Songs Inspired By TCM2

[Leatherfacette]

I realize that this doesn't truly belong in the collectible section, but it's my forum, dammit! ;D

At least a handful of artists have either used TCM2 samples in their songs and/or written songs inspired by TCM2, so I felt they deserved a bit of discussion.

My favorite band, Skinny Puppy, released a song called Shadow Cast, which can be found on the album Cleanse, Fold And Manipulate that uses numerous samples from TCM2 and, in my humble opinion, is a kick ass song if you're into industrial/electronica type music.

Primus released a song called Jerry Was A Race Car Driver on Sailing The Seas Of Cheese that includes a sample of ChopTop saying "Dog Will Hunt" preceded by chainsaw noises. Although Primus tends to get on my nerves from time to time because I listened to them too much during my youth, the song itself is actually quite good.

Nil8 released a song called The Insanity Of Drayton Sawyer And His Hallucination Of Love Brought On By The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part II which is available for download at www.nil8.com/disco.html and it rocks out loud. Not only is it hilarious and catchy, but it also uses almost every memorable line/moment from the movie without sampling.

Godmonster did a song called 90mph that used to be available at mp3.com, but I'm not sure where you can find it these days. I'll have to see if I can get his permission to upload it somewhere for the fans who'd like to hear it. It's very heavily sampled with an impressive electronica/metal sound.

A band that calls themself Mortician released a song called Chainsaw Dismemberment on an album called Chainsaw Dismemberment that begins with a sample of the entire introduction monologue from TCM2. I love music. I love all types of music. However, after the monologue, it morphs into this black metal tour de farce & the lyrics sound more like someone in belching into the microphone than anything else, but I think the lead "singer" is supposed to be growling them.

And then there are the songs I haven't heard in [Artist - Song - Album] format:

Genetic Terrorists - Machine Gun - White Stains
Swamp Terrorists - Mortal Greyhound - Grim Stroke Disease
Malhavoc - Dead - Pre-Meditated Murder
Malhavoc - S.C.E.X. [XXX Rated Version] - The Release

If you have any additions to this list, have heard the songs I haven't and want to say a little bit about them or want to comment on the songs I've already heard, feel free to add your two cents.

[Spooky Papa]

In the early nineties my brother and I formed a band named Shadows of Doubt. The members were all survivors of the local hard-core punk scene of the eighties and horror movie fans. The result was a noisy thrash band (punk crossing over to metal) with tunes that quite often delved into the horror genre. A few song titles that come to mind...Gein's Burgers, Hangman and Death of the Party. Anyway...we played the opening narration of TCM 2 loudly at every gig as an introduction to our set. People eventually learned this was a que the band was about to play and would make their way to the front of the stage.

I realise this is not a real addition to your list, but it does pertain to music and my connection with the film TCM 2. If anyone is interested in hearing a Shadows of Doubt tune recorded live when we opened for Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, you can visit www.angelfire.com/freak2/spooky_papa/deathoparty.mp3

By the way, the cheesy near belching (or vomiting) vocals belong to a much younger yours truly. Good times

[Leatherfacette]

My dear, sweet (yet spooky) Papa,

I gather that you've never heard Mortician before because they manage to suck in ways that I never thought possible. You, however, rocked. I'm dying to know where the Perry Como thing was going though.

In any event, here's a sample of the Mortician thing. It's short (a little under 20 seconds or so), but it'll probably illustrate my point a bit better:

home.insightbb.com/~leatherfacette/chainsawdismemberment.mp3

The song is basically a 1½ minute long version of the sample. The music itself might have had promise, but I just couldn't get past the belching. Plus, the transition from the TCM2 intro to whatever the hell is happening after that was just about the weirdest thing I've ever heard. No flow, y'know?

Then again, maybe my taste in music is just screwy. Maybe on some other planet in an alternate dimension, Mortician is like the Backstreet Boys (or some other completely vapid, talentless, lyrically uninspired, intellectually retarded fad band) and everyone thinks that they, like, totally rawk and stuff.

[Spooky Papa]

Thanks Leatherfacette, you are far too kind. I honestly can't say whether I've heard any Mortician before today. I've listened to my share of death metal over the years and it is a pretty rare occasion that I recognise one band from another (not due to a lack of trying). Some of these bands really exhibit great musicianship, but lose any chance of identity once the belching starts...a waste of perfectly good musical aggression. I'm convinced that a small child could growl their way through a death metal opus using the tired vocal effect of a pitch shifter.

As for where the Perry Como thing was going...no where fast. Merely another lame attempt at humour to fill dead air between songs (someone broke a guitar string, drummer got a stick in the eye...that kind of stuff). Now that I think of it, performing a real Perry Como cover might have served us well. Oh yes, and if there were an alternate universe where a band like Mortician replaced the likes of the Back Street Boys, I might just take my chances and move there anyway.

[Leatherfacette]

If nothing else, covering Perry Como might've made you a pioneer. Maybe even an oddity. Granted, Frank Sinatra's "My Way" has obviously been done to death, but other than that, I personally can't think of very many other songs in the "crooner" genre that have been covered by punk/metal/thrash type bands. It's really kinda sad when you think about it, but maybe the fear of concrete shoes factors in somehow.

Nevertheless, I'm in the same boat when it comes to death metal. It all sounds like noise to me, and if I can't tell one song from another, much less one artist from another, it's obviously something I wasn't meant to listen to. Hell, even if there were an alternate world out there somewhere in which death metal was on the completely opposite end of the musical spectrum, I'd still be stuck in the middle because, unlike Billy Joel, I do not go to extremes.

Of course, I've gotta wonder what sort of ramifications it would have on society if trying to kill baby Jesus dead was considered to be musically mainstream, but I'll leave that pondering for another day. Since we're sorta on the subject of horror inspired music though, have you heard "Lotion" by Greenskeepers?

Anyway, I'd really love to start making a big, long list of songs that are inspired by horror in general (not limited to horror in cinema), but it's not really something I want to try to tackle myself. Eh, maybe the forum will start hoppin' and we'll drag a few other music lovers in here.

[Spooky Papa]

I think if any band were to overcome fear of concrete shoes and take the crooners head on, it would be Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. They have tackled just about everything else in their discography shamelessly (including show tunes). At the rate these guys pump out the cover tunes, they may have already done so.

'It puts the lotion in the basket.' No...I had never heard the song lotion or the band Greenskeepers before today. Having just checked out their video for the song, I gott'a say I like their style. Thanks for the heads up. A list of songs inspired by horror does sound daunting...from "Monster Mash" to "Lotion" and beyond. Well, it is going to be a long winter in my corner of the world, :'(maybe I'll start thinking of some tunes to fend off cabin fever.

[Leatherfacette]

Yeah, I can see MF&TGG tackling the crooners eventually, too. I might've missed an album here or there, but I don't think they've done it yet.

Speaking of covers, Fantomas (there's supposed to be an circumflex over one of those letters & their lead singer is Mike Patton of Faith No More) have put out a couple worthy of acknowledgement on "The Director's Cut". My favorite is "Rosemary's Baby", but I've always thought that Krzysztof Komeda's "Lullaby" was one of the creepiest songs ever recorded. They also covered "Ave Santina" and a few themes from less mainstream horror movies like "Spider Baby".

I actually started compiling a list of songs inspired by horror around Halloween, but I put it on the back burner because I wanted to be a bit more mentally organized about the process first. I didn't know if I should add songs that include samples from horror movies, songs that simply sound creepy or those that reference evil, the devil, hell, etc.

Scary thing is, I stopped when I hit 300 songs, but that was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

[Spooky Papa]

The Director's Cut is an awesome CD! I have been quite a fan of Mike Patton's work over the years (Mr Bungle, Fantomas, Tomahawk, FNM). Have you ever heard Patton's 'Adult Themes' album? If you haven't, it is an experimental album in which he performs sound compositions using only his voice and a mic. I think it was released about ten years ago and it is one of the strangest things I've ever listened to.

Back to your list...300 songs, zoinks! I don't think I could be methodical enough or even have the patience to take it that far. Nailing down the criteria is a tough nut. I would think horror movie samples in a song is a tip of the hat to the genre and should probably be included. Satanic or dark subject matter without a direct reference should probably be excluded to keep the list concise. Hmmm? Simply creepy sounding stuff is a more difficult call. Would that mean every piece of music ever recorded on a pipe organ gets a spot? ;D

[Leatherfacette]

I think one of the main reasons I acquired a taste for the music that I know and love today had a lot to do with Mike Patton/Faith No More. I was a bit too young (and it obviously didn't help that my dad was a Southern Baptist minister) when Introduce Yourself came out, but The Real Thing didn't leave my stereo for months because I thought it was bloody brilliant from beginning to end. I hadn't heard the Adult Themes album, but I listened to some samples this morning and "hella freaky" was the only thing that came to mind.

Although I like to think of my taste in music as being on the diverse side, how many songs actually include pipe organs? If it's only a handful, we can include them. I hope that doesn't mean we have to include Michael Jackson's entire body of work though. Not for his use of imaginary pipe organs, mind you, just because he's creepy.

Seriously though, there should be some sort of veto system because some songs like "Goodbye Horses" by Q. Lazzarus aren't technically creepy, yet I think they are. Also, you've got artists that thrive on the creep factor & you'd have to include almost everything they've ever recorded. For example, the Groovie Ghoulies, Nekromantix, Type O Negative, Lords Of The New Church, Rob Zombie, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Murderdolls, Horrorpops, Misfits, Diamanda Galas (who, hands down, is the scariest artist I've ever heard in my life & not necessarily scary in a good way), Siouxsie & The Banshees, Marilyn Manson, Nick Cave - you get the picture.

And now you know why I stopped.

[Spooky Papa]

The Chuck Mosely period of Faith No More certainly had moments, but it was Patton who took them to higher ground. Do you have the album 'King for a Day...Fool for a Lifetime'? I think I've listened to that one almost as many times as 'The Real Thing'...an amazing CD.

So, you're calling me on the pipe organ thing, eh? Not only am I empty handed for examples, I'm not quite sure where my brain was heading with that one. Rest assure, I was definitely not suggesting the inclusion of Michael Jackson.

Anyway, I do see why you aborted the mission. Compiling such a list would ultimately leave one with a pounding in the temples not contributed by a bass drum. Sifting through the repertoire of creep factor bands (looking for direct references) would produce some unjust results. For example, Alice Cooper put out (in my opinion) some truly great music in his day (the last of which was contained on 'Flush the Fashion' in 1980) and definitely wreaked of the horror influence. Unfortunately his shock rock days would not qualify him for such a list. Alice's first real horror song didn't arrive until after he began milking his career (by turning heavy metal). Yes, 'The Man Behind The Mask' used in 'Jason Lives' would be his contribution.

Worse yet, Seattle's The Accused (if memory serves) would be excluded based on such criteria. Twenty odd years of splatter rock and nothing to show for it...maybe some things (lists) should stay buried.

[Leatherfacette]

Since I've spent the last hour searching for this, I'll save a more lengthy reply for tomorrow (or another day, even though tomorrow is technically another day):

www.crashtestdummies.com/albums/songs_of_the_unforgiven.html

Songs of the Unforgiven, the eighth release by Crash Test Dummies, is an unabashedly melancholy collection that listeners may compare favorably with the work of a Nick Cave or a Tom Waits. Some songs speak of love and hope; others reveal a much darker bent, and, at times, plumb apocalyptic depths. An obvious detour from the lascivious pop of Puss 'n' Boots, this new album is informed by biblical imagery and the residual psychological effects of 9/11.

Singer/songwriter Brad Roberts teamed up with producer Scott Harding to produce this lush recording, made at the landmark Sacred Heart Church in Duluth, Minnesota. The combination of the massive 19th century pipe organ and the enormous resonance of the room make this record the most haunting Crash Test Dummies record yet. Roberts' distinctive baritone has found an ideal setting in the heightened sonority of the old church.

[Spooky Papa]

Who the hell are the Crash Test Dummies?

Leave it to a band from Winnipeg to incorporate freaking pipe organs on an album. Man, it was news to me that they were still playing together. Although we ran in different musical circles, I went to high school and grew up a few doors down from mandolin player, Ben Darvil. He always seemed like a decent guy, so it was nice to see his band succeed.

I also remember Brad Roberts from his drink slinging days at one of the city's more popular venues for live alternative music. Hmmm? Ben Darvil always seemed like a decent guy, so it was nice to see his band succeed.

[Leatherfacette]

Oh, the bitter irony, eh? I think I've still got a bruise on my forehead from smashing it against my desk after an hour of searching for pipe organ music (that wasn't related to the religious or classical genres) and finally finding a freakin' Winnipeg band. I honestly didn't know the Crash Test Dummies were still making music either, but I've never disliked them. I can't say I truly loved them either, but "God Shuffled His Feet" was a decent album & Brad Roberts' version of "The First Noel" actually kicks a little ass.

Believe it or not, I still have the sticker/decal that came with the "King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime" CD. I'm also quite fond of "Angel Dust". In fact, if it were a person, I'd probably invite it to dinner and a movie. I was going to say take it to bed with me, but figured I'd exercise a bit of tact.

I've always thought that Alice Cooper's creepiest contribution was "The Black Widow" (thanks to Vincent Price), but I never bothered exploring his discography in its entirety to see if I could find anything creepier. Then again, that's probably because my first exposure to Alice Cooper was his '89 release, "Trash". And although it took me more than a decade to recover from the fact that he not only associated, but sang with Kip Winger, I managed to make it through musical rehab and have finally gotten to the point where I actually enjoy his older tunes (and some of the newer ones).

Not that there's anything wrong with Kip Winger. Or "Trash", for that matter. That's my story & I'm stickin' to it.

[Spooky Papa]

I hope the bruise has healed nicely by now. I too am from the school of could take 'em or leave 'em where the Dummies are concerned. They are talented musicians though and when a home town band makes it, that's cool by me.

'King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime' did not come with a decal here in Canada, so you have my envy. To fully cover Faith No More's career I will add that 'Album of the Year' was also a wicked CD...very similar in style to 'Angel Dust'.

Since I was a kid, I have been a fan of the early days of Alice. The days when he and the Billion Dollar Babies came across like a fine blend of Frank Zappa, The Stooges with a splash of Kiss theatrics for good measure. Now I can't think of anything creepier than the thought of him playing with Kip Winger. Was this on the 'Trash' album, or was it a separate tragedy? Honestly did not know this about the man's career...thanks so much for enlightening me.

Price and Cooper...now that's a dynamic duo. Sadly Price will always be remembered musically for his contribution on 'Thriller'...I'll say no more. Anyway, I always found the creepiest songs on 'Welcome to my Nightmare' to be 'Years Ago', 'Steven' and 'The Awakening'. You do need to listen to them back to back for impact...a package deal or nothing. The tune 'Dead Babies' off the album 'Killer' is also pretty eerie.

[Leatherfacette]

spookypapa said:

Now I can't think of anything creepier than the thought of him playing with Kip Winger. Was this on the 'Trash' album, or was it a separate tragedy? Honestly did not know this about the man's career...thanks so much for enlightening me.

I'll have to reply at greater length later, but Kip Winger's tragic association with Alice Cooper was indeed on the "Trash" album. He did additional vocals on a song called "I'm Your Gun". A few of the lyrics were:

Pull my trigger. I get bigger. Then I'm lots of fun. I'm your gun. I'm your gun, gun, gun. Bite my bullet. Push and pull it. Tell me I'm the one. I know that it may not seem possible, but it gets worse. Something along the lines of squeeze it tighter, aim and fire ... rub my barrel, straight and narrow. I'll stop now because I'm sure that I've more than made my point.

Anyway, I suspect that you'll need a while to recover from that little tidbit of information, not to mention those bloody awful lyrics. Trash was a strange album though. I'm not sure whose bright idea it was, but more than a handful of other musicians were involved including John McCurry (The Hooters), Hugh McDonald (Bon Jovi), Bobby Chouinard (Billy Squier's Band), Alan St. John (Billy Squire's Band), Steven Tyler, Jon Bon Jovi, Joe Perry, Richie Sambora, Steve Lukather (Toto), Kane Roberts, Guy Mann-Dude, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, and even Stiv Bator (The Lords Of The New Church).

It wasn't all bad, it just wasn't all good either.