10.13.2011

Club Killers

Back and forth, back and forth.


I could make justifications about music for getting down or just get down to business, so why don't I cut you some slack, huh?


I first wrote about Beachland back at the end of July. I was fresh off my honeymoon and in love with the world. Mostly just my better half, but also feeling that universal buzz of feeling all is right with the universe. Now, as Fall settles in and most Minnesotans get ready for The Dreaded Winter, the two of us are feeling the approaching malice of Old Man Winter. We want nothing to do with it, but have to live our lives in spite of it. We may not be able to do much more than crank up the thermostat and imbibe a bit to fight off the impending chill, but we can also toast the dear departed and celebrate with our friends and family in the face of shorter days and yawning nights. Its's appropriately timed with Halloween that I bring to you Horror Club!
Horror Club is a playlist by Nate LC that mixes the best of inescapably dance-able tracks with a hint of brooding, foreboding unease, a sense of the macabre and the morbid. It's a mix that kicks off in high gear, with Salem blasting out the mega-sized 'King Night', setting the tone for the rest of the mix. Flying Lotus tweak the ear just a bit, to keep you off kilter. Chromeo's 'I'm Not Contagious' adds to the dance flair with another added layer of dark, 'Thriller'-esque malice. It's a phenomenal track. Kanye's massive 'Monster' makes an appearance with guest spots by Jay-Z, Bon Iver and Nicki Minaj, of all odd pairings. It fits, but contributes more in bounce than it does in vibe. MGMT's 'Brian Eno' flips the equation on its head, throwing in tons of weird atmosphere with less fun and bounce, but a rocking and ultra-modern song none the less. The Black Keys do their damnedest with 'Too Afraid To Love You', an appropriately haunting tune. Skrillex does his best to melt our collective faces with the evil, funky 'Kill Everybody', almost doing so with the cut beats and snapped and twisted samples. It's one of the few times I feel acceptably old listening to club tracks. HEALTH make even the stiffest, whitest city kids feel hip and loose with 'USA BOYS', a stuttering, staccato track that opens up at just the right times . Sleep Over & Grillgrill ease us out of the madness, singing us to sleep with soothing, more ambient numbers that encourage coming down from the crazy dance sounds.
Look, I could go on and on for the rest of the night making fervent endorsements for this insane playlist of Spooky Month Music. Instead of doing that, I will just hit the integral facts - A) it's free B) it's spooky C) it jams. Straight up. This mix is insane and twisted and full of music you can download right now to get whatever business you claim to instigate on a Friday night going. I've already got it and enjoy the living end out of it. Do yourself a favor and download Horror Club now, before Nate LC pulls it. He's got great mixes for every season, so flip through his tumblr and see what's there. I'll sell you on more of his mixes when the season changes.