MUSIC REVIEW
More Halloween Nuggets (available on CD and Vinyl)
    

Style: Rock & Roll, Garage Rock, Novelty, Horror Rock
Artist(s): Various
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 47m
Where To Listen: available now here www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Dive into a musical realm where the echoes of the 1960s ghostly garage rock intertwine with nostalgic and whimsical Halloween charm in MORE HALLOWEEN NUGGETS. Without surrendering to the conventional and expected, this collection successfully guides us through a dark, yet oddly comforting, forest of audio specters from a distant musical past. This compilation doesn't merely bring tunes to our ears; it presents us with a time-traveling pathway, fringed with the eerie and the forgotten, encouraging us to explore and appreciate musical history's obscure and shadowy corners.

The journey through the ethereal begins not with a whisper but with a charismatic bang, courtesy of The Mystrys’ “Witch Girl.” This opening track sets the stage and swings open the creaking gates to a less-ventured musical graveyard, encouraging listeners to delve deeper into the vibrant, spectral unknown. The bewitching rhythms and dynamic melodic threads guide us through an adventure that is as much an exploration of forgotten beats as a celebration of obscured, historical auditory delights. This disc/vinyl is full of fun tracks that instantly bring spooky season to your ears and, for most, will be an entirely new experience.

Veering off the known path, you’ll find the playful and emotionally resonant tones of Bela La Goldstein’s “Why Do I Love You.” Despite being an assortment steeped heavily in playful nostalgia, MORE HALLOWEEN NUGGETS never anchors itself to the conventional norms of holiday anthems. Instead, it subtly dances with a kitschy, balanced charm, ensuring neither an overindulgence in novelties.

Embedded within the hauntingly alluring tracks are snippets from Hollywood's past, brought to the forefront by tracks like Teddy Durant's “The Beast of Sunset Strip.” It’s a melody that reflects, reminisces, and encapsulates the world of a bygone era, allowing the listener to become entwined in the subtle storytelling encapsulated within each lyric.

As we wander further, Terry Gale’s “The Voodoo” lures us with its enticing surf-rock tonalities, enticing listeners to groove across a sea of cryptic musical narratives. With every spin of MORE HALLOWEEN NUGGETS, new layers are uncovered, revealing hidden gems and unexplored caverns of spectral stories and audial experiences, such as the brilliant sci-fi rock tones found within Gary Warren’s “Werewolf.” Complementing the immersive audial journey is a gorgeous cover by illustrator Cliff Mott. 

Presented in various formats, each with unique elements, MORE HALLOWEEN NUGGETS propels itself from the confines of Halloween festivities into a celebration of spectrally delightful musical experiences. This collection invites listeners to explore a musical underbelly, maintaining its enticement and charm far beyond the last leaves of autumn.

Track List:
Witch Girl — The Mystrys
The Beast Of Sunset Strip – Teddy Durant
Seance – The Ebb-Tides
Night Of The Blood Beast – Film Trailer *
Why Do I Love You – Bela La Goldstein
Tombstone Number 9 – Murray Schaff And His Aristocrats
I’m The Wolf Man – Round Robin
The Werewolf – Sound Effect *
Deep Sleep Chance Halladay
Count Macabre – The Connoissurs
Haunted – The Madmen
Frankenstein And Dracula – Film Trailer *
The Voodoo – Terry Gale
Ghost Guitars – Baron Daemon & The Vampires
Vampire’s Ball – Mann Drake
The Mummy – Film Trailer *
Zoola Zooky – Johnny Alderson
Mr. Frankenstein – Peter & The Wolves
Dr. Spook (Twist) – Frankie Stein And His Ghouls
The Raven – Kenny And The Fiends
The Guillotine – The Executioners
Werewolf – Gary Warren

* Bonus Track (not on vinyl edition)

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[photo courtesy of ROCKBEAT RECORDS]