((( Don’t forget: each My5 title is a link. Click on, NoCo! )))
1. RSD3 – One of the many casualties of COVID-19 was June’s Record Store Day. Its replacement? Not one but THREE Record Store Days! The final one is Sat, Oct 24. The Colorado Sound’s website has info on your closest store and a giveaway of some very cool RSD vinyl!
2. New Albums – If some of the Record Store Day special releases didn’t get you thinking about holiday gift giving, maybe some of the new album releases scheduled for October will! Everyone from Aloe Blacc, Dolly Parton, Matt Berninger, Future Islands, Bruce Springsteen, Gorillaz and more have music on the release docket!
3. Be a Member – Keep in mind, The Colorado Sound only gets to support NoCo and other Colorado artists & bands because of Member support, IE without long commercial breaks that scream at you! Help keep independent and public radio strong during our Membership Drive the week of October 26!
4. October’s Top 20 of 2020 – It’s Halloween month, and our Top 20 question for October is: What’s your favorite Scary Song? Nominate your choice on our website now and listen Oct 30 for the countdown based on your votes!
5. More Live Music! – Slowly but surely, live music opportunities continue to get announced. It started with FoCoMX Drive & Jive, then The Mish, then Live On The Lanes. Keep up with new show news on the Colorado Sound Concert Calendar.
October is the perfect time for Murder Ballads (which are, simply, songs about murder).
1. “Frankie & Johnny” by Leadbelly, Sam Cooke, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan et al. – There are many variations of this classic song but it’s believed to be based on an 1899 murder in St. Louis, MO.
2. “Westfall” by Okkervil River– Taking a cue from the famous Saturday Night Live skit with Will Farrell, Jimmy Fallon and Christopher Walken, this episode explores the use of cowbell in rock music. (Yes, it includes “Don’t Fear The Reaper.”)
3. “Where The Wild Roses Grow” by Nick Cave with Kylie Minogue – Nick Cave wrote this murder ballad with Kylie Minogue in mind. To his delight, she liked it a lot and agreed to sing the part of the doomed lady.
4. “The Shankill Butchers” by The Decemberists – This is inspired by a series of murders in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The murders took the lives of at least 23 people, most of whom were killed in sectarian attacks during “The Troubles.”
5. “Black River Killer” by Blitzen Trapper – Arguably the creepiest song on their album, Furr. Lead singer Eric Earley said this song was inspired a lot by one of his Uncles, who disappeared.
Get ready for Día de Muertos with these five not-to-miss films!
1. Coco – Pack some tissues for this one! Pixar’s visually stunning film follows Miguel as he ventures to the Land of the Dead to find out why his family has a longstanding ban on music. The film is full of life and color. True to Pixar, even the smallest detail is superbly crafted.
2. The Book of Life – This animated tale is a collaboration from Reel FX Creative Studios and 20th Century Fox. While not as visually crisp as Pixar, the engaging storyline follows wooden figures Manola and Joaquin as they vie for the love of Maria, a bookworm with (si, verdad) ninja fighting skills.
3. Eisenstein in Guanajuato – Based on the life of filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein, the story follows his trip to Mexico in 1931 to film his new movie Que Viva Mexico. Rejected by Hollywood and under the gun to return to Stalinist Russia, he explores the ties between Eros and Thanatos.
4. Cheers to Death – Directed by the award-winning Nicholas Humphries, this five-minute short highlights how Revolutionaries can spice up a party, especially when it is hosted by the President of Mexico. The short’s big punch comes with learning that in the afterlife, there is no need to fight.
5. The Nightmare Before Christmas – Not directly related to Día De Muertos but a Halloween tribute too good not to list! Tim Burton directs this stop-motion musical dark fantasy / love story! Confusion comes to Halloween Town when the king, Jack Skellington, discovers Christmas Town and kidnaps Santa.
1. Victoria Bailey: “Honky Tonk Woman” –If you like Honky Tonk that brings a tear to your beer, Victoria Bailey is your dream come true. Like finding the ghost of Kitty Wells and Patsy Montana, this lady is the real deal. Find the nearest watering hole with a good juke box to drown your sorrows, or just give this a spin.
2. Delta Haints: “Ashes of My Mojo” – What happens when you combine magical symbolism, racial history and beat poetry? Well, you’ve got a really cool record. The Delta Haints are a collective out of Florida who created something special for this year’s Record Store Day.
3. Dia De Los Muertos – Halloween might get all of the attention but Dia de Los Muertos is cooler. This three-day celebration is a chance to assist your friends and family who are no longer with us on their next spiritual journey. Build an altar, light a candle and remember fondly your loved ones who have passed on.
4. Halloween Candy – Who doesn’t like a good Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup? What’s not to like about a bite size Butterfinger? If you really feel like pushing the envelope, drain a Pixie Stick and watch the fun begin. Halloween candy is awesome and don’t forget, it’s all half price on November 1.
5. Rocky and Bullwinkle – This cold war era classic gets better with age. The jokes in this cartoon were all targeted for an adult audience and it’s easy to see why TV Guide has it listed at #32 on the all time greatest tv programs. Sure there are more than a few groaners, but that’s part of the fun.
