Follow TV Tropes

Following

Music / Mystery Skulls

Go To

Mystery Skulls is an American indie electronic rock band formed in 2011 by Luis Dubuc. Dubuc first publically announced the existence of the project through Tumblr in August of 2011, just before announcing the end of his former band, The Secret Handshake in September the same year. In 2013, the band signed on with Warner (Bros.) Records.

For a time, their only commercial releases Mystery Skulls had was their self-titled EP and singles for Ghost and Paralyzed, but they still gained a massive amount of popularity through sites such as YouTube and Bandcamp. Their first full album, Forever, was released in 2014, which gained them even more popularity. The project has released their sophomore album, One of Us, on August 4, 2017. In April 19, 2019; their third album, Back to Life, was released.

Note: There are two official music videos for "Ghost" (one live-action and a Flash-animated one by MysteryBen). The tropes pertaining the former are listed on this page; the tropes from the latter can be found at Mystery Skulls Animated.


This band and their music provide examples of:

  • Alternate Music Video: "Ghost" has two music videos; an animated video spoofing Scooby-Doo, and a live action video parodying The Exorcist. The animated one was supposed to be the only video for "Ghost", but production delays for it caused the Mystery Skulls themselves to create their own video in the meantime.
  • Badass Boast:
    • The narrator of "Unstoppable" brags that he's going to curb stomp his enemies who are ganging up on him.
    • "In My Sleep" is an example from one musician to another.
      You can't do this like I do it,
      I fuckin' wrote this in my sleep
  • Demonic Possession: In the "Ghost" music video, a girl is possessed by an evil demonic spirit a la The Exorcist.
  • Downer Ending: The video for "Ghost" ends with the girl still possessed and may be attacking her parents.
  • Electronic Music: Though he's very varied, his main influence lies in electronic music.
  • Genre Throwback: "Magic" is a delicious disco throwback that has elements of 70's music thanks to Nile Rodgers' guitar playing and R&B singer Brandy's vocals.
  • I Am the Band: Luis is the only official member of the band, and Brandy and Nile are only collaborators/live members.
  • Jump Scare: The ending of "Ghost". When the family enters the bedroom, the girl, who is still possessed, jumps out at them while screaming.
  • Lyrical Dissonance: "Everything And More" is a catchy, upbeat piano-driven track that sounds like a typical love song until you listen to the lyrics and realise that the person the narrator is singing to is dead. (Although the narrator does seem to intend to bring them back...)
  • Lyrics/Video Mismatch: "Ghost" is a parody of The Exorcist, where the priest, among other things, mimes using a fishing pole to bring a crucifix toward himself. The lyrics to the song, however, are much more somber compared to their other songs, like "Money" and "Unstoppable."
  • Madness Mantra: "This May Be The Year" is absolutely haunting, and the lyrics consist entirely of Dubuc repeating the same line.
    This may be the year that I disappear.
  • Precision F-Strike:
    • "In My Sleep":
      I fuckin' wrote this in my sleep
    • "Ghost":
      Time for givin' up the ghost
      Fuck, it's you I hate the most
  • Obsession Song: "Hellbent" says, "I've been hellbent, babe / Hellbent on loving you" and "I've been hellbent, babe / Hellbent on making you love me too."
  • Promoted Fanboy: Invoked. MysteryBen, a flash animator, who created Turntable Turnabout, an unofficial music video for Money. It got so popular that Mystery Skulls actually asked him to make an official animated music video for "Ghost." And he did, and it is awesome.
  • Shout-Out: The video for "Ghost" is a love letter to The Exorcist. Or maybe Scary Movie's take on it.

Top