Recently a song was sent to Monster Librarian that was just perfect for the site.  Songs that have a lighthearted monster/mad scientist theme. are often enjoyable when sharing a scary book with your kids or even if you are reading alone.   Please e-mail Monsterlibrarian@monsterlibrarian.com with the title of any additional monstrous songs that you come across.  This page will either link directly to the song, if it is created under the auspices of the Creative Commons license, or to the artist's site.  I encourage our visitors to please visit artists sites and purchase their music if they like what they hear.

 

The first song is Skullcrusher Mountain by talented singer/songwriter Jonathan Coulton  It is a fun little love song sung by an evil genius.

The second song is Big Trouble by Trout Fishing In America.  A fantastic little song for kids about our favorites monsters coming to play when a child's parents are gone.

 

 There is a video called "The Librarian"  song  by the band Haunted Love.

 

A great zombie based library promotion video just popped up on MyTube check it out here

 

 

The Chills produced by Ira Marlowe

Brainy Tunes, 2009

    Ira Marlowe noticed that, although there has been a proliferation of creepy books for kids, there is a scarcity of creepy music. And thus he recruited The Chills, to create music for kids five and up who love boogers and slime and shivers down the spine. The Lemony Snicket crowd will feel right at home with the warnings that accompany the truly scary “In the Dark” and “Ghost Story”, and “Boogerman’s Theme” and “Has Anyone Heard About The Blob?” should satisfy those looking for a gross-out factor, and inspire some nostalgia on the part of some adults as well. Musical styles vary. “Boogerman’s Theme” has a cabaret style feel to it which makes it particularly surreal.  “The Brat Machine” almost felt like it could have been in a musical, and “Dr. Haggard’s Unusual Collection”, which is more funny than it is scary, had the structure of a typical “children’s” song. The last few songs were somewhat of a letdown though.  Marlowe shared that this music is partly a response to the song “Monster Mash”, which debuted in 1962. With names like “Do the Monster” and “Gruesome Groove” I was expecting some retro danceable tunes along the lines of songs like the Twist and the Locomotion, The last song, “The Long and Curious Saga of Dr. Trulaine”,  really doesn’t seem to be aimed at kids at all.

 

Although the collection was somewhat uneven, both kids and adults will be able to find something to appreciate, and while not every song is frightening, those looking for a unique and truly scary contemporary musical experience will be more than satisfied.  Highly recommended for public library collections.

 

Review by Kirsten Kowalewski

 

 

 

Movie Review

Movie: Plasterhead

Arts Alliance America, 2007

Available: New and Used

    Plasterhead is very much a generic slasher flick complete with isolated college students and masked killer.  The overall movie has strong cinematography with a few exceptions.  Unfortunately, the pacing is too slow, the plot has painful holes, and the slasher was absent for much of the movie. The nudity and gore typical to slasher flicks is scarce here. For those looking for scares there are a few moments that work. There are elements of the film that show promise for director Kevin Higgins: although he doesn’t tell a good story here, he does shoot a good picture.