This is one that I meant to review earlier in the year but never got around to for what ever reason. Academy Award-nominated actor Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields’ mutual love for the eerie and the undead converge in Dead Man’s Bones. Originally conceived of as a horror-themed musical written and played by Gosling and Shields, Dead Man’s Bones draws on everything from doo-wop, Sam Cooke, James Brown to Joy Division, Daniel Johnston, horror movies, and vaudeville. Standout tracks combine catchy melodies with upbeat takes on death and the supernatural as in “My Body’s a Zombie for You” which features a chorus of children and Gosling’s 50’s-esque croons. Dead Man’s Bones is a solid starting point for the band, balancing the campy and spiritual in a fascinating and charming release. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Arcade Fire, Beirut, Fanfarlo, Daniel Johnston, Joy Division, Mount Eerie, The Microphones