Spooky Special: 3 Albums for Halloween

By Dylan Shulman

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"Awaken, My Love!" by Childish Gambino

Actor, singer, rapper, comedian, writer, producer, and director Donald Glover, also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, may just have the Midas touch. His third studio album "Awaken, My Love!" was released in December 2016, marking Gambino's break from rap records. The album is full of soul, funk, R&B and rock. He displays his incredibly versatile vocals over a variety of technically impressive instrumentals from executive producer Ludwig Göransson, the Swedish composer also known for his work on the 2018 movie Black Panther and the Creed series. The album divided fans, but it’s a phenomenal piece of art with some great Halloween tracks like "Boogieman" and "Zombies." Although he's not rapping, Gambino's conscious lyrics are still there, discussing racial tensions in America and the complexities of falling in love and raising a family. The real magic is in the production and instrumentals, and although it’s such a departure from previous Gambino projects, it really is incredible; from the rhythms, melodies, time-switches and more. This album is fantastic any time of year, but as the leaves fall down, the volume goes up.

Rating:

8.5/10

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Goblin by Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, The Creator sounded a lot different in 2011 to say the least, coming into his own after feeling the fame of his shock rap group OFWGKTA. Tyler is still incredibly dedicated to the shock rap and horrorcore genre here, and this album is absolutely twisted. The things he says in this project should never have been spoken, much less rapped. The concept album follows Tyler's therapy sessions with the character Dr. TC, delving deep into a dark and demonic psyche. If you are triggered by anything at all in this world, do not listen to this album. Most of the lyrical content is irredeemably crude and I don’t support any of it. It’s terrifying in the most basic sense, with threatened violence and repulsive bars unsuitable for anywhere outside of the most hidden part of the dark web. Still, as a horror concept album, it has a place in art and the instrumentals are actually unique and enjoyable, all produced by a then 19-year-old Tyler, with the exception of "Transylvania." Plus there's a Frank Ocean feature, a frequent collaborator with Tyler, and even a love song in "Her." This demented, repugnant, bold and idiosyncratic record could be played on Halloween night if you’re ready to delve into something truly scary. Or, more likely, this project should stay in the grave.

Rating:

5.5/10

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Trench by twenty one pilots

twenty one pilots is a Grammy award-winning band made up of singer-songwriter Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun, and the October 2018 album "Trench" is their latest record. The group's genre-bending style is fully executed here, with influences from alternative rock, hip-hop, indie, and pop. The project is one large allegory for depression and mental illness, building on themes from the previous album "Blurryface." Joseph's storytelling is simply incredible. It feels like a fictional, post-apocalyptic novel. The world building employed within the lyrics, compounded by various literary devices developed from poetry, make this project really compelling. The instrumentals, as always, manage to sound like something I've never heard before, even on derivative tracks like the intro "Jumpsuit." The instrumentation is always varied and complex, and Dun's rhythms are consistently and surprisingly intricate. This is a perfect fall album with vivid imagery designed for Halloween. Wade through Joseph's universe of unscalable walls, banditos and an actual website documenting the album's story. Music is art, and this album is the perfect paradigm to listen to this fall.

Rating:

8/10