My So-Called Life (1994 Television Series) [Soundtrack]

Juliana Hatfield (Artist), Buffalo Tom (Artist), Sonic Youth (Artist), Further (Artist), Madder Rose (Artist), Afghan Whigs (Artist), Archers Of Loaf (Artist), Daniel Johnston (Artist), Various Artists (Artist), W.G. Snuffy Walden (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 24, 1995)
• Original Release Date: August 25, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000002J3I
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,722 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Make It Home - Juliana Hatfield

2. Soda Jerk - Buffalo Tom

3. Genetic - Sonic Youth

4. Petty Core - Further

5. Drop A Bomb - Madder Rose

6. Fountain And Fairfax - Afghan Whigs

7. South Carolina - Archers Of Loaf

8. Dawn Can't Decide - The Lemonheads

9. The Book Song - Frente!

10. Come See Me Tonight - Daniel Johnston

11. Theme - 'My So-Called Life'

Editorial Reviews

This CD is featuring Tom Buffalo.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't Have All The Great Songs..., January 4, 2005

By 

Robert Lopez (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My So-Called Life (1994 Television Series) (Audio CD)

Yes, it has "Make It Home" the homeless girl's anthem song from the "So-Called Angels" christmas episode, and the theme song, as well as "Soda Jerk" from Buffalo Tom, but it doesn't have all the others!

My biggest complaint was that it didn't have "Late At Night" otherwise remembered as "I'd Do It If I Could, I Hope You Know I Would" from the episode where Jordan walks down the hallway holding Angela's hand for the first time in public. I had been searching for YEARS to find that title!! I knew it was on a Buffalo Tom cd, but didn't know it was entitled "Late At Night."

Also sorely missing from the cd are "Blister in the Sun" (Violent Femmes) where Angela gets over Jordan and dances around the room, "Dreams" (Cranberries) where Angela repeats it over and over on the first episode while crying of heartbreak, "Sedated" (Ramones) the song Rayanne attempts to sing for Jordan's band that's Between Names, and "What Is Love?" the moment Rickie dances with Delia at the school dance.

I would have loved if the producers had included sporatic dialogue either leading into the songs or in between songs to help us reminesce such a wonderful show...

This show seemed to be the first teen show to sprout a soundtrack of the generation, alongside 90210. Now there's plenty with Dawson's Creek and the O.C. But none of those held a candle to My So-Called life's brutal honesty, unfortunatley the soundtrack isn't that strong.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's Good, But It Could Be So Much Better, September 20, 2001

By 

Geoff Wolinetz (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My So-Called Life (1994 Television Series) (Audio CD)

I tread lighly here for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, this is one of my favorite shows of all time. It's characters are rich, engaging and full of humor. I digress. Secondly, the album contains some really great music. Buffalo Tom, The Lemonheads, Afghan Whigs all check in with songs off of their releases contemporary to the show. All great songs, especially "Sodajerk." Juliana Hatfield and Sonic Youth wrote some new music for the album. Those songs are worth having in your collection, especially "Genetic," the Sonic Youth song.

However, there are some very obvious omissions here, beginning with "Snuffy" Walden's original work for the show, most notably "Red.". If you were a precocious youth, you'll remember him from "thirtysomething." Also, missing are Jawbox's "Cruel Swing" and Violent Femmes "Blister In The Sun," if only because of the memory it provokes of Angela's "Freedom Dance." The show's producers could have certainly done a better job selecting music for this album. As it is, it captures the mood of the show. With a few easy additions, it could have exactly gotten the teen angst that the show conveyed with such startling accuracy.

All told, the soundtrack is worth owning (especially if you are a fan of the show). Appreciate it for the songs it has, pine for the songs it doesn't.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars All it could have been..., January 6, 2003

By 

zachary barnett (irvine, ky United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My So-Called Life (1994 Television Series) (Audio CD)

We all remember watching the episode with the Buffalo Tom cameo, and we all remember wondering just what song it was that so brilliantly captured the moment, the series, and, let's face it, the all of those moments in our lives as well. "Late At Night" is that song and it somehow is not featured on the MSCL soundtrack. One cannot help but be shocked by this and other obvious ommissions (the afforementioned "Red", "Return to Innocence, and "Blister in the Sun"). However, what we do get is a new Juliana Hatfield song and a few other good tunes. Buffalo Tom's "Sodajerk" (later used in car commercials... arrr!), along with "Fountains of Wayne" from the Afghan Whigs and "South Carolina" from the Archers of Loaf hold up very well after all this time. A good addition to a collection, but I believe that the ommission of "Late at Night" hurt the soundtrack more than anything. I could easily overlook some of the lesser-known (and, in some cases, just plain LESSER) bands if some of the truly memorable songs had made the cut as well. But, hey, at least no Grateful Dead from the Dead tickets episode!