UPBEAT Music Reviews

by Nadine Meeker with additional writing by Bridget Petrella

It is time for yet another gathering of all of the fans in the Buffy-verse as Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Score CD has finally been released. While the exceptionally well written and performed television show is long gone, Buffy and her friends live on in DVDs, graphic novels, comics and an ever-increasing array of cool memorabilia. This one features the inspired music of Christophe Beck from season two through five. Beck (whose first name does not actually end with an r) was an important, if underappreciated, part of the series' appeal as his music enhanced the show with moods and textures that were very rare for network television shows. The soundtrack takes on the feel of a commercially budgeted feature film creating a plethora of intricately woven layers. Beck, in all of his musical genius was arguably the creative equal of director/head writer Joss Whedon in making Buffy The Vampire Slayer one of TV’s better series with a lasting cult appeal. There's a touch of Gothic romance, the adrenalin pumping action music and a touch of epic fantasy. Buffy became rather infamous for its eclectic mix of rock and pop songs (most of which were from virtually unknown, unsigned bands) that would appear on the show.

We've already seen quite a number of soundtracks from the show, including the one comprised of the music from the positively brilliant "Once More With Feeling" musical episode— but never one entirely devoted to Beck's amazing score. Now that it's here, we can take a look at the original music that helped shape the landmark television series for many generations to come. The twenty-nine tracks gathered here are culled from sixteen different episodes. Fans of the show will be able to place most of the songs within the context of their original release. Even those unfamiliar with the show, though, will find that these songs hold up and merit appeal as stand-alone presentations. To say that Christophe Beck is a musical genius is merely to recite the obvious, but it becomes even more apparent when one can listen to his works by themselves as stand-alone tracks, rather than as background accompaniment to an episode. The collection is not, by any means, a comprehensive anthology of all Beck's output for Buffy The Vampire Slayer— in fact it's merely a selection of his better known compositions.

Tracks 15 through 29— originally aired in seasons four and five— had not been released in CD form until now and the only means of obtaining them was in purchasing the DVD series boxed sets. No doubt Buffy fans will seek these out in order to fill some holes in their collections. The music is interesting and what one would expect from a show of this type, alternating between moods that are at turns haunting, beautiful, creepy, passionate and emotional. Accordingly, it allows the mind to wander in so many different directions. Some of the better tracks include the edginess of “Angel Waits,” the beautiful lines of “Remembering Jenny,” the eerie effect of “Slayer’s Elegy,” and the over-the-top assault of “Faith’s End.” I also like the fact that four selections derive from the episodes “Restless” and “The Gift,” which give them a more complete feel as their connections to each other are explored.

Whedon is often called a genius for his work, and rightfully so given the context of areas explored within the show's mystical element— but Beck himself deserves a generous amount of credit for providing music that travels an emotional gamut as diverse and as epic as the series. His style can be compared to the likes of Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer, Bernard Herrmann, Christopher Young, and Carl Stalling, all rolled into one. I don’t know exactly how much mass appeal this release will have, but it ultimately makes for a pleasurable listening experience for those of us who still miss the show terribly. Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Score will easily draw new listeners into a spectacular world of amazing characters and stories. The entire collection is a provocative and engaging tribute to the unwavering spirit of the show's legacy. In short, it's a musical journey worth taking. UB

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/

Nadine Meeker, devout generation X’er and confirmed 'Xena Warrior Princess' addict, lives in Michigan with her hubby of 10 years and their 8-year-old daughter. She left a career in journalism when she knew more than her college instructor did but got happily sucked back in by UPBEAT Magazine. Her goal in life is to be stay at home mom/writer. She’s not there yet... but she’s definitely working on it.