I can’t say I got into ASF, but I agree about the indie scene in the ‘80’s, it was awesome!

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ING, I can certainly understand why Porcupine is your favorite! There’s something about that album that feels so different from everything else happening in 1983. The music, the atmosphere, and that incredible Icelandic cover photograph all fit together perfectly. It really is a complete work of art.

And yes, that poster is fantastic! I love those little extras that record companies used to include with singles. They made collecting vinyl even more exciting, and it’s always nice when they survive all these years later.

I see what you mean about the newer material. It’s difficult to recapture that slightly dangerous, unpredictable sound they had in the early days. And I’m so glad you mentioned Electrafixion! Now there was a project that brought back some of that raw energy and bite. I also think Siberia deserves more appreciation than it gets.

And what a great catch with Revenge Of The Killer B’s Vol. 2! I love those old Warner Bros. compilations. What a wonderful way to discover B-sides and other recordings that might otherwise have slipped through the cracks.

Thanks so much, ING! I always enjoy your thoughts and the little musical connections you bring to the conversation!

Jeff, what a wonderful comment! You’ve honestly made my day, my friend. Thank you so much for those incredibly kind words!

What a great way to discover Echo & The Bunnymen! Those Warner Bros. “Just Say Yes” compilations were such a treat, and “Lips Like Sugar” is still one of my favorite Bunnymen tracks. Their version of “People Are Strange” is another gem, and certainly appropriate for this time of year!

I’m especially happy that you’ve been enjoying the more unusual selections I’ve been sharing this Halloween season. That’s really what makes Spooky Season Spins so much fun for me. I love digging through my collection and finding records that capture that darker, stranger side of the ’80s. Sometimes the most unexpected songs turn out to be the most interesting.

And Jeff, what you said about the care I put into my transfers truly means a lot. I spend countless hours working on these records because I love the music, and I want everyone to hear them sounding as good as I can possibly make them. Industry recognition would certainly be nice, but knowing that people like you appreciate the time, effort, and love that goes into Burning the Ground is incredibly rewarding.

It’s thoughtful comments like yours that remind me why I’ve kept doing this for so many years.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Jeff. I’m so glad you’re here sharing this musical adventure with me!

You’re very welcome, Jens! I’m so glad you’re enjoying this one. Thank you for being part of Spooky Season Spins. Your support means a lot!

Paulo, what a wonderful interpretation of the lyrics! I’ve always been drawn to the darker, more mysterious side of “The Cutter,” but you’ve given me another way to look at it. That idea of wanting to rise above the ordinary and make something meaningful out of our limited time really does fit the Bunnymen. After all, they were never a band content with sounding like everyone else.

I’m glad you brought up the connection to A Clockwork Orange, too. That scene with the homeless man in the underpass is certainly unsettling, and it adds another interesting layer to the song. Between that reference, Shankar’s Eastern-influenced strings, and McCulloch’s cryptic lyrics, there’s so much going on beneath the surface of this record.

One of the things I love most about sharing music on Burning the Ground is hearing how differently we can interpret the same song. Sometimes a reader points out something that makes me appreciate a record in a completely new way, and you’ve done exactly that today.

Thank you for such a thoughtful comment, Paulo. I really enjoyed reading your perspective!

Thank you so much, Retro Hound! I see what you did there with “a cut above the rest!” And I couldn’t agree more. Ian McCulloch had such a commanding voice, and the band was never afraid to take their music somewhere unexpected. Those strange arrangements and unusual sounds are a big part of what made them so special. Even after all these years, their records still sound remarkably fresh.

I’m especially glad you picked up on what I’m trying to do with Spooky Season Spins. Don’t get me wrong, I love “Ghostbusters” and “Thriller” just as much as anyone! But there’s a whole world of darker, stranger music from the ’80s that captures the feeling of Halloween without necessarily being about Halloween. Sometimes it’s the songs that leave you feeling a little uneasy that make the best spooky soundtrack.

I really appreciate your enthusiasm and support, my friend. Thanks for coming along for another Spooky Season!

JP, I absolutely love your image of an ice cutter slowly making its way through the Arctic with The Thing waiting somewhere out there! Now you’ve got me imagining the song playing over the opening credits of a John Carpenter movie. It really does have that kind of unsettling atmosphere, doesn’t it?

I completely agree about what makes Echo & The Bunnymen so special. They had a sound that was unmistakably their own. Even their most accessible songs had something a little strange lurking beneath the surface. That’s probably why their music has aged so well. And you’re right about the B-sides. That live version of “Zimbo” is worth owning the record for all by itself!

I’m also glad you noticed the poster in the files. I couldn’t leave that little piece of history out! And it makes me very happy to hear that you’re still enjoying last year’s “The Killing Moon” transfer. What a magnificent record that is.

As for Spooky Season coming to an end, I’m right there with you. It’s always a little bittersweet when Halloween gets this close. I spend so much time looking forward to October, and then it seems to disappear in the blink of an eye. If only we could make it last a little longer!

Thanks so much for the wonderful comment, JP. I always enjoy reading your thoughts!