Groovie Ghoulies “Fun In the Dark” 1999. Lookout Records. It’s Halloween week so I’m digging out releases tinged with spooky scary themes. Today it’s Cali pop-punks Groovie Ghoulies, their name inspired by the early 70′s animated TV show “Groovie Goolies,” hip monsters who performed pop songs.

Fun In the Dark is on the pop side of the punk-pop curve, very 50′s/60′s via the the Ramones inspired tunes over garagey guitars and beats. Some of the tracks are literal nods to the monster genre like “(She’s My) Vampire Girl,” “(She’s Got a) Brain Scrambling Device” and “The Spell Is On.” Others…not so much: “Carly Simon” for example. Overall: kitschy, a bit silly, but a good pull for a poppy punky Halloween party.