1. Dead Man’s Bones, Dead Man’s Bones
Dead Man’s Bones self-titled album pulls you in with its spooky, folk-rock musical tales. Created by Ryan Gosling (yes, that Ryan Gosling) and Zach Shields, the album, featuring songs like “My Body’s a Zombie for You,” “Werewolf Heart,” and “Flowers Grow Out of Your Grave”, is not shy on the frightening imagery. Instead, it embraces the horror of its topic and fleshes it out with upbeat piano, harmonies by a children’s choir, and influences ranging from R&B to electronic to gospel. Songs like “Lose Your Soul” and “Pa Pa Power” will have you singing along in no time. Just, maybe, don’t listen to it at 4 AM by yourself. It is a little spooky.
2. Hazards of Love, The Decembrists
A true rock opera, The Hazards of Love tells the story of ill-fated lovers in an enchanted forest facing, among other horrors, a Rake and a deranged forest queen. Although a fanciful story, the songs and the method of storytelling in this album will have your neck prickling with beats like the one in “The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid” while keeping you excited for the next step with fast base and repeat chords like in “A Bower Scene” and “The Abduction of Margret”. And then, just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, you realize this album features St. Vincent, and you now know this is a record you can jam to. Start with the first song and listen all the way through, with headphones in and eyes closed. You won’t be disappointed.
3. Creep On Creepin’ On, Timber Timbre
There’s something about Timber Timbre’s music that is just haunting. Yes, it’s his voice; and yes, it’s the lyrics; and yes, it’s the chords. Beautiful enough to make your heart stop, yet eerie enough to make your hair stand on end, Timber Timbre’s indie-folk inspired sound has everything you could possibly want in a slightly spooky yet strangely musically-intoxicating album. Take the title track off of Creep On Creepin’ On. Lyrics like “Do I try one more time?” and “I bury my head in my hands” are relatable to everyone, and yet, the minor dissonant chords make you pause and think a little harder about what exactly you are relating to. Although Creep On Creepin’ On is similar to Dead Man’s Bones, just without the children’s chorus, Timber Timbre, and his song “Demon Host” are not to be missed.
4. The First Empire, Scattered Clouds
Described as apocalyptic, Scattered Clouds’ sound distances itself from the folkish vibe of much of the music on this list and instead goes in the direction of pure rock. The dissonant chords and heavy reliance on steady beats move you from one song to the next. “Enchanteresse” the second song off of the album, offers a perfect example of the sound provided by Scattered Clouds. With a steady beat almost reminiscent of the Edgar Allen Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart, the song pulls you with repetitious cords from the beginning, and then shatters your expectation near the end, leading into the heavy drums/guitar of the next song, “People Walk”.
5. Purpose, Justin Bieber
What scares us the most is that we know the more words to songs off this album than we’d like to admit.
By Jacqueline Ott