Do you know anyone who digs The Vampire Diaries series and its fine soundtrack sampling of dark pop and alternative music? Are you in need of some sexy tunes by Cruel Intentions‘ Placebo and yet another dose of Gorillaz whilst rockin’ a hot new JanSport bag for trick-or-treating?

Well, ghouls and goblins, here’s the skinny: our dearest JanSport comrades have done you a solid by offering up a little black backpack full of goodies more hauntingly beautiful than a mixture of the opening credits for House, M.D. and a dose of True Blood.

The package includes:

– JanSport Right Pack Monochrome Backpack
– Vampire Diaries Poster
– Signed Sky Ferreira Poster

The following CD’s:
– Vampire Diaries Soundtrack
– Gorillaz’ Plastic Beach
– A Fine Frenzy‘s Bomb In A Birdcage
– Placebo’s Meds
– Goldfrapp’s Head First
– Bat For Lashes’ Two Suns

Yes, the treats are a killer prize, but the trick to it could get a tad bloodier. How do you win this frightening fanatic find? You simply make Consequence of Sound your friend on Facebook (if you haven’t done so already) and post to our wall in tandem: (1) photograph of you in a relevant and imaginative costume, (1) attached comment on your favorite vampire film and why you chose it. The most creative and/or shocking photo and tie-in comment combination will win the lot, and you don’t even need to T.P. Stephenie Meyer’s place for the privilege.

Go snap some shots on your iPhones and get them posted ASAP, loyal brethren! The Vampire Diaries: OST, featuring the hit single “Obsession” by Sky Ferreira, is available on iTunes now. You can watch the video below.

Contest ends November 1st. Get those entries going!

Teaming up with Target for this exclusive release, A Fine Frenzy’s delightfully unique six-song EP, Oh Blue Christmas, will be released on November 3rd. And the best part? Oh Blue Christmas features more than covers. In addition to three holiday favorites (“Blue Christmas”, “Winter Wonderland” and “Christmas Time is Here”), three original songs by Sudol and company entitled “Redribbon Foxes”, “Winter White” and, “Wish You Well” will also be included.

According to Sudol, A Fine Frenzy found the band expanding its sound with subtle accents from horns, mandolins, and pedal-steel guitars during the album’s brief recording session. Sudol admitted, “we basically put down six songs in five days, recording everything together around an invisible campfire; everyone picking up different instruments and playing them on a moment’s notice. There was definitely some holiday magic in the air that week.”

In other words, you probably won’t want to miss A Fine Frenzy this year, as the band tours the states in support of Bomb in a Birdcage. Besides, if you’re lucky you might even catch a live performance of one of these timeless Christmas tracks!

Oh Blue Christmas Tracklisting:
01. Blue Christmas
02. Winter Wonderland
03. Redribbon Foxes
04. Winter White
05. Wish You Well
06. Christmas Time Is Here

A Fine Frenzy 2009 Tour Dates:
10/23 – Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
10/24 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottle Tree
10/25 – Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsley
10/28 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
10/30 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Café
10/31 – Washington, DC @ Birchmere
11/02 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
11/04 – Chicago, IL @ Park West
11/05 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
11/09 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
11/10 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
11/12 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American
11/13 – Sacramento, CA @ Boardwalk
11/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Martini Ranch
11/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey
11/18 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues

Noah and the Whale 2009 Tour Dates:

In celebration of the U.S. release of its brand new album, The First Days of Spring, and film of the same name, Noah and the Whale have announced a special seven date U.S. tour. Wedged two legs of European dates, the latter of which will see the U.K. outfit team up with Phoenix, the fun will run between October 20th and 31st and include stops in Chicago and Los Angeles. Tickets for select dates are available via Ticketmaster.com.

09/15 – Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli
09/16 – Berlin, DE @ Postbahnof
09/18 – Paris, FR @ Cafe de la Danse
09/19 – Rotterdam, NL @ Rotown
09/20 – Vera, NL @ Groningen
09/21 – Amstedam, NL @ Melkweg
09/24 – Dublin, IE @ St. James Gate Brewery
09/27 – Gateshead, UK @ The Sage
09/28 – Leeds, UK @ Cockpit
09/29 – Manchester, UK @ Club Academy
10/01 – Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy
10/02 – London, UK @ Koko
10/04 – Norwich, UK @ Waterfront
10/05 – Cambridge, UK @ Junction
10/07 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
10/08 – Derby, UK @ Rockhouse
10/10 – Exeter, UK @ Phoenix
10/11 – Bath, UK @ Komedia
10/12 – Falmouth, UK @ Princess Pavilion
10/14 – Sheffield, UK @ Leadmill
10/15 – Glasgow, UK @ Oran Mor Auditorium
10/16 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
10/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
10/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall
10/24 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Cafe
10/25 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
10/29 – Chicago, IL @ Lakeshore Theater
10/30 – Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room
10/31 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
11/07 – Stockholm, SE @ Debaser *
11/08 – Gothenburg, SE @ Brew House *
11/09 – Oslo, NO @ Rockafela *
11/10 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega *
11/12 – Hamburg, DE @ Docks *
11/13 – Bielefeld, DE @ Ringlokschuppen *
11/14 – Cologone, DE @ E-Werk *
11/15 – Munich, DE @ Theaterfbrik *
11/17 – Stuttgart, DE @ Zapata *
11/18 – Frankfurt, DE @ Cocoon Club *
11/20 – Mannheim, DE @ Alte Feurwache *
11/21 – Berlin, DE @ Huxley’s *

* = w/ Phoenix

A Fine Frenzy 2009 Tour Dates:

Following last week’s release of her new album, Bomb in a Birdcage, the Alison Sudol led A Fine Frenzy has announced a U.S. tour for this fall. “On the last tour,” Sudol says, “I discovered that I love rocking out and having a good time. So this time, I wanted to stretch and grow and push myself. I wasn’t interested in doing more of the same, that doesn’t inspire me. And now, I can’t wait to get on the road with this stuff! It’s going to be quite an undertaking, but I’m up for it.” Helping Sudol out on the trek will be Landon Pigg and Oak & Ashes. Tickets for select dates are available via Ticketmaster.com.

10/20 – Austin, TX @ The Parish *^
10/22 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues *^
10/23 – Atlanta, GA @ The Loft *^
10/24 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottle Tree *^
10/25 – Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsley *^
10/28 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre *^
10/30 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe *^
10/31 – Washington, DC @ Birchmere *^
11/02 – Boston, MA @ Paradise *^
11/04 – Chicago, IL @ Park West *^
11/05 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line *^
11/09 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos *^
11/10 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *^
11/12 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *^
11/13 – Sacramento, CA @ Boardwalk *^
11/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Martini Ranch *^
11/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre *^
11/18 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues *^

* = w/ Landon Pigg
^ = w/ Oak & Ashes

Dragonette 2009 Tour Dates:

Dragonette will be hitting both Canada and the U.S. in the weeks ahead. The trek, which runs from October 2nd to November 6th and will feature support from Ruby Jean & the Thoughtful Bees, will come in anticipation of its Canadian outfit’s second full-length, Fixin to Thrill. Tickets for select dates are available via Ticketmaster.com.

10/02 – Peterborough, ON @ Red Dogg *
10/03 – Montreal, QC @ Pop Montreal
10/05 – Hamilton, ON @ Casbah *
10/06 – London, ON @ Call the Office *
10/07 – Waterloo, ON @ The Starlight *
10/08 – Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club *
10/12 – Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Centre *
10/14 – Calgary, AB @ The Whiskey *
10/15 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room *
10/16 – Nelson, BC @ TBA *
10/17 – Vancouver, BC @ Venue *
10/18 – Victoria, BC @ Sugar *
10/19 – Seattle, WA @ Vera Project
10/20 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
10/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Popscene
10/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
10/24 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
10/26 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
10/28 – Kansas City, MO @ Czar Bar
10/30 – Springfield, MO @ Outland
10/31 – Chicago, IL @ Sonotheque
11/04 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott
11/05 – New York, NY @ Santos
11/06 – Washington, DC @ DC9

* = / Ruby Jean & the Thoughtful Bees

“I think some people may be surprised…They think that I’m all fragile and ethereal, but I have a wild side, too. I’m a quiet person with a loud streak.”

In other words, the title of Sudol’s latest Fine Frenzy release, Bomb in a Birdcage, means exactly what you think – the author between 2007′s colorful and warm One Cell in the Sea has let loose a bit. The result is an effort that is said to retain Sudol’s tuneful charm and whimsical language, while incoporating new styles and sounds. Hell, there’s even a rock ballad!

But why the change? Thank, or blame Rufus Wainright…

Lengthy tours alongside the likes of Rufus Wainwright and Brandi Carlile contributed to Sudol’s attraction to different sounds.

“On tour,” she says, “I discovered that I love rocking out and having a good time. I started listening to as much music as I could. I didn’t want to limit myself. I wanted to stretch and grow and push myself. I also wanted to have fun.”

Fun, which can be obtained beginning September 8th via Virgin Records.