Music » TV Soundtracks

While the idea of infusing a weekly TV series with a Broadway musical ethos isn't exactly a new one--think Randy Newman's ambitious Cop Rock--it became something of a turn-of the-century television mini-trend. But few have reached as far--or succeeded--like this November 2001 episode of Fox Network's Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Penned by series creator-producer Joss Whedon and performed by Sarah Michelle Gellar and cast, it's a loving, loopy musical pastiche that takes potshots at everything from Andrew Lloyd Webber to alt-rock. Paralleling the show's lovable pop culture tweaking, the musical styles here (the episode's musical conceit is a curse visited upon Buffy's hometown of Sunnydale) range from a patent footlight chorus of demons being interrupted by Gellar's hard-rocking stake thrusts on "Going Through the Motions" to Spike the Vampire's goth-metal complaint "Rest in Peace," with everything from parking tickets and mustard stain removal to climactic duels with the supernatural getting the Broadway send-up. Also includes strong orchestral score-suites from three other episodes, as well as Whedon and wife Kai Cole's demo for "Something to Sing About." --Jerry McCulley

When Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks collaborated on the Academy Award?-winning Saving Private Ryan, an abiding passion to further honor the young fighting soldiers of World War II was born in both men, resulting in Band of Brothers, an ambitious 10-part miniseries based on historian Stephen Ambrose's account of a 101st Airborne regiment as it fought its way across Europe. In scoring the sweeping project, Michael Kamen has eschewed much of the martial music familiar from past war epics in favor of the quiet, largely introspective sound that's informed modern battle films from Platoon through Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line. And if his reverential, often somber tones capture the dignity of the soldiers and the gravity of the events, they sometimes do so at the expense of other human dimensions--and the lively pop music of the '40s. Still, Kamen's work strikes an impressive balance, fusing the pastoral with subtle modern rhythm touches and utilizing spare piano solos, a darkly ironic use of Beethoven's String Quartet in C-sharp Minor, and a memorable, elegiac main theme. --Jerry McCulley

Release Date: 2000-09-26, Audio CD, RCA

For better or worse, John Williams has completely reshaped the art of the soundtrack. His scores for Star Wars, E.T., and Jaws are simply unforgettable, and his knack for tugging at our heartstrings is uncanny. John Williams: Greatest Hits 1969-1999 collects 30 years of the composer's best-loved themes into one double-CD package. You'll find all the soundtrack moments you'd expect from Indiana Jones, Close Encounters, and Schindler's List, along with a few surprises (The Reivers Americana-filled main theme and Williams's 1984 Olympic theme, for starters). Most of the earlier works have been digitally rerecorded by Williams, so while you may not get the original recording of these works here, nothing shows its age. And although we really do get only his "greatest hits" (the longest track is the nearly 10-minute-long Close Encounters theme), most of these soundtracks can be purchased in their entirety for the true aficionado. John Williams may be an acquired taste, but this set proves why--year after year--he scores some of the most successful films Hollywood can produce. --Jason Verlinde

Six Feet Under is HBO's critically acclaimed drama series that takes a darkly comic look at a dysfunctional family that runs an independent funeral home. The show creator is Alan Ball who is the Academy Award winning writer of American Beauty. All 17 tracks appear in the show (including the unmarked bonus track 'Yummy Yummy Yummy' by Julie London). Other artists include PJ Harvey, Craig Armstrong, The Dandy Warhols, The Beta Band, Zero 7, Lamb and more. Digipak. Universal. 2002.

Release Date: 1990-12-29, Audio CD, Nonesuch

The Sopranos have become considerably more than just the average psychically tortured New Jersey mob family next door. HBO's innovative, if distinctly murderous soap opera has become a modern cultural icon, one whose innovative pop music score is almost an equal supporting cast member. The term dizzying has been overused in describing strong soundtrack collections, but it just might not do this second volume of Sopranos music justice. Show creator David Chase, director Martin Bruestle, and executive producer Brad Grey are credited with this rich, cross-genre, multigenerational collection, but they tellingly thank a few score others. The contributions from usual suspect vets like Frank Sinatra, Dylan, Elvis Costello, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, the Kinks, Keith Richards (and the Stones), the Pretenders, and Ben E. King contain more than their fair share of musical and contextual surprises. But the collection's true appeal lies in its artistically oblique corners, which somehow embrace alt-rock (R&B tinged and straight up, courtesy of Pigeonhed and Cake, respectively), nouveau Aussie country (Kasey Chambers), traditional gospel and swampy blues (the Campbell Brothers with Katie Jackson, R.L. Burnside), Vivaldi (Cecilia Di Bartoli), and contemporary Neopolitan pop (Madreblu, Lorenzo Jovanotti). Even budding star Uncle Junior chimes in, with Dominic "Goldenthroat" Chianese lending a spare, heartfelt rendition of the traditional "Core'ngrato"; hang onto your kneecaps, 'N Sync! --Jerry McCulley

Release Date: 2003-05-06, Audio CD, Hip-O Records

Release Date: 1992-08-11, Audio CD, RCA Victor

Out of print in the U.S.! Import pressing of the hit soundtrack to the '80s TV series. 11 tracks from Jan Hammer, Glenn Frey, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan and others. Universal.