"The Ghouls Go West"
The Moon Rays, 2004
Our good pals The
Moon-Rays have just released their second album, The
Ghouls Go West. (Dead cowboy cover courtesy of artist Elliott
Mattice.) It's all you would expect from these creature-feature, surf
guitar, exotica fanatics...and then some. This time around, the boys are
all about creating their own dark-hipster musical magic. Of the eleven
songs on the disc, nine are Moon-Rays originals. The only
two covers on the album, both from old television shows. (That's where
the boys get a lot of their inspiration.) The first track on the album
is a spooky rendition of the theme from the 60's show "One Step Beyond"
titled "Fear." Then there is the theme the vampire soap opera "Dark Shadows"
with a tropic twist. It sounds like our old pal Barnabas was sucking the
blood of Martin Denny. It's a Quiet Village...of the dead!
The Moon-Rays, who last album
showed they had a soft-spot for the Munsters, go after it again with "Dragula
Go-Go!" An homage to Grandpa Munster. It's bongo-liscious!
"Blues for Vampira" is a nod to everyone's
favorite 1950's horror movie hostess and star of "Plan 9 From Outer Space."
And speaking of outer space, "Little Green Men" launches you into you into
hipest therimin-induced flight you'll ever take. There's also a nod to
Spaghetti Westerns (with a fusion jazz vibe) with "The Hanging Tree."
But without a doubt, the highlights of The
Ghouls Go West is the noir-styled "Thrillville," the official theme
to cool cat Will "the Thrill" Viharo's
B-movie experience.
If you've ever listened to the
Bachelor
Pad Radio Show, you know the Moon-Rays are one of our
favorite bands...for good reason. And after you listen to
The Ghouls
Go West, don't be surprised if they become your favorite band too.
Here are some audio samples from The
Ghouls Go West: "Fear,"
"Blues For Vampira,"
and "Dragula Go-Go!"
Visit
The Moon-Rays Website
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