· With masked monsters soon to mash around your block in search of sugary treats, a few new Halloween CDs aim to put you in a pumpkin-carving frenzy. Packed with 25 golden oldies, Ace Record's These Ghoulish Things: Horror Hits for Halloween compilation is an import-only title worth the hunt, as only about half of the songs within have ever found their way onto CD before. Featuring novelty hits such as "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by The Monotones and "Coolest Little Monster" by Philadelphia personality John Zacherle, the CD includes highlights such as The Kak-Ties' "Mr. Were-Wolf," The DuPonts' "Screaming Ball (At Dracula Hall)," and The Munsters theme by Milton DeLugg & His Orchestra. Sprinkled throughout the songs are vintage radio plugs by Bobby "Boris" Pickett, whose "Monster Mash" is at the heart of this collection.

· Just released yesterday, Masters of Horror on Immortal Records collects 30 artists as an audio companion to the upcoming Showtime television series premiering October 28. The series features new one-hour films from directors John Carpenter, John Landis, Tobe Hooper, Joe Dante, and other horror mavens, and the CD soundtrack features all-new material and two acoustic rarities from Mudvayne, Andrew WK, Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, Norma Jean, Bloodsimple, and more.

· Remember the pop star studded "Do They Know It's Christmas?" benefit single from 1984? In a satirical twist, Vice Records has revamped the concept (and the song) for "Do They Know It's Halloween?" Percolating like a Tom Tom Club outtake, the CD single features two remixes and a wild guest list, including Beck, Peaches, Devendra Banhart, comedian David Cross, Elvira, the 13th Floor Elevators' Roky Erickson, Sex Pistols' creator Malcolm McLaren, Steve McDonald of Redd Kross, Stevo of Sum 41, and Anna Waronker of That Dog. This new project benefits UNICEF.

Television Alert:

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Weezer on Thursday, the Blue Man Group on Monday, and Sinead O'Connor on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Shawn King this evening overnight and Aqualung on Monday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly boasts Stellstar* this evening overnight, The Like on Thursday overnight, The Donnas on Friday overnight, Keane on Monday overnight, and Liz Phair on Tuesday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live presents Institute this evening overnight and The Go! Team on Friday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Franz Ferdinand.

New Releases Coming Tuesday, October 25:

... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.


Antony & The Johnsons- You Are My Sister (Secretly Canadian) CD EP

The Bacon Brothers- White Knuckles (Forosco/SpinArt)

Bassnectar- Mesmerizing the Ultra (Organic) two-CD hip grinder of massive down-the-rabbit-hole beats, featuring guitarist Buckethead on "Bursting" and spoken-word samples from Noam Chomsky

Buckethead- Enter the Chicken (Serjical Strike) with guest Serj Tankian of System of a Down

Vashti Bunyan- Lookaftering (DiCristrina Stair Builders) with guests Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsome

Kate Bush- "King of the Mountain" (EMI) new import-only CD single and seven-inch picture disc, setting the stage for next month's release of Aerial - her first album in 12 years

The Cardigans- Super Extra Gravity (Universal) all-new import-only album featuring the single "I Need Some Fine Wine & You Need to Be Nicer"

Caroline- "Where's My Love" (Temporary Residence) three-track CD single from this sweetly angelic new voice, skating through a minimalist, icy electronic shiver

Children of Bodom- Are We Dead Yet? (Spinefarm) from Finland, featuring a bonus cover of The Ramones' "Somebody Put Something in My Drink" in the American issue

Coffin Lids- Round Midnight (Bomp)

Dead Kennedys- Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (Manifesto) 25th-anniversary reissue featuring a bonus DVD documentary, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Eyeballs

Deadly Snakes- Porcella (In the Red) LP version with seven bonus tracks not found on the CD

Destiny's Child- #1's (Columbia) farewell CD with two new songs

Febe Dobson- Sunday Love (Island) with songs co-written with Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper, and Rancid's Tim Armstrong

The Fiery Furnaces- Rehearsing My Choir (Rough Trade) ambitious new project based around the recollections of 83-year-old Olga Sarantos, grandmother of band members Matt and Eleanor Friedberger

Martin Gordon- God's On His Lunchbreak: Please Call Back (Radiant Future) witty and delightful, this third solo album from the power-pop wunderkind and former Sparks bassist is like a wonderful, lost Kinks album; featuring covers of Paul McCartney's "Too Many People" and Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Captain of the Pinafore"

Tommy Guerrero- Year of the Monkey (Galaxia) new CD EP from the former professional skateboarder

George Harrison & Friends- The Concert for Bangladesh (Apple/EMI) benefiting UNICEF again in this expanded two-CD or DVD set, featuring Bob Dylan's lost track "Love Minus Zero/No Limit"

The Hypstrz- The Hypstrz (Bomb) first time on CD

I Am Ghost- We Are Always Searching (Epitaph) tis the right season for this Long Beach, California, vampire-friendly ensemble, with dark, spooky landscapes and pop punk thrust

Phil Manzanera- 50 Minutes Later (Hannibal) all new with fellow Roxy Music alumni Paul Thompson and Andy Mackay, with guests Brian Eno and Robert Wyatt

Joseph McManners- In Dreams (Sony BMG) 12-year-old singer from Canterbury, England, recently signed to a $2-million recording contract

Meat Beat Manifesto- Off Centre (Thirsty Ear) CD EP of live tracks and rarities

The Mission- Lighting the Candles (SPV) two-DVD and bonus-CD set

My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult- Gay, Black, & Married (Rykodisc) all-disco project featuring the group's campy mutation of "Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me"

Niacin- Organik (Magna Carta) featuring the power trio's workout on Frank Zappa's "King Kong"

Residents- Wormwood (Euroralph/Music Video Distributors) DVD of the band's 1999 performance in Bonn, Germany

Rouge Wave- Descended Like Vultures (SubPop) perfect indie-buzz pop charged with thrilling melodies and wall-of-sound guitars

RPWL- Live: Start the Fire (Inside Out) two-CD set featuring a cover of Syd Barrett's "Opel," and guest vocalist Ray Wilson on a cover of Genesis' "Not About Us"

Samhain- Live 1984: Stardust Ballroom (Flipside/Music Video Distributors) DVD documenting Glenn Danzig's post-Misfits era with Eerie Von of Rosemary's Babys

Saw II- original motion picture soundtrack (Treadstone) with music from Papa Roach, Skinny Puppy, Sevendust, and Mudvayne, plus a remix of Marilyn Manson's "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" by Venus Head Trap

They Might Be Giants- They Got Lost (Rounder) B sides, rarities, and demos only previously available through the duo's website

Tuxedomoon- Cabin in the Sky (Crammed Disc) all new with the recently reunited original lineup, with guest John McEntire of Tortoise

Craig Wedren- Lapland (Team Love) new from the former member of Shudder to Think

Hank Williams III- Straight to Hell (Curb)

various artists - Broken Bones & Power Chords Vol. 1: New York's Finest (Crosscheck)

various artists - For a Decade of Sin: 11 Years of Bloodshot Records (Bloodshot)

various artists - Imaginational Anthem (Near Mint) collection of solo acoustic guitar work by Kaki King, John Fahey, Max Ochs, and more

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