Even More Halloween Songs and Videos

Like all good (or is it bad) scary movies, my original Halloween music post for 2011 spawned not just one sequel, but has, with this post, become a full-on trilogy.

Chuck Cheesman has offered up his Halloween song "Halloween Freak Out!" from his latest album Dancing With No Shoes On as a free download for the next few days (and, really, who would want to listen to it on, say, Nov. 2nd?). Note: actual freaking out during the song is minimal. The download is available at the the top of this page.

Baze and His Silly Friends are offering up a free download of their 2009 song "Scare Me, Scare You."

Number of times "scary" is in the title = 2. Actual level of scariness = 0.1 (but that's OK!)

Download the track here or via the widget below.

DidiPop has a jazzy take on the season. Number of jazzy Halloween albums = 0? Number of jazzy Christmas albums = approaching infinity. And now, you can download the tune for free.

DidiPop - "Goblins" [YouTube]

Finally, Gooney Bird Kids and the Sounds Sweet Show both have big Halloween playlists/podcasts up. You can check out Gwyneth's 52-song stream here and David's podcast here.

Share: Lunch Money's Original Friend

Ah, it's Grammy nominating time, and artists are doing as much lobbying as they can... in very subtle, non-obtrusive ways, because all that lobbying that movie folks do for Oscar votes is frowned upon by the Grammy folks.

South Carolina Lunch Money band is by no means the only artist to toot their horns (go here to stream another excellent album on the Grammy ballot), but their page letting you download the album for free is, like the album and the band itself, understated, witty, and generous. So go here and download Original Friend for free. And tell someone else about it, even if "Grammy" means "grandmother" to them. (Need more convincing? Read this.)

Share: Free Halloween Tunes from Ratboy Jr., Todd McHatton, and Mr. Ray

OK, really, it's two free songs and one free...ish song.

Halloween songs for 2011 trickled out slowly for awhile -- there was Roy Handy back in July, then there was Skelly and the Punkins late last month.

But now, like a group of zombies running down the street to catch the bus, three Halloween tunes were released within 24 hours of each other.

Let's start with the "free...ish" song. It's called "Perfect Pumpkins," and it's from California psychedlic kid-popster Todd McHatton. It's a very sunshine-y tune that the Linus (or Matthew Sweet) fan in your family will appreciate. It'll cost ya 50 cents, but it's free for a limited time with a download of McHatton's new album Galactic Champions of Joy. Spin it below...

Moving on to upstate New York, Ratboy Jr. offer up a free track called "Where Do Monsters Go?" It features the duo's signature lo-fi sound and a rap from Frankenstein. You heard me -- Frankenstein raps. (And if the player below doesn't show up for some weird reason, just go here.)

Finally, if that song frightened your little one -- unlikely, I know -- New Jersey's Mr. Ray offers up a more confidence-building pop song, "Do You Believe in Monsters?," which might help encourage the more timid of trick-or-treaters to overcome basic monster fears. You can download the track for free here, or learn more about a video contest he's running here.

Monday Morning Smile: "Growing Up" - Lullatone

The band Lullatone has often walked that line of being "for" adults" without in any way being inappropriate for kids. This new video for the leadoff track to their upcoming album Soundtracks for Everyday Adventures continues much along those lines. It's a pleasant little song, perfect for a Monday morning, and will leave your kids wondering, "those three guys all look the same!" (And, if you're me, thinking, "Huh. A-flat major. That's a key I'd never think to try to write (or play) a song in.") Grab the track for free using the widget below, or just enjoy the video...

Lullatone - "Growing Up" [Vimeo]

Share: "Rollin' Baby" - Elizabeth Mitchell

Ahhhh... nothing like a little Elizabeth Mitchell track to take the edge off a cool, crisp fall morning. (What's that? I live in the Arizona desert and "cool, crisp" means about 75 degrees? Shhhh!)

The track is called "Rollin' Baby," and it's a cover of a track from Mitchell's sister-in-law Anna Padgett, who records as The Good Ms. Padgett. "Rollin' Baby" will remind you a little bit of "Who's My Pretty Baby?," very simple and sweet. Even better, it's free for the price of an e-mail (use the widget below).

Padgett, incidentally, has a new album, The Good Ms. Padgett Sings The Little Red Hen and Other Stories, this fall. Her first album had a vibe similar to that of her sister-in-law's, and I'm guessing her second will as well...

(Photo credit: Laura Levine)