Customer Reviews

Music From The OC: Mix 5

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The O.C.'s is a typical teen-oriented soap opera show, but the soundtracks released are anything but typical. They eschew the mainstream and focus on smart & off-center music. The fifth soundtrack is the best released so far. Ranging from Imogene Heap's brilliant "Hide & Seek" to the Kaiser Chief's snotty Brit-Pop "Na Na Na Na Naaah", to Youth Group's fine cover of Alphaville's "Forever Young", to the straight indie-pop Of Montreal's "Requiem For O.M.M." to an acoustic reworking of the show's theme, Phantom Planet's "California 2005", there are nothing but first-rate songs.

I must say that I, too, am a huge fan of the music of The O.C. They continually find little known bands that add so much to the flavor of the show. This the fifth O.C. mix is a good one in and of itself. I must say, though, that it isn't quite as good as the fourth mix. This mix has some hit and miss songs, but on the whole the album is great. I particularly like Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek, which was the season finale song. Absolutely amazing, every single time I listen to that song. Throw in Forever Young and the album is more than worth it. I would recommend.

I have never watched an episode of the O.C. and am quite angry about its soundtracks. Everytime time I find a hip and unknown band, it is always on the next O.C. compilation album. Why won't they just leave my obscure bands alone! (Stars is the best one on the soundtrack. I'll admit they deserve some recognition from the masses.)

I absolutely LOVE this mix 5 album from the OC (which by the way is an amazing show by the way). There is such smart, cutting edge music on this compilation, and I love how the OC gives viewers a chance to listen to 5 star indie music that they won't here on the radio. As Summer Roberts would say, "Indie rock is like the new pop rock." Well said.

Some of my favorite tracks would be the beautifully somber "I Wish I Was Dead" by the Shout Out Louds, a great cover of the classic "Forever Young" by Youth Group, the haunting "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" by Stars, and Imogen Heaps "Hide and Seek," which sounds similar to Bjork and is absolutely lovely.

Besides these standout tracks, I also do enjoy most of the other tracks: "Rock and Roll Queen," "Reason is Treason," "Publish My Love," "Requieum for O.M.M," "Kids with Gunds," and "California 2005." This version of "California" is an acoustic version, and although I prefer the upbeat original version, this kinda solemn one is great too.

So yeah, that only leaves two tracks that I'm so into: "Daft Punk is Playing in My House" and "Na Na Naaa". I mean, they're OK, but I'm not really feeling them.

Regardless, this is an extroadinary mix. I am in love with so many of these wonderful songs, and it totally gives off that OC vibe. I listen to them and I instantly picture the OC. I definately recommend this mix if you enjoy the music they play on the show or if you're into indie rock. I maybe heard of two or three of the bands on this album, but I was blown away by how amazing these unknown bands were. Oh, and the booklet is also very well crafted. It resembles a senior yearbook so they're a bunch of signatures from all your favorite characters to each other. It's so cute! There's even some suprise messages from characters no longer on the show, such as Anna! Fabulous. Fabulous album.

Definitely I am a great fan of The OC (unfortunately not aired in France) and of the mixes from the show. The five of them permitted me to live again my favourite moments of the show but also to find out American indie bands that are not famous at all in France.
About this mix, there wasn't only new stuff for me because I already owned the records by Kaiser Chiefs, The Subways and Gorillaz. The tracks by Rogue Wave, Of Montreal and Imogen Heap and Stars above all are really really good material though. Very smart and original. Plus a deserved "mention spéciale" for California 2005 which totally represents what I like about American bands.

On par with the rest. A collection of music from Seasons 2 and 3 including "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap (played at the end of Season 2 when Trey was shot) and "Forever Young" by Youth Group (from episode 4 of Season 3, Ryan and Marissa's song).

I just got Mix 5, and I think it's the best yet! There is a great collection of songs, with my favorites like Imogen Heap's beautifully written "Hide and Seek" and Youth Group's "Forever Young." This mix has some of the best and most important songs on the O.C. unlike most of the other mixes. I can assure you that you will not be disappointed! THE O.C. ROX!!!

As a fan of the first four soundtracks, I continue to be impressed by number five. The songs are more upbeat than the first four. Loved acoustic version of "California" and the cover of "Forever Young"

The first 3 "OC" mixes (1,2, and 4, i don't count the christmas one) were all brilliant soundtracks filled with just a small fraction of the music featured on the show. Although I didn't always agree with the song choices as the best from the show, it was very rare when I disliked one of them. The same does not hold true with "Mix 5", which features at least 3 bad songs, several others that are rather mediocre, and very few tracks that I can clearly recall from the show. This is perhaps because with the 3rd season of "The OC", the writing became less memorable, and I suppose with it, so did the songs. Budget for music was also obviously decreased from the second season, as the number of bands that performed on the show dropped from half a dozen to one or two.

The disc opens with "Rock & Roll Queen" by The Subways (one of the only bands to perform during the season) and Kasabian's "Reason Is Treason", a pair of upbeat songs, both of which are good but not great. "Rock & Roll Queen" declines into an irritating screaming finale, but is still remarkably catchy, but "Reason Is Treason" wears thin rather quickly. "Wish I Was Dead Pt. 2" by the Shout Out Louds is a slightly better acoustic song with an instantly memorable chorus.

"Daft Punk Is Playing At My House" by LCD soundsystem is absolutely excrutiating, involving no singing or musicality whatsoever, and "Kids With Guns" from the gorillaz is no better. "Requiem For O.M.M." by Of Montreal, is slightly better, but no less irritating and sickly boring.
But within these throwaway tracks there is still hidden some true gems. Rogue Wave's publish my love is brilliant indie-pop, and Youth Group's cover of "Forever Young" is simply gorgeous, marking itself as a true "OC" staple. The end of the album is a true tour-de-force, made up of 4 great tracks. The Kaiser Chief's offer up "Na Na Na Na Naa", which despite its nonsense lyrics is the exact brand of indie rock that made "The OC" famous in the first place. Phantom Planet's acoustic take on their theme song with "California 2005" was the first memorable song to be played in season 3 and therefore deserves a place here.

The other two tracks are some of the most brilliant on the album. Stars' "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" is a gorgeous indie ballad marked by excellent lyrics and beautiful vocal harmonies from the two singers (one male one female). The soundtrack closes as it should with Imogen Heap's epic "Hide & Seek", one of the most memorable songs ever played on "The OC" from the shocking season 2 finale, this one truly belongs in "The OC" hall of fame. Since it was used on the show, the song has become very well known for its tight nit vocal arrangement. One listen will reveal why this song is so well loved among fans: because it sounds like nothing else you've ever heard of, something only "The OC" could introduce.

In the end, the album is saved by the strength of its second half (with the help of a few tracks from the first). The highlights manage to overcome the low points to create what was the last good "OC" soundtrack. It may be one of the weakest, but it still contains some must hear gems.

"Forever Young", "Rock & Roll Queen" and "Hide and Seek" are my favourite songs.