If you’re one of the legion of horror fans slavishly devoted to Ryan Murphy’s dark vision, chances are you were experiencing a mixture of withdrawal and outrage with last week’s hiatus. I know, I know… it’s hard enough to wait ONE week, let alone TWO. Hopefully you had a chance to catch up on some sleep, visit with some family, maybe watch some inferior programming, while busily counting seconds until December 4th.
Well, friends, the wait is nearly over, and we shall soon be re-united with our witchy family. To celebrate, and to get you in the mood, I provide for your aural delight and consternation, a playlist of music featured in Coven.
The third season of American Horror Story is being filmed in New Orleans, La., one of the most musical cities in America. For how influential it is, it can be difficult to track down real music from the Big Easy, not some watered down fake Zydeco. This season features music spanning the entire history of that city, from big band to bounce, second line to slimy dubstep, and all points in between. You will be cast into a world of gaslight and shadows, voodoo nightclubs and moonlit bayous. You will pratically be able to feel the wrought iron beneath your fingertips, as the scent of beignets and bourgainvillea mingle with the acrid smell of sweat and fear in your nostrils. Welcome to New Orleans.
It’s not all regional fare, either, there’s plenty of other favorites to caress your tympanum and put you under their spell.
Music has always been a central feature of American Horror Story, wickedly curated and expertly placed. Listening back to these tracks is a treat, as you relive the events of that episode. It adds a new dimension of appreciation, and makes you love the songs that much more.
Thanks to the generosity of the internet, I present a 26 track playlist, featuring nearly every song that has shown up in the season. Subscribe to the playlist, as it will be updated as the season goes along.
Immortal gratitude to /u/dreadu and the whole www.reddit.com/r/AmericanHorrorStory community, which is most rad and worth a visit. It’s one of the joys of being devoted to the dark side; we have some of the coolest communities around (and we’re not as terrifying as you might think ((although we all go a little mad sometimes)) ).
This playlist covers a wide range of eras and styles; there should be something for nearly everybody here. There is some rap music on here, be advised, and one of the tracks is NSFW. My recommendation would be to just skip something if you don’t like it. Apologies for the commercials on Spotify, but hey, it’s free, right?
Some highlights of American Horror Story: Coven
Lauren O’Connell – The House Of The Rising Sun (cover) – A dirgey, creepy crawl through this traditional number, performed by everyone from Bob Dylan to Jimi Hendrix. This was used in the 30-second trailers. “There is a house in New Orleans…”
Raffertie – Last Train Home – This smooth, rolling techno track has been getting a lot of love, and is bound to earn Mr. Raffertie a whole grip of new fans. Perfect for driving or late night walks over crisped leaves. Distant but romantic.
Frederic Mercier – Spirit – Like flying a tie-fighter down the back alleys of Detroit. John Carpenter does disco. My favorite kind of thing. Instantly, and irredeemably obsessed.
Papa Mali (ft. Big Chief Monk Boudreaux + Robb Kidd) – Sugarland & Girls In Bossier City – A modern, psychedelic take on the voodoo blues. Slow & moody, deep and sultry, this will get your mojo working, guaranteed.
Truth – Devil’s Hands – Ever wonder what this dubstep is, the kids are on about? Here’s your chance to find out. Slow & slurry, guaranteed to cure infertility.
Stevie Nicks & Fleetwood Mac – Edge Of Seventeen + Rhiannon + Sara – We all like Stevie Nicks & Fleetwood Mac, even if we don’t like to admit it, or don’t always remember. This season has been doing a great reason reminding us of the bewitching combo of Stevie Nicks’ voice and Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar. As an added bonus, the series has re-instegated the controversy of whether or not Stevie Nicks is a witch, and rumor has it, is slated for an appearance later in the season.
Dr. John – Right Place, Wrong Time – The Night Tripper, a N’awlins institution. “Burn witch burn…”
John Ringo – Got Bass – Here’s that rap music I was talking about, a prime example of the style known as Bounce, underground rap from the mean streets of the Crescent City. It’s hard to find the real thing, although this style’s been catching on, the past 2 years. Bounce is also the root of twerking, if you ever wondered where that came from or how that came to be a thing. This track definitely endorses some illicit activities, so if you have sensitive ears, stay away, or don’t say you weren’t warned.
Compagnia D’opera Italiana Orchestra – Norma: Casta Diva – A beautiful operatic aria.
Duke Ellington – New Orleans Low Down – Last but not least, we conclude our guided tour with the Duke, the main that sophisticated jazz. It can be really dang hard to find 20s jazz that is not cheesy or commericial; this is the real deal. Good sound quality for it’s age, as well.
Don’t have access to Spotify? Worry not. Here’s a mix from 8tracks.com, to get you started:
And there’s a ton more over there at the American Horror Story: Coven tag.
You can find info on individual songs and where they appear, from the official FX NETWORK site.
Follow along with the Music from American Horror Story tumblr blog for more individual tracks, and lots of pictures and ephemera.
Many thanks to the uploaders, and the awesome communities surrounding AHS. Considering that AHS: Asylum hits Netflix this Wednesday, as well, we should have more than enough to make up for lost time.
Hey J. Simpson!
Thanks for mentioning me in the post ;-). I’m working on Freak Show ST right now, some tunes are really hard to find (50’s), but list is in progress, and so far it’s awesome.