Customer Reviews

Six Feet Under

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Six Feet Under" is an unlikely hit series, about the people who live and work at a... well, a funeral home. Is it all funereal? Nope. And neither is the "Six Feet Under" soundtrack, a well-chosen musical blend. While there are some misfires (the excruciating cover of "Yummy Yummy Yummy" by Julie London), it's overall a satisfying experience.

Thomas Newman handles the stately, delicate main theme for this series, which is later given a poppy, catchy spin by Photek and a darker, eerie edge by Rae & Christian. The rest of the album is a quilt of rock (the rollicking Dandy Warhol tune "Bohemian Like You," Beta Band's catchy "Squares"), Latin music (Orlando Cachaito Lopez's "Mis Dos Pequeñas"), jazz (Peggy Lee's sultry "I Love Being Here With You"), and pop music (Zero 7's plaintive "Distractions," Lamb's soft, sweet "Heaven").

The choices for "Six Feet Under's" soundtrack are good ones. They convey both the funeral atmosphere of the show, and the lighter sides of the characters ("Mis Dos Pequeñas" is nothing if not cheerful). These are genuinely good bands selected, although some are not well-suited to what they play (such as PJ Harvey's "One Time Too Many"). The selection of bands like Beta Band, Dandy Warhols, Lamb, Shuggie Otis, the Devlins, and Classics IV show that actual thought (most of the time) went into what was chosen for this, music that reflects the atmosphere of the series.

A mixture of the eerie and the playful, this will catch on even for people who aren't fans of the TV show. "Six Feet Under's" soundtrack isn't perfect, but it's a good listen for fans of quality music.

Leave it to the "Six Feet Under" people to put electric chill, artsy punk, jazz sirens and California soul all on the same CD and somehow make it work.
This soundtrack (actually a sampling of songs used in the show that demonstrate the diversity and power of HBO's best original programming) has been featured regularly in my disc changer for months now, mainly because it's eclecticism covers every mood I pass through in listening to 75+ minutes of music. From the opening notes of the show's theme song (presented in original format as well as a number of remixes), you know that this disc is special. The triple play of Lamb's "Heaven", Stereo MC's "Deep Down and Dirty" and Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Here With You" is a stroke of programming brilliance, as the songs with their varied instrumentation but similar theme sound awesome back-to-back (to back). Lamb's "Heaven" is, in particular a major highlight of this set, with its Schroeder style piano played over a sweet electronic program.
Shuggie Otis's "Inspiration Information" is another stellar "where did that come from" moment. Otis, a proginator of California soul in the 70's (he wrote and recorded the original "Strawberry Letter 23", a huge hit for the Brothers Johnson) makes music like you have never heard before.
"Let's Go Out Tonight" and the Dandy Warhol's "Bohemian Like You" are two more stellar cuts on this disc - the Warhol's track sounds like something the Ramones would have recorded if they had structure, and the ability to carry a tune. And the Classic IV's "Spooky" is the most fitting song on this disc when you consider the source programming - it could have easily been the theme song for the show.
The test of a good compilation disc is whether it inspires you to seek out additional music from the participating artists - I purchased CD's of Lamb, Shuggie Otis and Peggy Lee after buying this disc. Of course, being a fan of "Six Feet Under" may have influenced my listening to this soundtrack. Overall, however, this soundtrack holds up brilliantly, and features enough great music that it can stand on its on as a great collection.

This album brings to mind the very eclectic work done around the album for the movie "High Fidelity." Beside the now-standard opening music, by Thomas Newman, the album contains excellent pieces from rock, chillout, prog, latin, and big band genres. Sounds odd? The truth is that it all blends very well, taking the listener on a casual jump over stones that all form part of the same musical stream. In particular, if you -like I am- are a follower of the series, you will find the album twice as enjoyable, with all the photos from the cast and some of their best quotes, and picturing the characters with the music, the best case being Cachaito's "Mis Dos Pequeñas" and the series' Federico. However, the album can perfectly stand alone by itself as an excellent compillation of great music. My favorite tracks: Lamb's "Heaven," Beta Band's "Squares," Zero 7's "Distractions" and the beautiful version of the classic from The Blue Nile (sung by their former leader, Paul Buchanan), "Let's go out tonight."

Being a big fan of the HBO series, I was interested in seeing how good (or otherwise) the soundtrack was. I bought this CD a week ago, and from the first listen I was completely sold.

The soundtrack manages to sucessfully blend everything from rock to jazz, dance to pop and everything in between. All the songs here actually feel like they've been carefully chosen, rather than just flung on in order to cash in on the show's popularity. (Unlike a lot of other television or film soundtracks.)

Highlights include Lamb's 'Heaven', Craig Armstrong's 'Let's Go Out Tonight', The Devlin's 'Waiting', Peggy Lee's 'I Love Being Here With You' and the Photek remix of Thomas Newman's haunting 'Six Feet Under Title Theme.'

If you love music, I highly recommend this soundtack. This is a fantastic CD for SFU fans and non-fans alike. (But then, why would you be reading this if you weren't a fan? ;))

I love this show,but when I saw the soundtrack I kind of did not want it because I did not know who 90% of the singers were. I got it anyways and I am so glad I took the chance becuase this CD never leaves my CD player. I love how they have like 60's music with some modern hip hop,pop,R&b,rock,and even a latin flavor. This is a great album if you like a bunch of styles of music on one album, and if you do I would tell you to get this album. Be like me and take the chance and mabe you will also be like me and love it.

I loved the series and this soundtrack, like the other, has so many songs that make you think of the show but also stand alone nicely. The girls at work (who are very picky about music on the overhead) even liked it and that is saying something!

a moody mix of tunes from the series i'm still mourning the loss of. if you loved six feet you will, of course, love this cd.

An incredible soundtrack that hits all the genres. It encompassed a well balance theme of emotions that the show seems to put off. For any fan of the show, you'll be a fan of the soundtrack.

I have not purchased this CD, nor have I ever viewed an episode of "Six Feet Under;" however, I am a huge Thomas Newman fan, have heard his opening theme composition for the HBO show, and would like to share that it just won the 2002 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Best Main Title Theme Music! So, if you purchase this CD, know that it contains not just original music; it contains award-winning original music!

God I didn't know they released the soundtrack! I love the show (like millions of others), and the title theme is one of the best TV themes ever, and the remixes are very cool. Lamb's Heaven is haunting... when I first heard it on the show, I wanted to buy it. Now I can own it with the rest of the songs on this CD. Well done, HBO, for the killer show, and the killer first soundtrack. I hope there're more to come, for I'm already loving the second season, so far.