Decemberists pen chilling tunes

It's that time of year again when people don alternate personas to mingle and celebrate all that is Halloween. Many parties have the same tired soundtracks blaring in the background, with staples like "Monster Mash" and "Thriller." If you dig a little deeper into the musical chest, party hosts and trick-or-treaters will find songs to replace these worn out songs, be they spooky sounding or morbid in content.

There are many familiar songs that might occasionally pop up in Halloween mixes. Creedence Clearwater Revival's cover of "I Put a Spell on You" would be close to the top of that list. The combination of a meandering bass line, eerie guitar riffs that send chills down the spine and John Fogerty's unique bluesy vocals make for a truly supernatural song. The middle section of the song is a haunting blues guitar solo guaranteed to impress. Many might recall another version of this song sung by Bette Midler in the movie "Hocus Pocus." The lyrics lend themselves to witchcraft and practices of the occult.

Blue Oyster Cult is known to have many songs with surreal references. Perhaps one of their better-known songs is "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." The song's lyrics proclaim death as our fate, or an inevitability. Despite the content, the quality of the vocals makes the listener want to sing along. The guitars drive the song down a macabre path, and with the breakdown and solo in the middle, death itself chases the listener.

Although they might be familiar with the song, many listeners don't realize just how disturbing the subject matter is. "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," from the Beatles, sounds at first like an upbeat, happy tune. The bass bounces along, the singing is peaceful and inviting and the melody is catchy. The guitar is laid back in its progression, and the piano lulls the listener into a safe place. On careful inspection, however, the lyrics are much more foreboding. The titular Maxwell is actually a serial murderer, and in the course of the song he kills his girlfriend, teacher and the judge proceeding over his trial.

During the late 1990s swing revival, the Squirrel Nut Zippers released their hit "Hell." The name of the song implies evil, but listening to the song will show otherwise. The song is a jazz-swing blend perfect for dancing. The upbeat tempo, the intensity of the horns and the passion of the lead singer made this song a standout hit. The dark lyrics speak of eternal damnation, as if sung by a man reborn into the concept of the fear of hell. This is a great song to add to dance playlists

Last is a band with several creepy tunes in its library. The Decemberists latest album, "The Hazards of Love," contains two songs about murder, betrayal and revenge. "The Rake's Song" tells the tale of a single father who systematically kills his three children by fire, drowning and poison. The song is driven by numerous drums and creates the perfect atmosphere for murder. Children's voices sing along to the chorus. The song is simple and catchy, but strong enough to make listeners bounce along, making it an especially powerful song to witness live. The companion song, "The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)," relates the revenge of the murdered children as their ghosts return to take vengeance on their father. A meandering organ tune, scratchy strings and slow-beating drums propel the song. This song also features a chorus of children, quite possibly the most terrifying vocalists imaginable, singing the lyrics. It brings to mind the Children of the Corn, and listeners with fear of children should listen to this one with the lights on. This song does not stand well alone, however. It is jaunty and hard on the ears, like fingernails scratching a chalkboard.