to mention the mind-boggling way he fits them all into the chord progressions without missing a beat. I've never tried to explain this album and I'm finding it difficult. Just get it and thank me later.

Track List:
1. Two Headed Dog (Red Temple Prayer)
2. I Think Of Demons
3. Creature With The Atom Brain
4. The Wind And More
5. Don't Shake Me Lucifer
6. Bloody Hammer
7. Stand For The Fire Demon
8. Click Your Fingers Applauding The Play
9. If You Have Ghost
10. I Walked With A Zombie
11. Night Of The Vampire
12. It's A Cold Night For Alligators
13. Mine Mine Mind
14. Sputnik
15. White Faces

Download: Roky Erickson - The Evil One
Download Size: 49MB

White Zombie - Gods on Voodoo Moon/Pig Heaven/Soul Crusher/Make Them Die Slowly/God of Thunder/Children of the Grave

To say that Rob Zombie and Halloween have a rather close relationship is to say peanut butter and jelly are close bedfellows. Most recognize Rob Zombie as the director of such films as The Devil's Rejects and the disaster of a remake, Halloween. Some recognize him as a successful solo artist and boisterous front man for the industrial-metal band, White Zombie; but few know that White Zombie started out as a noise rock/punk band in New York City, whose fan base has included the likes of Thurston Moore and Kurt Cobain. Since Halloween is upon us, what could be more fitting than a pack of delicious noise rock treats?

In 1985 White Zombie recorded their first EP, Gods on Voodoo Moon. 300 copies were pressed and only 100 of those copies were sold. Clocking in at a little over fourteen minutes, this is my favorite release from the noise rock era of White Zombie.

Track List:

1. King of Souls
2. Gentleman Junkie
3. Tales From the Scarecrow Man
4. Cat's Eye Resurrection
5. Black Friday
6. Dead or Alive

Download: White Zombie-Gods on Voodoo Moon
Download Size: 12.23 MB



In May of 1986, White Zombie released the Pig Heaven EP. It was limited to 500 copies and only contained the two tracks, "Pig Heaven" and "Slaughter the Grey." It's worth the time to check out for "Pig Heaven" alone, which I consider their best track from their pure noise rock era.

Track List:

1. Pig Heaven
2. Slaughter the Grey

Download: White Zombie-Pig Heaven
Download Size: 8.01 MB



After releasing a slew of EPs, White Zombie released their first LP, Soul Crusher, to somewhat mixed opinions. It has been regarded as one of their best works and a great piece of noise rock amongst noise rock enthusiasts, yet considered their worst LP amongst the fans of the metal White Zombie.

Track List:

1. Ratmouth
2. Shack of Hate
3. Drowning the Colossus
4. Crow III
5. Die Zombie Die
6. Skin
7. Truck on Fire
8. Future Shock
9. Scum Kill
10. Diamond Ass

Download: White Zombie-Soul Crusher
Download Size: 44.15 MB




White Zombie's second LP effort would see them take a turn towards a more heavy metal sound. 1989's Make Them Die Slowly, is an interesting listen and a must have for White Zombie collectors but to me comes off as a band stuck in transition from noise rock to metal. In my opinion it is their worst LP and only the album finale track, "Godslayer," saves the album.

Track List:

1. Demon Speed
2. Disaster Blaster
3. Murderworld
4. Revenge
5. Acid Flesh
6. Power Hungry
7. Godslayer

Download: White Zombie-Make Them Die Slowly
Download Size: 46.31 MB





Before White Zombie released their signature album, La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1, they released a three track EP entitled, God of Thunder. The EP showcases White Zombie honing in their craft from the generic heavy metal style to the groove/industrial style of metal that most people expect from them. The highlight of the EP is the cover of Kiss' "God of Thunder."

Track List:

1. God of Thunder
2. Love Razor
3. Disaster Blaster II

Download: White Zombie-God of Thunder
Download Size: 17.23 MB





Finally, I'm adding a track from the Nativity in Black: Black Sabbath tribute album. White Zombie does a fine job covering the Black Sabbath classic, "Children of the Grave."

Track List:

1. Children of the Grave

Download: White Zombie- Children of the Grave
Download Size: 7.64 MB

Conspicuous by its absence is White Zombie's 1987 EP, Psycho-Head Blowout. I only have this release in cassette form and when I broke up the tracks for upload I left some tracks joined together; thus it is broken up into three tracks instead of seven. If you are still interested, leave a comment and I will upload it anyways. Enjoy!

Wojciech Kilar - Bram Stoker's Dracula OST

This is hands down, one of the best soundtracks to a horror movie ever penned. Wojciech Kilar has a very special and rare ability to use an instrument to grand effect, he knows how to use an instrument emotionally a great example of this can be heard on "Love Remembered" where he manages to create an emotional state with the bare help of a simple flute. Its very rare for a composer to capture the very essence of the instrument itself, and what's even more rare is how he manages to compile an album filled with various emotions like: sadness, loneliness, love, and lust.

It's very obvious what Wojciech Kilar tried to accomplish with this score, the wanted to make a soundtrack that is capable of adapting every kind of emotion from the aggressive, yet gentle "Vampire Hunters" to the heart drenching pain of "Love Eternal." It is very rare for a composer to capture the very heart of a movie or a play, but that is not the case with this soundtrack. The music here mirrors the movie in such a way that it leaves nothing to be desired. Wojciech Kilar manages to capture and explore the Dracula theme to the fullest.

Track List:
1. The Beginning
2. Vampire Hunters
3. Mina's Photo
4. Lucy's Party
5. The Brides
6. The Storm
7. Love Remembered
8. The Hunt Builds
9. The Hunters Prelude
10. The Green Mist
11. Mina Dracula
12. The Ring Of Fire
13. Love Eternal
14. Ascension
15. End Credits
16. Love Song For A Vampire

Download: Bram Stoker's Dracula OST
Download Size: 125MB

VA - Return of the Living Dead: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Special Edition)

The soundtrack that started it all, for me at least. This is the album that, when I was twelve years old, introduced me to underground music. This soundtrack served as a sort of jump off point for me and I began purchasing albums by each of the artists included here. Chock full of awesomeness galore, this is definitely one of the best soundtracks ever put out there. It includes The Cramps, Flesheaters, TSOL, Roky Erickson, The Damned and even more! Plus they are all doing original songs written for the movie (with the exception of Roky's "Burn The Flames"). >Return of the Living Dead was an almost instant cult classic for its blend of humor and gore in homage to the greatest of zombie films, >Night of the Living Dead. If you haven't seen it then now would be a great time! The version of the soundtrack that I've uploaded for your listening pleasure is a special treat for Halloween. This is the rare version featuring dialogue from the film in between tracks and the original score music. To my knowledge, it was only released on the picture disc, which I am lucky enough to own, though I found this out there on the interwebs. The whole record is great but my personal faves are The Cramps "Surfin' Dead", 45 Grave's special "zombie version" of "Partytime", and The Damned's "Dead Beat Dance". All of these are unavailable elsewhere and are great tunes from some of the greatest bands of the era. So get your pointy little witch shoes on and prepare to shake what your monster gave ya!

Track List:
1. They Don't Leak (Film Dialogue)
2. Hideous Ugly Place (Film Dialogue)
3. The Cramps - Surfin' Dead
4. Like This Job? (Film Dialogue)
5. 45 Grave - Partytime (Zombie Version)
6. It Worked In The Movie (Film Dialogue)
7. T.S.O.L. - Nothing For You
8. It's A Way Of Life (Film Dialogue)
9. The Flesheaters - Eyes Without A Face
10. You're Not Alive (Film Dialogue)
11. Roky Erickson - Burn The Flames
12. Rigermortus (Film Dialogue)
13. The Damned - Dead Beat Dance
14. Send More Paramedics (Film Dialogue)
15. Tall Boys - Take A Walk
16. Swallowed Up (Film Dialogue)
17. The Black Berries - Love Under Will
18. Trash's Fantasy (Film Dialogue)
19. SSQ - Trash's Theme
20. Let Me Eat Your Brains (Film Dialogue)
21. SSQ - Tonight (we'll Make Love Until We Die)
22. Contingency Plan (Film Dialogue)
23. Francis Haines - The Trioxin Theme (Main Title)

Download: The Return of the Living Dead: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Download Size: 53MB

Ennio Morricone - The Thing: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1982 - 320kbps)

Update 10/31/2010: I regularly check my site statistics to try and get a better feel for which posts are the most popular on the blog. I noticed that I was received a lot of traffic coming from people searching google for "The Thing OST". I decided to check my download statistics also, and was surprised that this is the second most downloaded album on the entire blog. I wanted to update this post because I realized that I had posted a 128kbps MP3 version, which was all I had available at the time. Since then I have managed to acquire a version of this in a much higher bitrate of 320kbps MP3, and have replaced the old download link with the higher quality version. I am also in the process of uploading a few different bootleg versions of the soundtrack and score. Once they are complete I will update this post once again and add the link to each of those bootlegs to this post.

Considering the recent Lovecraft related albums we have posted here, it is very fitting that I post this album, but the obvious connection didn't dawn on me until after I had already uploaded the album. For those who are not aware, The Thing is an obvious tribute to H.P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness". However, I chose to share this album simply because it is one of the best soundtracks to a horror movie period, not because it draws it's inspiration from a Lovecraft tale. The music composed by Ennio Morricone is similar in composition to John Carpenter's score for Halloween. There is a consistent atmosphere of impending doom throughout, yet there is an absence of loud outbursts from the orchestra that one might normally find in horror music, which helps to maintain a sense of dread, making this one of the more memorable horror soundtracks in existence. This was originally released on vinyl by MCA Records in 1982, and then rereleased by Verese Sarabande nearly 10 years later on CD. It has long been out of print and is currently unavailable for purchase.

Year of Release: 1982
Label: Varese Sarabande
Genres: Soundtrack/Score, Horror
Bitrate: 320kbps

Track List:
1. Humanity (Part I)
2. Shape
3. Contamination
4. Bestiality
5. Solitude
6. Eternity
7. Wait
8. Humanity (Part II)
9. Sterilization
10. Despair
11. Humanity (Movie Version)

Download: Ennio Morricone - The Thing: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Download Size: 111MB

Current 93 with Thomas Ligotti - In a Foreign Town, in a Foreign Land

Year of Release: 1997
Label: Durtro
Genre: Soundtrack

In a foreign town, in a foreign land by Thomas Ligotti is a collection of four short stories in the fantastical horror vein of Lovecraft: "His shadow shall rise to a higher house", "The bells will sound forever", "A soft voice whispers nothing", and "When you hear the singing, you will know it is time". The book is dedicated to Stephen Stapleton of the British surrealist/cut-up band Nurse With Wound, and is accompanied by a CD of music by David Tibet of Current 93, which is the suggested appropriate aural ambience for reading the stories. For your listening pleasure, I present this wonderfully dark soundtrack by Current 93.

Christoph Heemann
Steven Stapleton
David Tibet
David Kenny (guitar)
Jem Noble (tuba)
Andria Degens (vocals)
Shirley Collins (vocals)

Track List
1. His Shadows Shall Rise To A Higher Place (17:52)
2. The Bells Shall Sound Forever (14:25)
3. A Soft Voice Whispers Nothing (11:25)
4. When You Hear the Singing, You Will Know It Is Time (15:13)
Please listen to at low volume, at dusk, whilst reading In A Foreign Town, In A Foreign Land

Download: In a Foreign town, in a Foreign Land
Download size: 50 MB (zip file)

note: re-uploaded the files with all of the tracks tagged.

Samhain - Initium

Marking the beginning of Glenn Danzig's transition from punk frontman of the Misfits to master of metal in Danzig, Samhain is most often overlooked by the casual listeners and, not surprisingly, often the most revered incarnations by hardcore Danzig fans and loyal followers.

This 1984 debut is, simply put, astoundingly good. Hard and fast as hell, yet much more focused than the Misfits last gasp, Earth A.D./Wolf's Blood, Initium largely abandons the "fun" of the former Misfits lyrics and sing-along song stylings for a deeper, darker sound. The record doesn't take itself too seriously, though, with such tracks as "All Murder, All Guts, All Fun" and an updated "Horror Biz" constantly reminding the listener that the Misfits weren't that far behind. Ever the definition of an individual, though, Danzig pioneered new territority with this record, maintaining a "signature sound," yet without repeating himself. He may not have singlehandedly created this genre (though he seems to have birthed it around the same time along with Slayer), but for a few short years he certainly made it his own.

Initium serves as not only an incredible stepping stone between groups, but more importantly as one of the finest albums to emerge from the punk/metal scene in the early 80s. (Year of Release: 1984)


Track List:
1. Initium/Samhain
2. Black Dream
3. All Murder, All Guts, All Fun
4. Macabre
5. He-Who-Can-Not-Be-Named
6. Horror Biz
7. Shift
8. Howl Archangel
9. Archangel

Download: Samhain - Initium
Download Size: 46.9MB

The Misfits - Black Christmas & The Perfect Crime 7"

Personally, since I was about about 13 years old, no Halloween has been complete without rockin' out to The Misfits. As anyone who is a fan knows, though, most bootleg live shows from the early years are less than perfect. They usually feature the worst sound quality possible and sometimes even worse performances complete with out of tune guitars and sparse lyrics (due to Danzig concentrating on the show rather than the song). That's why I've selected these two "releases" to share for the Great Halloween Countdown here on Digital Meltd0wn.

The first is called "Black Christmas" and was recorded somewhere in New Jersey, probably around the time that "Walk Among Us" was set to come out. Surprisingly, the band is pretty tight here even there there are moments where the guitars get out of tune. Sound quality is decent and the show is fucking amazing! Also, you can't beat the onstage banter including, incidentally, such quotes as "Fucking guitars...they don't make 'em like they used to". The set list of 13 songs includes a few from "Walk Among Us" but is mostly dominated by earlier tunes that somehow keep their melodies amongst the chaos of the show. The version of "Teenagers From Mars" even features a vindictive lyric change in order to diss Bobby Steele, who had recently left the band as the guitarist to be replaced by Doyle. After subjecting myself to years of these live boots, this one stands out as one of the best from that era and I it's suitable for all your Halloween mischief needs.

Tracks:
1. Halloween
2. 20 Eyes
3. I Turned Into A Martian
4. Horror Business
5. Vampira
6. Mommy, Can I Go Out And Kill Tonight?
7. London Dungeon
8. Attitude
9. Teenagers From Mars
10. Night Of The Living Dead
11. All Hell Breaks Loose
12. Hatebreeders
13. Bullet

Download "Black Christmas"

The second jewel of Misfits bootleg-land here is, quite possibly, the best one I've come across. "The Perfect Crime" is a three song 7-inch recorded live in 1979 and, I believe, features the aforementioned Bobby Steele on guitar. Sound quality is a little less great than "Black Christmas" but the band is much tighter and the songs retain the feel of the official recordings even better.

Tracks:
1. Horror Business
2. Teenagers From Mars
3. Children In Heat

Download "The Perfect Crime"

H.P. Lovecraft Audiobooks Part 3

This is the last installment of the H.P. Lovecraft audio books posts. I have included a special bonus that I'm sure Lovecraft enthusiasts will enjoy. It is a special on Lovecraft, titled "Weird Tales - The Strange Life of H.P. Lovecraft", that aired on BBC Radio in 2006. In this broadcast Geoff Ward examines the life of Lovecraft and the role that he played in contemporary horror fiction. It features appearances by Neil Gaiman and other notable sci-fi and horror authors.

Download:

The Call of Cthulu
The Statement of Randolph Carter
Jeffrey Combs Reads H.P. Lovecraft's Herbert West Re-Animator

Download:
BBC Radio: Weird Tales - The Strange Life of H.P. Lovecraft

Zacherle - Dinner With Drac!

I've been asked to return here and guest blog for the Halloween festivities. I'd like to start off with a personal favorite of mine. This album is called "Dinner With Drac" and it's from legendary horror host John Zacherle (better known simply as Zacherle). Released in 1958 at the apex of the "horror kid" generation, this is probably Zacherle's most popular and sought after novelty lp. There are some real classics on here! Along with the title track we've got "Happy Halloween", a weird re-telling of "Little Red Riding Hood", and my personal favorite "Pistol Stomp". The music is a sort of surf/rock/jazz combination perfect to get your Halloween groove on. There's even a cover of "Let's Twist Again" complete with gruesome lyric changes!

Tracks:

1. Dinner With Drac
2. Come With Me To Transylvania
3. Pistol Stomp
4. Ghoul View Commercial
5. Dummy Doll
6. Happy Halloween
7. Let's Twist Again
8. I Was A Teenage Caveman
9. Hello Dolly
10. A Tisket A Casket
11. Surfboard 109
12. Coolest Little Monster
13. Clementine
14. Hurry Bury Baby
15. Zacherle For President
16. Little Red Riding Hood
17. Limb From Limbo Rock
18. The Spider And The Fly
19. A Wicket Thought
20. Igor
21. Spiderman Lullabye

Download "Dinner With Drac" @192

H.P. Lovecraft - Audio Books Part 2

Following up my previous post, here are a few more H.P. Lovecraft audio books. Below the audio book links, I have also linked to a site which features the bulk of Lovecraft's published material in e-book form. Although it boasts the title of "The Complete Works", this is far from a complete collection of HPL's output. For those new to Lovecraftian literature, as I starting point, I would recommend reading At the Mountains of Madness, The Colour of out Space, Dagon, The Tomb, The Shadow Out Of Time, Pickman's Model, and The Music of Erich Zann. The majority of Lovecraft's work is in short story form, and it can easily be read in one sitting.

Download:
The Beast In The Cave
The Cats of Ulthar
The Doom That Came To Sarnath

Dagonbytes: The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft:
http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/

H.P. Lovecraft - Audio Books Part 1

Some of you may already know that I have a strong fascination with the writing of H.P. Lovecraft. He has been my favorite author of mine since a close friend introduced me to his work a several years back. During his lifetime the majority of Lovecraft's work was published in small pulp magazines, primarily Weird Tales. At the time of his death he was only well known by a small circle of fans and fellow writers. Unfortunately, he died without a heir and the bulk of his work wasn't renewed for copyright. Fortunately for us, August Derleth and Donald Wandrei were able to recognize the work of a genius when they saw it, and they started the publishing house, Arkham House, in order to keep his work in circulation. Since that time Lovecraft has gained a cult following, and like Poe before him, has managed to directly or indirectly influence almost every writer of horror or science-fiction since.

Recently I was fortunate enough to stumble across a few of his audio books. I can think of few authors that would be more fitting for the Halloween season. If you are unfamiliar with his work, and have the slightest interest in science-fiction or horror fiction, then you should do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with Mr. Lovecraft. Although these audio books don't do his writing proper justice, they would serve as a good starting point for those who don't have much time on their hands to read.

Download:
At The Mountains of Madness
The Outsider
The Picture In The House
The Thing On The Doorstep

The Coffin Daggers - The Coffin Daggers EP

Year of Release: 2005
Label: Urko Records
Genre: Instrumental, Surf

The Coffin Daggers are a phenomenal four piece surf instrumental act with a big, big sound and a really dark feel, with plenty of creepy reverb-laden guitar and organ.
Their sound is crisp, clear and perfect.
These in your face horror hits may be
just what your Halloween '08 party mix is missing.

The Coffin Daggers are on tour!
Buy their albums!

Track List
1.Coffin Dagger
2.Parasite
3.Shark Attack
4.Cat's Eyes
5.Monsters From The ID
6.Caravan



Download: The Coffin Daggers EP
Download size: 31 MB zip file

45 Grave - Sleep In Safety

This album was originally posted on Nitegaunt Media, an upcoming Death Rock blog, however the track Riboflavin was missing. I've included it, and excluded the extra tracks that were originally added to make up for it's absence. If you enjoy this album be sure to stop by Nitegaunt Media and leave a comment.


If there is one band that brought the horror rock of Screaming Lord Sutch and Alice Cooper into the punk rock era that band had to be 45 Grave. Composed of member of various late seventies punk bands like The Germs and Vox Pop, 45 Grave melded punk, psychedelic, and hokey Monster Mash style rock into one fierce conglomeration. With Dinah Cancer's distinct seething and screaming and Paul Cutler's intricate guitar work they were a force to be reckoned with in the L.A. punk scene. They were also one of the first death rock bands I was introduced to when the Return Of The Living Dead soundtrack came out. I immediately fell in love and amongst our little southern scene their records were much sought after. Following Enigma Records demise it became almost impossible to find "Sleep In Safety" and their other albums. My vinyl copy was given to me by a friend about ten years ago and I ended up getting it signed by Dinah when I went to see the "reunion" show in Atlanta a couple of years back. She was the only founding member there (Rikk Agnew from Christian Death was supposed to be on guitar but didn't show) but it was still nice to hear those songs live and see her sing them. She was also a very nice and gracious person to meet. Anyway, this is their finest and most together album and it's a pleasure to bring it to you. Oops, I'm actually missing one song so I made it up by adding four live tracks at the end. The missing song is Riboflavin and if I find it I'll repost.
- Psyche Zenobia

(Year of Release: 1983)

Track List:
1. Insurance From God
2. Evil
3. Party Time
4. Violent World
5. Slice O'Life
6. Phantoms
7. Dream Hits II
8. Bad Love
9. Surf Bat
10. Riboflavin
11. Procession
12. 45 Grave
13. School's Out
14. Party Time (Single Version)

Download: 45 Grave - Sleep In Safety (70MB)

Night of the Living Dead: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1968)

I was originally planning on posting this closer to Halloween, but I just couldn't wait. I wish I could remember who originally uploaded this, but it escapes me at the present time. However I included the information that came with the album in order to give some credit where it is due. If you are a fan of horror soundtracks, or just soundtracks in general, then this is essential for your collection. The atmosphere of this soundtrack is one of impending doom, as would be expected. Moments of peace and tranquility are sprinkled throughout this LP, only to be interrupted by the powerful brass section which cues the imminent arrival of zombie hordes eager for human flesh. There are also a few moments that remind me of a very bad acid trip, such as the beginning of 'Helen's Death'. My favorite thing about this soundtrack is the cuts of dialouge taken from the movie, such as the unforgettable "They're coming to get you Barbera", and the various radio broadcasts. I'll leave you with the aforementioned information that was included with this release:

"Shot on a shoe-string budget in Pittsburgh, PA, this production didn't have the luxury of hiring a composer to create a soundtrack. Instead they used library music. Library music generally consists of various soundtrack cues created by production houses to be used in movies, TV shows, commercials, whatever and pressed to vinyl. By purchasing the record itself, you are paying for the right to use any of the cues or background music in your production. Using pre-produced library music was a cost-effective way to add production value. These limited run library music LPs have become sought-after collectibles. There are several full-album music blogs online that offer rips of library music vinyl. They're well worth pursuing as the music is often quite eclectic, particularly as you enter the late-60s and early-70s.

The filmmakers for Night of the Living Dead went with cues from Capital Hi-Q 1950's Production Music Library. In 1982, Varèse Sarabande compiled the various cues used, added some dialogue bits and released it as an LP soundtrack. This has never seen an official CD release. I grabbed this excellent vinyl rip off Usenet years ago. Unfortunately, I didn't keep track of who did the rip (or they didn't say), but I did place the following info in the "Encoder" tag: Vinyl Rip - Sound Forge 5 w/Vinyl Restoration - Lame 3.88. The original poster went a little overboard encoding these single-channel mono MP3 files at 192kbps, but I appreciate the desire to keep the quality as high as possible."

Year of Release: 1968 (Original) | 1982 (Re-Release)
Label: Varèse Sarabande
Genre: Soundtrack, Classical
Bitrate: 192kbps

Track List:
1. Driveway to the Cemetary (Main Title)
2. At the Gravesite / Flight / Refuge
3. Farmhouse / First Approach
4. Ghoulash (JR's Demise)
5. Boarding Up
6. First Radio Report / Torch on the Porch
7. Boarding Up 2 / Discovery: Gun 'n Ammo
8. Cleaning House
9. First Advance
10. Discovery of TV / Preparing to Escape / Tom and Judy
11. Attempted Escape
12. Truck on Fire / Ben Attacks Harry / Leg of Leg
13. Beat 'Em or Burn 'Em / Final Advance
14. Helen's Death / Dawn / Posse in the Fields / Ben Awakes
15. OK Vince / Funeral Pyre (End Title)

Download: Night of the Living Dead: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Download Size: 53MB

The Best of Godzilla 1954-1975: Original Movie Soundtracks

Perhaps the most underrated element of Kaiju Eiga (the Japanese term for the prolific, internationally successful monster genre spawned by Godzilla) is its earnest, nightmarish music. The Toho Studios series' cheese-factor may have waxed and waned (mostly the former) in ensuing years, but its music maintained a remarkably even keel. The dark, often minimalist efforts of original composer Akira Ifukube set the tone, coloring much of the toy-city stomping with ominous, nerve-wracking cues.

This is a great collection of old soundtrack tunes and monster sound effects from the various Godzilla movies during the 1954-75 era. The best parts of this compilation are the first half. The earliest Godzilla music is a bit lo-fi, circa 1954, but the compositions can often be considered classic, and are quickly recognizable. The tracks "Godzilla Comes Ashore" and "Godzilla's Rampage" are two of the most menacing pieces that I have ever heard. They create an atmosphere of certain doom in their slow dramatic buildup. These earliest songs are written so well that they overcome the primitive recording techniques and are very enjoyable anyway. Since the songs are in chronological order matching the release dates of each film, the lo-fi recording quality only last for the first 10 minutes. By the time we get to Godzilla vs. Mothra, (including the priceless singing by the tiny twin girls), the recording quality seems perfectly normal.

The second half of the CD leaves behind the grand themes and monumentally moody atmosphere, and the later music starts to reflect the swinging 60's, Playboy mansion-type atmosphere that is kind of cheesy for trying to be so hip and contemporary. Some of it sort of sounds like the cocktail retro surf sounds that were en vogue in the late 1990's, except these tunes are actually from the authentic era of the 1960's, so it's this crazy Japanese version of trying to mimic American surf and cocktail music. Beautifully campy!

The editors of this CD did a very good job of collecting the best choices from each film, and not repeating basic melody themes too often, unless the theme has been significantly rearranged using different sounding musical instruments. So even though Godzilla films all contain the Godzilla theme song, this CD spreads it out so it isn't too redundant, but rather interesting to hear the different arrangement from many years apart in recording dates.

Track List:
1. Godzilla 1954 - Footsteps FX
2. Godzilla 1954 - Main Title
3. Godzilla 1954 - Ootojima Temple Festival
4. Godzilla 1954 - Japanese Army March
5. Godzilla 1954 - Godzilla Comes Ashore
6. Godzilla 1954 - Godzilla's Rampage
7. Godzilla 1954 - Ending
8. Godzilla Raids Again - Main TitleMasaru Satoh1:24
9. King Kong Vs. Godzilla - Helicopter/Man Screams/SOS FX
10. King Kong Vs. Godzilla - Main Title
11. King Kong Vs. Godzilla - King Kong Roars FX
12. King Kong Vs. Godzilla - Planning King Kong's Transport
13. Mothra - Mothra's Song
14. Mothra Vs. Godzilla - Mothra FX
15. Mothra Vs. Godzilla - Main Title
16. Mothra Vs. Godzilla - Sacred Springs
17. Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster - Main Title/Monsters Appear In Yokohama
18. Invasion of the Astro-Monster - UFO Approaches/Monsters Fight FX/Monster Battle March
19. Son of Godzilla - Main Title
20. Son of Godzilla - Godzilla Vs. Kumonga
21. Son of Godzilla - Ending
22. Destroy All Monsters - Godzilla FX / Toho Mark / Main Title
23. Destroy All Monsters - Title Credits
24. Destroy All Monsters - Four Monsters Attack Tokyo
25. Destroy All Monsters - Destroying The Remote Control
26. Destroy All Monsters - Showdown On Mt. Fuji
27. Destroy All Monsters - Ending
28. Monsters Attack - Cute Kid Theme / Monsters Fight
29. Godzilla Vs. Hedorah - Godzilla's Fight
30. Godzilla Vs. Gigan - Main Title
31. Godzilla Vs. Gigan - Main Title Repeat
32. Godzilla Vs. Gigan - Godzilla March (Record Version)
33. Godzilla Vs. Megalon - Jet Jaguar / Megalon FX
34. Godzilla Vs. Megalon - Main Title
35. Godzilla Vs. Megalon - Godzilla Of Monster Island
36. Godzilla Vs. MechaGodzilla - MechaGodzilla FX
37. Godzilla Vs. MechaGodzilla - Godzilla Vs. Anguiras
38. Godzilla Vs. MechaGodzilla - Miyarabi's Prayer
39. Terror of MechaGodzilla - Main Title
40. Terror of MechaGodzilla - MechaGodzilla II
41. Terror of MechaGodzilla - Godzilla's Entrance
42. Terror of MechaGodzilla - Ending
43. Theme From Godzilla

Download: The Best of Godzilla 1954-1975 (113.9MB)

Mary Shelley Overdrive - Bride Of Shock Theatre

Year of Release: 2008
Label: Rigorous Mortis Records
Influences: Glenn Danzig, Blue Oyster Cult, The Stooges, Black Flag, Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, The Wylde Ratttz, Nirvana, Nick Cave, Devo, The Cars, Blondie, Johnny Cash, Maxwell Demon, MC Chris, Soundgarden, Blind Melon, Juliette and the Licks, Sonic Youth, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, ,The Ramones, The White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, The Cure, The Flaming Lips, T. Rex, Rasputina, Hank Williams Sr.

Give them a listen at the band's myspace...

I can't help but notice how many blogs have joined in the countdown to Halloween, many committing to a post a day until.
While I don't personally have the time required to commit to such a posting schedule, I will attempt to share a few Halloween related treats this month.

Mary Shelley Overdrive, one of my recent fave indie bands, has this week released their Bride Of Shock Theatre EP as a free download. Hooray!
"it’s a collection original compositions peppered with covers of tunes by Blue Oyster Cult, New Math and Bauhaus. It’s got a rushed, impromptu sound that I like", said singer Mark Wood. "It sounds very ‘live.’ We didn’t do many takes or spend much time obsessing over details."
Folks, this album rocks. Plain and simple. I highly suggest you give it a listen, and head over to their Website and download the rest of their stuff.

1. Godzilla
2. They Walk Among You
3. The Lament Of Janos Skorzeny
4. Bela Lugosi' Dead
5. The Monster Demands A Mate
6. Zombie Toolshed
7. Idiot Control


Download: Mary Shelley Overdrive - the bride of shock theatre
Download size: 34.08 MB zip

Asian Dub Foundation - Enemy of the Enemy

"Their music can best be described as a a cocktail of traditional Indian and Asian music, electro, reggae, dub, hip-hop, along with a dash of punk rock."Asian Dub Foundation formed in 1993 as an outgrowth of the documentary Identical Beat, a film shot at London's Farringdon Community Music House, the site of a series of summer workshops designed to teach Asian children the essentials of music technology. In charge of the workshops were tutor Aniruddha Das and youth worker John Pandit, also a noted DJ; with one of their students, a 14-year-old Bengali rapper named Deeder Zaman, they soon formed a sound system which they called the Asian Dub Foundation. Their music can best be described as a a cocktail of traditional Indian and Asian music, electro, reggae, dub, hip-hop, along with a dash of punk rock.

After each adopted an alias — bassist/tabla player Das became Dr. Das, Pandit became Pandit G, and Zaman became Master D — they gradually evolved into a working band with the 1994 addition of former Higher Intelligence Agency and Atom Spies guitarist Steve Chandra Savale, an innovative performer known for tuning his strings to one note (like a sitar), turning up the distortion unit and playing his instrument with a knife, earning him the nickname "Chandrasonic." Emerging in the midst of considerable anti-Asian violence throughout Britain, the Foundation's early demos landed them a contract with Nation Records, and they recorded their debut EP Conscious in 1994. Deeder Zaman left the band after playing his last concert on New Year's Eve 2000, and the band expanded to include Pritphal Rajput (dhol, tabla), Rocky Singh (drums), MC Spex (vocals) and Akhtarvator (vocals).

Enemy of the Enemy was released in 2003, and it would eventually become ADF's best selling album to date. It featured the track "Fortress Europe", made famous by it's inclusion on the video game Need For Speed: Underground. Enemy of the Enemy also marked the first time that noted musicians collaborated with ADF. Sinéad O'Connor makes a guest appearance on the track "1000 Mirrors", a haunting song about a women serving life in prison for killing her abusive husband. Radiohead's Ed O'Brien also appeared on three tracks (1000 Mirrors, Blowback, and Enemy of the Enemy). Due to the revolving door lineup of ADF, each new album they release tends to be different from the last, but this album would mark a significent point in ADF's history because of the departure of Master D. Lyrically the album doesn't compare to previous albums such as the award winning Rafi's Revenge, or Community Music, however they seem to have perfected their blend of dub basslines, jungle loops, and sitar-influenced rock guitars on this album.

Year of Release: 2003
Label EMI
Genre: World Fusion, Reggae, Dub, Hip-Hop
Bitrate: 128kbps

Track List:
1. Fortress Europe
2. Rise To The Challenge
3. La Haine
4. 1000 Mirrors
5. 19 Rebellions
6. Blowback
7. 2 Face
8. Power To The Small Massive
9. Dhol Rinse
10. Basta
11. Cyberabad
12. Enemy of the Enemy

Download: Asian Dub Foundation - Enemy of the Enemy
Download Size: 48MB

The Best Of Blaxploitation - Disc Three

Year of Release: 1998
Label: Global TV
Genre: Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Funk

The third and final disc in the series, best of Blaxploition, features several great instrumental tracks form the likes of Pee Wee Ellis, Ike and Tina Turner covering a Stevie Wonder tune and a great live track from Curtis Mayfield. I hope you have enjoyed this collection of cinematic soul and funk classics as much as I do. For more great funk and soul hits like these, check out Blaxploitation Pride. Not only does this blog contain an exhaustive collection of Blaxploitation soundtracks, but also a groovy companion radio station on Last.FM. I highly recommend checking it out, dig?

Ain't nothin' going on but a funky song...

1 The Last Poets - When The Revolution Comes
2 Gil Scott-Heron with Brian Jackson - The Bottle
3 Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up (live)
4 Sir Joe Quaterman & Free Soul - (I've Got) So Much Trouble On My Mind
5 The Whatnauts - Why Can't People Be Colors Too?
6 Ripple - A Funky Song
7 Mickey Murray - Mama's Got The Wagon
8 Alvin Cash - Doin' The Ali Shuffle
9 Sir Joe Quaterman & Free Soul - Give Me Back My Freedom
10 Ike & Tina Turner - Livin' For The City
11 Ohio Players - Cold, Cold World
12 Pee Wee Ellis - That Thang
13 Moody Scott - (We Gotta) Bust Out Of The Ghetto
14 Backyard Heavies - Soul Junction
15 Leroy Hutson - Cool Out


Download: The Best of Blaxploitation - Disc Three
Download size: 74 MB (zip file)

The Best of Blaxploitation - Disc Two

Year of Release: 1998
Label: Global TV
Genre: Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Funk

As promised, here is disc two of the best of Blaxploitation set.


Track List:
1. Superfly - Curtis Mayfield
2. My People... Hold On - Eddie Kendricks
3. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
4. Hercules - Aaron Neville
5. Bra - Cymande
6. Super People - The Notations
7. Thank You for Letting Me Be Myself Again - Maceo & All the King's Men
8. Brother on the Run - Johnny Pate
9. Concrete Reservation - Syl Johnson
10. It's a Cryin' Shame - The Ohio Players
11. Neighbour! Get Your Own - The Rimshots
12. (I Remember) Mr. Banks - Maceo & All the King's Men
13. Get Off - Ripple
14. Funky Miracle - The Meters
15. Yes We Can Can - Lee Dorsey

Download: The Best of Blaxploitation - Disc Two
Download size: 78 MB (zip file)

The Best Of Blaxploitation - Disc One

Year of Release: 1998
Label: Global TV
Genre: Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Funk

Blaxploitation is a film genre that began in the 1970s with films like "Shaft" and "Superfly" that featured a primarily black cast, and featured funk and soul soundtracks. Huge afros, drug dealers, pimps and hookers, dirty double-crossers, street fighters, guns and fast cars fueled the action of these magnificent crime classsics. This is only volume one of this three CD set. I will follow up with the other two volumes shortly.

Track List:
1. Boss - James Brown
2. Brothers on the Slide - Cymande
3. Jungle Boogie - Kool & the Gang
4. "T" Plays It Cool - Marvin Gaye
5. Freddie's Dead - Curtis Mayfield
6. Different Strokes - Syl Johnson
7. Sport - Lightnin' Rod
8. It's a Trip - The Last Poets
9. World We Live In - McKinley Jackson, The Politicians
10. Funky Mule - Ike Turner & His Kings of Rhythm,
11. I Gotcha - Joe Tex
12. Chocolate City - Mavis Staples
13. Moonwalk - Pee Wee Ellis
14. Tippi Toes - The Meters
15. Back Home - Brian Jackson, Gil Scott-Heron

Download: The Best of Blaxploitation - Disc One
Download size: 70 MB(zip file)

TheLastRipper - last.fm Audio Ripper

I discovered this very useful tool via lifehacker It's called TheLastRipper and basically what it does is connect to your last.fm account, and rip the streams and album art to the folder of your choice. That was enough to convince me, however this little tool is actually capable of much more than just that. You can find the full list of features below. Of course the legality of this tool is in question, which is actually acknowledge by the following disclaimer on their homepage: "Please be aware that recordings of radio streams, may NOT be legal, we recommend that you investegate your local laws, before using TheLastRipper." It will be interesting to see how long this lasts. In the meantime though, I'm sure that all you last.fm aficionados will put this tool to good use. It has proven to be a valuable tool in exploring various tags and genres on last.fm. I simply allow it to run and rip tracks overnight, and then easily explore a wide selection of songs from them the next day, while simply deleting the songs that I do not wish to keep.

Features:
Recording streams to mp3's
Organize mp3s in folders: Artist/Album/Track/
Downloads coverart
Generates playlist in M3U, SMIL, PLS
Appends ID3v2 tags
Improved clipping of songs
International characters
Support for http proxies
General exception handling dialog

Homepage: http://www.thelastripper.com
Download: http://www.thelastripper.com/download.html
File Size: 266kb

Happy Birthday - Digital Meltd0wn Turns 2

Two years ago I started this blog with no specific goal in mind other than to share music that is all too often criminally overlooked. Since that time I have been fortunate enough to share hundreds of albums here, met some amazing people, been introduced to countless artists in turn, and have had over 350,000 visitors from around the globe grace these pages. After watching many amazing blogs come and go during the last two years, I'm proud to be able to say that not only is DM still here, but it's going stronger than ever. I would like to thank all of you who visit this blog frequently, especially those of you who are considerate enough to leave comments. I would also like to thank those of you who have worked as contributors here: Psyche Zenobia, Ally, Fill, and Psycho Cat. All of you helped tremendously when I needed it the most, and your contributions here were a breath of fresh air. I would also like to thank my girlfriend, Rhiannon, for being understanding enough to put up with my obsession for music and sharing it with others. Your support and encouragement means more to me than you realize. Thank you for all the support and kind words over the last two years. Here's to many more. Cheers!

The Tape-Beatles - The Grand Delusion

I actually discovered the Tape-Beatles via Psycho Cat's last.fm profile. Due to the limited number of plays, I thought it was safe to assume that he hadn't had a chance to listen to a full album by them yet, so I hope this comes as a surprise to you Psycho. I was also surprised to discover that the Tape-Beatles, under the moniker of Public Works, sampled heavily from an obscure album titled the Conet Project, that I recently discovered thanks to Allywonderland (a former guest-blogger here). It's a small world after all...

The Tape-beatles (also known as Public Works) are a multi-media group from Iowa City that formed in December 1986. Don't let the name fool you though. This group has more in common with Negativland than the fab four. Its members include Lloyd Dunn, John Heck, Ralph Johnson and Paul Neff. Beginning with analog tape recorders, and later expanding to include digital technology and film media, the group has used collage techniques to create works that challenge the notion of intellectual property. Their works make extensive use of materials appropriated from various sources through a process they call "Plagiarism®". The Tape-beatles' body of work consists mainly of music and audio art recordings, 'expanded' and 'performed' cinema performances, videos, printed publications, as well as works in other media. They produce and release work under an umbrella organization called Public Works Productions.

In 1993 the Tape-Beatles released their third album, The Grand Delusion, still hailed as their masterpiece by those familiar with the entirety of their work. The Grand Delusion is a bitter mediation on the U.S. Persian Gulf War and the historical context that created it. It uses voice samples from a wide variety of sources, including speeches from George H. W. Bush, television news, and the occasional right-wing religious zealot. These voice samples are accompanied by collages of sampled sounds and music, which generate an overall atmosphere of uncertainty and unease. In addition to their musical evolution during this time, the group refined their presentation approach as well, distilling it down to just three 16mm projectors, used in a configuration the group named 'Polyvision', in honor of Abel Gance's pioneering movie techniques of the 1920s

Year of Release: 1993
Label: Staalplaat
Genre: Sound Collage, Plunderphonics, Experimental
Bitrate: 160kbps

Track List:
1. The American Adventure
2. Primary Delusion
3. America Is Confident
4. Lament
5. Frog Story
6. Mind Problems
7. Love
8. Home Problems
9. Behold A Republic
10. Grave Implications
11. Great Difficulties
12. Chilling
13. You Have To Participate
14. Candidate
15. Flowers For Dead Heroes
16. Thus
17. Back To The Start
18. More Difficulties
19. The Difference
20. Mother
21. Help

Download: The Tape-Beatles - The Grand Delusion
Download Size: 68MB

Vàli - Forlatt

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Foreshadow Productions
Genre: NeoFolk

This terrific piece of neofolk beauty was recently reviewed by the Rock Blogger. I have been in love with this album for some time and was very happy to see it mentioned. The rock blogger is an artist and musician also known as Damien Van Vroenhoven. I've been reading his Blog for the past few weeks, and Mr. Vroenhoven has a real way with words and produces the types of reviews that make me really envious of his writing skills and a bit disappointed in my own. I urge you to check out it out.

Here is a brief snippet of the Rock Blogger's review of Vali's "Forlatt" album..."So what makes this masterpiece such a standout? Maybe its own reluctance to being a masterpiece is key, as its soothing compositions move with calm patience, letting each arpeggio descend and cello ache organically. Nothing about this album can be called pretentious, overwrought or overwhelming, its performances hold a power that is emotionally resonant and deeply comforting."

Track List:
1. Vali - Naar Vinden Graater
2. Vali - Dypt Inne I Skogen
3. Vali - Et Ensomt Minne
4. Vali - Nordlysets Dans
5. Vali - Lengsel
6. Vali - Sorg
7. Vali - Skumringens Omfang
8. Vali - Her Ute I Moerkret
9. Vali - Taake
10. Vali - Doedens Evige Kall

Download: Vali - Forlatt
Download size: 45 MB zip file

the Fuzztones - Braindrops

"The first time was finding out what I'm all about... had to twist you're arm...third times a charm"
Year of Release: 1991
Label: Music Maniac Records
Genre: Psychedelic Rock

Braindrops is the third album by the psychedelic phenomenon, the Fuzztones. The group sets the tone for this underrated release with the upbeat "Third Time's A Charm" and continue to rock you through to the end. Believe it or not, Rudi Protrudi and a new line-up of band members in 1991 somehow managed to pull of a third album that was surprisingly good! Their version of Love's classic "7 and 7 is" is outstanding. If you liked the previous acid-drenched, psychedelic madness that is the Fuzztones, I would suggest giving this a spin. It's all there...tambourines, 60s keyboard wizardry and that psyche/surf/garage fuzz that you've come to expect. It's no "Lysergic Emanations", but then what is?
Let me know what you think.

Download: the Fuzztones - Braindrops
Download size: 55 MB zip file

The Bells Shall Sound Forever

Year of Release: 2003
Label: Sweet Farewell
Genre: Apocalyptic Folk, Compilation

TThe Bells Shall Sound Forever is a wonderful tribute to the godfathers of apocalyptic folk, Current 93. Fifteen bands contribute deeply moving renditions of some of your favorite songs on this incredible collection. Their is no attempt to merely imitate the originals here. David Tibet's masterful prose shines throughout, while retaining the individual band's styles. With such strong writing, I suppose the work of covering a song isn't nearly as hard. I didn't really expect to like this collection of covers of my favorite band, but I must say this is a really well put together effort and I highly recommend it to fans and newcomers alike. The sound quality is amazing. Below are the lyrics to "Soft Black Stars", just one of the sadly romantic tunes contained within. Enjoy.

Little children snuggle under soft black stars
And if you look into their eyes soft black stars
Deliver them from the book and the letter and the word
And let them read the silence bathed in soft black stars
Let them trace the raindrops under soft black stars
Let them follow whispers and scare away the night
Let them kiss the featherbreath of soft black stars
And let them ride their horses licked by the wind and the snow
And tip-toe into twilight where we all one day will go
Caressed with tenderness and with no fear at all
Their faces shining river gold brushed by soft black stars
And angels' wings shall soothe their cares
And all the birds shall sing at dawn
Blessed and wet with joy
You and i will meet one day
Under the night sky lit by soft black stars

Track List:
1 Sonne - Hagal The Death Of The Corn (4:31)
2 Paradis - Calling For Vanished Faces I (2:40)
3 Dorien Campbell - A Sadness Song (3:56)
4 Vequinox - Earth Covers Earth (4:28)
5 Engelsstaub - Happy Birthday Pigface Christus (3:22)
6 Cawatana - A Song For Douglas After He's Dead (4:45)
7 Storm Of Capricorn - Crowleymass (4:25)
8 Der Feuerkreiner - Soft Black Stars (4:20)
9 Well Of Sadness - The Dogun (4:06)
10 Pancreatic Aardvarks - Judas As Black Moth (4:39)
11 Leisur Hive - Immortal Bird (4:33)
12 Lisa Toulouse - Christ And The Pale Queens (Mushroom Clouds Vision) (7:17)
13 Weihan - All The Pretty Little Horses (2:53)
14 Exit - The Blue Gates Of Death (5:43)
15 Decadence - Ach Golgota (Es Ist Vollbracht) (4:14)

Download: The Bells Shall Sound Forever
Download size: 65 MB

Various Artists - Attack of the One-Man Bands

Attack of the One-Man Bands is exactly that, 58 different one-man bands spread over two discs of raw, crude, and fascinatingly brilliant blasts of sonic madness. So unhinged that it's probably a serious health risk, this set delivers cut after cut of glorious bedlam with all the subtlety of an amplified jackhammer set loose in a glass house. Each of these one-man bands is currently active, and while most are decidedly lo-fi, even the ones who wandered into real studios seem to treat them like giant boom boxes. While a good deal of what is here is vicious punk rockabilly like Phillip Roebuck's crude, spare, and dangerously kinetic "Jackass Blues" or Pete Yorko & the One Man Music Band's "Like Me" assault, some of it, like Royer's One Man Band's version of the fiddle classic "Train on the Island" or 1Man Banjo's deconstruction of "Mole in the Ground" (simply called "Mole" here), is seriously bent and skewed bluegrass mountain music. Trainwreck Washington's banjo piece called "Walked All Night" sounds like an old wax cylinder field recording, and feels like it was recorded a hundred years ago. Uncle Butcher's "No Judge, No Trial" is as raw and unhinged as they come. Then there's the Amazing Elephant Man's primal "Can't Go Outside," which is literally a child's frustrated rant given rhythm and electricity. Scary, unsettling, fascinating, delightful, vital, urgent and insistent, these 58 tracks are somehow oddly comforting despite all their abrasiveness.

Year of Release: 2007
Label: Rock N Roll Purgatory
Genre: Punk, Blues, Bluegrass
Bitrate: 128kbps

Track List:
1. I Know I'm Gonna Die Tonight (But I Don't Care) - Foul, Al
2. Been Tellin' Lies - Bloodshot Bill
3. Jackass Blues - Roebuck, Phillip
4. Milwaukee Blues - Tussing, Rollie
5. If You Love Me - Lonesome Joseph
6. You Can't Fool Me [Live] - Slim Sandy
7. Walkin' and A-Steppin' in the Fire - King Louie
8. Howlin' - "Haunted" George
9. Stay out and Down - Sachtrash
10. Troublin' Time - Fredovitch One Man Band
11. Mole - 1Man Banjo
12. I Fuckin' Suck (In G Maj.) - Toothless George
13. Train on the Island - Royer's One Man Band
14. Long Gone, Dead and Done - Dead Elvis & The One Man Grave
15. Wild Party - Mr. Bonz One Man Band
16. Introducing Chuck Violence - Chuck Violence
17. Lust - Dennis Hopper Choppers
18. Rhythm & Soul - Riddlebarger, Bram & His Lonesome Band
19. Walked All Night - Trainwreck Washington
20. Preacher's Daughter - Ghostwriter
21. Que Viva La Chava - Strange, Esmerelda
22. Lying in State - Marinelli, J.
23. Too Much Bad in My Blood (To Be Good) - Big One Man Band
24. When You're Far Away - Long Boy Larsen
25. I'm Buried Alive - Mississippi Grover
26. Drinking Every Night - Twang Tango
27. Purgatory Rock - Slow Poisoner
28. Kyleeee - Stringybark McDowell
29. Hang On - BBQ
30. Nothing to Do - Novak, Jeffrey
31. Snake Boy Lives in the Mississippi - El Paso Hot Button
32. Abscond - Jensen, Skip & His Shakin' Feet
33. Fuck Me I'm Poor - Guitar Fucker
34. Bloddy Fucking Cunt - Reverend Beat-Man
35. Rock N' Roll Party with the One Man Band - Schooley, John
36. You Got to Love - Fabulous Go-Go Boy From Alabama
37. I Don't Give a Fuck - King Automatic
38. Lo Ride - Ottoboy The One Man Trash Band
39. The Lord Told Me You Got Fat - Brennan's, Reverend J.
40. Revenge - Feeling Of Love
41. Music for the Asses - Urban Junior
42. Bad Anna - Limbs
43. No Judge, No Trial - Uncle Butcher
44. Angry Heart - Junior Disorder
45. Black Bowtie - Sheriff Perkins
46. Plow You Under - Biram, Scott H.
47. Who's Gonna Rub Me? - Rod, Margaret Doll
48. You're Wrong - Almighty Do Me A Favor
49. Business - Lone Bird
50. Like Me - Yorko, Pete & The One Man Music Band
51. Little Darling - Lowebow, Johnny
52. Hellfire Down - Reverend Deadeye
53. Alien Novelty Song - Rocket Craig
54. Laser Beams - Mosquito Bandito
55. Guitarra Míssil - O Lendario Chucrobillyman
56. Can't Go Outside - Amazing Elephant Man
57. So Alone - One Hand Man
58. Do Your Own Thing - Cancer, Johnny

Download: Attack of the One-Man Bands (CD1) (69MB)
Download: Attack of the One-Man Bands (CD2) (69MB)

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas - Audiobook

Year of Release: 2005
Label: Recorded Books
Genre: Audiobook, Gonzo Journalism


Today being "patriot day" here in the states and the anniversary of the fall of the twin towers, I thought I might take a brief pause from the music to share with you a bit of American literature. This, the audiobook version of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream", by the late Hunter S. Thompson is an amazing listen. If you loved the book, film or even if *gasp* you are unfamiliar with Thompson's work, I highly recommend this recording. It is done in a "seeing ear" theater style, in which sound effects accompany the narrative to better immerse you in the story.
But our trip was different. It was a gross, physical salute to the fantastic possibilities of life in this country - but only for those with true grit
"Giant bats and blotter acid,
cocaine and bright lights:
the late Gonzo journalist
left behind an incredible
chronicle of drug-soaked,
addle-brained,
rollicking good times.
This tale of a long
weekend road trip is
considered one of the
strangest journeys ever taken
in American pop culture..." -AudioFile


Download: Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas
Download size: 84 MB zip