Customer Reviews

Angel: Live Fast, Die Never [Music from the TV Series]

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Released practically a year after the show's untimely demise, "Angel: Live Fast, Die Never" is a haunting and beautiful score compilation that is an absolute must have for Angel fans. Beginning with an excellent extended version of the show's main title theme (performed by Darling Violetta), the haunting mood of the album and the show are perfectly captured, something which no Buffy the Vampire Slayer music compilation could never fully accomplish. The following tracks, including "Start the Apocalypse", "The End of the World", "Home", "Hero", "The Birth of Angelus", "Rebellion", "Dreaming of Darla", "Darla's Sacrifice", "Cordy Meets Fred", and "Farewell Cordelia" are all nothing short of amazing and are instantly recognizable to long time fans of the series. The other tracks included here, including "LA Song" by Christian Kane (better known as the villainous Lindsay) and two performances from Andy Hallett (better known as the green skinned karaoke loving demon Lorne) are worth the price of admission alone. Truly an amazingly atmospheric and haunting score compilation that is an absolute must have for Angel fans.

In the spring of 2004, one of television's most inspired shows got the axe from its network to pave the way for yet more reality TV programming. Memorably, the fans tried their hardest to reverse the network's decision, hosting blood drives and raising more than $20,000 in their valiant attempt to keep "Angel" on the air. Alas, "Angel," spin-off of the legendary (and Emmy-winning) show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," met its death with a slam-bam-thank-you-ma'am series finale, sending off television's best hope for the sanctity of quality programming.
Almost exactly one year later, after years in development and production by the show's creators and composers, the "Angel" score and compilation soundtrack "Angel: Live Fast, Die Never" was released to stores.
The majority of "Die Never" is highlights from the five-year long series' moody and even iconic scoring. Along with most television series, the scoring of "Angel" happens in the background of dialogue and usually hides there, unnoticed by the viewer. Sometimes certain scenes of the "Angel" `dissolved' and the score came out of hiding. Memorable instances of this include the apocalypse montage at the end of season four's "Apocalypse Nowish," the Angel `darkness' montage in the middle of season two, or the many wonderful dream sequences that abounded during the show's five-year run.
The first track of "Die Never" is an extended version of the show's opening credits, titled here as the "Sanctuary Remix." The most notable addition of this remix is the insertion of vocals. Though the song brings back many memories of Wednesday and Sunday nights, watching my favorite TV show, this remix borders on grating after a few listens.
The first batch of scoring from the show revolves around themes from season four and season one. "Start the Apocalypse," my favorite purely orchestrated track on this album, is the music played during the epic rooftop fight in season four's "Apocalypse Nowish." Track five, "Home," has a lonely flute part that highlights the sense of loss felt by Angel in the season four finale as he watched his son's new life unfold. Track six, "Hero," sounds like it could have come out of a blockbuster movie. Featuring vocals by Elin Carlson, this song was played during the character Doyle's death in season one.
Tracks seven though thirteen focus on the character Darla and on Angel's inevitable descent into darkness in season two. These songs are mostly hit-and-miss; but just like season two of "Angel," the whole outweighs the individual parts, as these tracks tell a compelling story of passion and destruction. Track nine, "Rebellion," is a favorite among "Buffy" and "Angel" fans - it's the song played during the vampire montage during the Boxer Rebellion on both shows.
Tracks fourteen through eighteen revolve around the Pylea arc at the end of season two and the introduction of the character Fred. These scores, though fairly stereotypical of their source material, will please fans of operatic orchestrations and sweeping romanticism.
Track 19 is the heartbreaking "Farewell Cordelia," played during the final moments between Angel and Cordelia in season five. Track 20 is another highlight of the soundtrack, titled "I'm Game." This track is the recurring `hero' theme for the character Angel throughout the show, most remembered for its instances in the pilot episode and during the season five season opener.
All is good and well with this collection of scorings from "Angel's" vivid history, but there are cast performances and licensed songs as well that have helped "Angel" tell its dark and interesting story. "Die Never" features two perfectly selected licensed songs from the show, Vast's "Touched" and Kim Richey's "A Place Called Home." "Touched" is a song that I was pleasantly surprised to find on this album, considering I went searching for it on the internet the first time I heard it during the street-walking montage of season one episode two, "Lonely Hearts." Epic and very relatable to the character of Angel, "Touched" has not only converted me to the band "Vast," its inclusion on the show and on this soundtrack is ingenious. "A Place Called Home" is the song played during the end of "Shells," the episode in season five where the character Illyria is officially introduced and it's confirmed Fred is dead and never coming back. You might remember the montage - it featured the characters left behind by Fred's death followed by a flashback of Fred's move away from home. Yeah, I got teary-eyed too, and listening to this song on this soundtrack is so heart wrenching, I still have yet to get more than thirty seconds into it.
Three songs are original cast performances, one by Christian Kane (who played the character Lindsey) and two by Andy Hallet (who played the green demon Lorne). Kane's "LA Song," written by show co-creator David Greenwalt, is wonderfully performed and contains key foreshadowing for future events in the series. Andy Hallet is as charming as ever in his two songs, "Lady Marmalade" and his original creation "It's Not Easy Being Green." Listening to these two songs makes me yearn to see his character on television again, and make me upset that they underused his character in the show's last season.
"Angel" and "Buffy" fans need not wait any longer - this soundtrack is a must-have, an absolutely essential part of any fan's Joss Whedon collection. Though the scoring can get a tad monotone and dreary, the wonderful memories of the show brought forth by listening to these songs will make for a beautifully nostalgic journey.
Non-"Buffy" and non-"Angel" fans will still find some value in "Die Never." The orchestrations are synthetic yet solid, and the two licensed songs are absolute winners. Still, there are many other albums that one could better spend their time listening to. For sweeping, dramatic orchestrations that originate in dramatic interpretation, I recommend the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Between Heaven and Earth" instead of "Die Never."
Here's thanks to Joss Whedon, Christopher Back, and Robert J. Kral for releasing this soundtrack, even after the show has ended.

I think this is quite an outstanding compilation. The title song is, of course, a staple. Then the next few tracks are all ambience pieces that will make you feel very much like the apocalypse is coming and so is the hot vampire in the long black coat. What makes this compilation really great is the last few songs that all fans will remember. These include Touched, LA Song (that Lindsey performed in Caritas), and a few hits by Lorne, including Lady Marmalade. For fans, this is totally worth the purchase.

Amazing. For anyone who casually watched Angel this soundtrack is good. For those of us who were obsessed with the show, it is amazing. All of the songs take you back to moments of the show. Each track has a small description of where the music was used in the show, and what emotions the composers were trying to invoke. Music used during fights is great and powerful; songs like Hero and the beautifully sung A Place Called Home bring us back to some of the saddest moments when our favorite characters sacrificed their lives for a greater good. Finally, there is LA Song (a personal fave), performed by Christian Kane. If you listen closely to the lyrics; sky's gonna open, raining fire, people falling to their knees praying, it kinda makes you wonder if this beautiful song from Season 2 was foreshadowing what was to come in Season 4. With Joss and Co. you never know. All in all, a great soundtrack to an amazing show.

During the show, you never really get a good listen to the music in the background as it's usually covered up with the action on the screen. And that's such a shame, it's beautiful music.
I love the extended Main Theme song, Home and Hero...but my fav has to be "Through the Looking Glass" I love how the recorder solo is quite and shy at the beginning but after a dark and louder session, the recorder comes back strong and powerful. It's beautiful.
I'm hoping they release another volumn with more of the music that had to be cut out of this album because 'Angel' had some of the most beautiful and moving music on television.

After too many years of waiting, "Angel" Joss Whedons "Buffy" spin-off finally gets a soundtrack ("Buffy" has 3). It contains mostly score but is still excellent, the music is haunting and heartbreaking, my faves are Hero (which features lovely vocals by elin hamilton) and Farewell Cordy. The "Angel" main theme is extended and is also excellent. Now I have to say I wish more of the cast kareoke would have been included like Lorne's "I Will Survive", Harmony's hilarious "The Way We Were", Cordy's godawfully funny "Greatest Love Of All", and Angel's "Mandy" (or even the Angel/Connor duet "Jasmine" done to the tune of "Mandy"). However, the songs present are terrific and I can't really complain too much. Buy It Now!

*Warning, some spoilers from the TV show*

The CD accomplished what the TV show did so well, setting up heart felt stories, that leads to bittersweet goodbyes to heartbreaking endings. Truly, each track brought back vivid memories to the particular story arcs in which they were originally aired. From Doyle's heroic sacrifice that sent Angel and Cordelia to become the truest meaning of the word "Champions" ... To Angel's realization that in order to give Conner a true shot at happiness, he would have to say goodbye forever, and our hearts broke with Angels as he watched his son. Who for the first time actually looked happy and contented with his life. And much like the series, Andy Hallett, who has constantly kept the series uplifted and joyous, even through the all the tears, has provided some remarkable vocals that bring a smile. Yet, like the series, after the smile, Joss always seems to like to show us that life is a series of ups and downs. Ending the CD on the episode, "Shells" where Fred, one of the most chrismatic and radient actresses, dies after finally getting together with Wesley, and a montage of her moving to the big city is shown.

Haunting. Beautiful. A must for any fan who signed the petition, gave money, did all he could to keep Angel on the air.
Yet, if there is one thing that Joss's stories, and the brilliant and heartfel acting of the cast, and the hard work of the crew has taught us. Is that even if our actions are forgotten, if our memories dry up and eventually have no more meaning, and all is lost in the ambiguity of time. It is what we do, in the here and the now, that matters. The lives we touch in the process, and this CD, has touched many. Thank You.

Unlike the Buffy soundtrack CD, which was a mix of popular music that had been featured on the show, most of this is a welcome closer listen to the hauntingly beautiful music written expressly for the series. Younger Angel fans may not like it since they tend to prefer music with vocals and lyrics they can sing along with, but there is much richness to feast upon for those who appreciate complex, orchestral music.

If I have one complaint, it's that the theme song is only presented in an extended version--very nice, but it would have been great to have had the classic short version we all know and love included as well.

I love this album. I listen to it several times a week. Fortunately, I work mostly at home, so I can put it on and blast the volume (no close neighbors), and work away. I only wish they would do a similar CD for Buffy - not just all that music at the Bronze, which I have not bought. I do love the musical CD from "Once More with Feeling" and play it in my car all the time and sing along (windows up). The Angel CD stands with all my other great favorites - all the LOTR, Star Wars, Gladiator, Matrix, Last of the Mohicans. All good work-to collections!

I also bought James Marsters new CD from his website. Note to Amazon - you should carry it! It's great in a totally different way - in the car - sing along, like the Buffy musical.

First of all I have to say this is an amazing album.and i will probably say this a couple more times.This soundtrack really deserves your undivided attention.by this i mean,don't listen to it while checking your email or even watching 'Friends' on mute.The music brought me directly to whatever episode of angel it was featured in,as well as a couple tears to my eyes."Hero", "Farewell Coredelia",and "cordy meets fred" did that easily.The music from action sequences are very powerful and you'll feel like you're on Angel's team marching into battle.I absolutely love this album.It can seriously serve as the soundtrack of your life or whatever you're going through.And as Joss said,this album contains a lot of "moody-ness" lol.The first track & and main theme was great.I'm glad that Darling Violetta saw the effectiveness (is that the right word?) of the theme and decided not to add a bunch of pointless lyrics.We have been with Angel for 5 years...we know the story.So DV does not dissapoint.Oh,and raise your hands if you have been waiting FOREVER to hear the "LA Song" on your cd player full blast!It really is worth the wait and needless to say,so is this album.Andy Hallett is great on "Lady Marmalade" and (aww) "It's not easy being green"...I wish there would have been more of him on the album.Both songs are really different and GREAT!I definitely want to be green after hearing that song.lol.The album ends with Kim Richey's "A Place Called Home" which,is a tiny bit anticlimactic but still a great song.Fred's death being the saddest of all(for me at least) made the album's ending a little better.This is overall a truly amazing album.but i really think you have to be a big ANGEL fan to really appreciate it.go on now...buy it with one click!