Revamped! (Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Album - Soundtrack)

Member Name: Glory_FishesII

Product:	Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Album - Soundtrack
Date:	04/02/05 (1111 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I love it

Disadvantages: I keep losing it

This CD hails from when James Masters hadn't killed his hair with peroxide. When Angel didn't look do porky and Buffy didn't look like a twig -- having been (eleased October 1999, but still this remains one of my favourite aspects of the entire Buffy run. I'm not too sure about the second BtVS compilation, but having had this CD since 2001 and having bought it twice and lost or damaged it it three times (burglary, ex didn't return it and got wrecked at a party) and still looking for a replacement even now, I think that shows how much I love it.

Track 1.Buffy The Vampire Slayer Theme - Nerf Herder 8/10

Synonymous with all things Slayer. Great catchy rift. Don't know whether I would buy an entire Nerf Herder CD, but this is a great opening track. Doesn’t drag on either, which is good and although the melody has been butchered by a number of mobile phones, it still remains to be one of the highlights of the CD. This is the second version of the themetune rather than the different paced one used prior to Season Three, which seems a bit of an odd choice as the majority of this CD focuses upon Season 1 and 2.

Nerf Herder have gone their seperate ways for the time being - but you can still find out more about them at www.nerfherder.net

Taken from the album : Appears only on this album

Track 2.Teenage FBI - Guided by Voices 5/10

‘ Someone tell me why I act like a fool when things don’t go my way.
When you’re around me I ‘m somebody else.’

Quite catchy. Inoffensive little indie sounding vocals with a rather plodding beat and nice harmonies. Nothing to write home about. Fairly standard guitar, not the best track on the CD but still better than Westlife. GBV have been going for donkey's years and details of them can be seen at www.gbv.com.

Taken from the album: Appears only on this album

Track 3.Temptation Waits- Garbage 6/10 ‘I am a vampire, waiting for my moment’

In my book Garbage never really beat the glory of 'Supervixen' , but this is still quite a good track for combating the first throes of PMT. Good middle section, all kind of scratchy and a bit mad. Don’t give up on this CD yet though.Also includes vampire puns--- 'so much at stake'. Goes on a bit though Shirley, love. Garbage have a new album out later this year... you can look at Shirley's ever changing haircolours (I'm amazed she isn't bald) at www.garbage.com.

Taken from the album: Version 2.0

Track 4.Strong- Velvet Chain 6/10

‘ You would suffer for me, You would die for me, Well I feel the same way too’

Laidback beat fits nicely with the previous track, good vocals and nice guitar twiddling in the background. Good chorus when you’re feeling a bit Alanis. Still wouldn’t bother checking out any of their other stuff though . As heard in ''Never Kill A Boy On The First Date'' Velvet Chain have actually performed at ''The Bronze'' (the club in BtVS) and have also released a BtVS themed ep. If this tickles your fancy you can look at the ''Buffy'' section on www.velvetchain.com

Taken from the album: Appears on this album only.

Track 5.I Quit - Hepburn 7/10

‘ I tried my hardest, I’ve been conciencious, but I’m taking back that heart of mine’

I hate to admit it but this track is perhaps one of the high points of the CD so far. Yes girlie pop around an acoustic guitar with the kind of chorus I usually hate. It does exactly what it says on the tin so but it could have been so much better if it had been released by someone with an ounce of emotion in their vocals. I can't find a website for them, so they must be no more YAY!

Taken from the album : Appears only on this album.

Track 6. Over My Head - Furslide 8/10

‘ Please don’t hate me now I’m over my head. It’s for the best’

Love this, smoky vocals, rather downbeat, good guitar, rather bleak but it makes me want to drink red wine and read Edgar Allen Poe. Slow beat, bit of a guitar solo that could have been made a bit shorter, but like the ghostly vocals over it. Don’t like the end chord but I’m picky. The out of date and sadly neligected website from this era can be reached at http://www.virginrecords.com/furslide/

Appears on: Appears on this album only.

Track 7. Lucky - Bif Naked 9/10

‘ How could I ever get over you, when I’d give my life for your touch.’

Sounds a bit like a Savage Garden track, but the vocals are actually quite touching. Sentimental, but not in a Celine Dion way, lovely strings with a touch of heartbreak and acoustic guitar. Featured on ''Harsh Light Of Day''. Bif is actually a Canadian woman who has been involved with music in a kind of Gwen Stefani/PJ Harvey hybrid type way for other a decade and has supported the likes of Kid Rock and The Cult .She is currently taking some time out to be with her family and painting. I have listened to quite a few tracks on the self titled CD and they have all been very listenable. You can catch her at :http://www.herroyalmajestysrecords.com/bif/

Taken from the ablum: I, Bificus

Track 8.Keep Myself Awake- Black Lab 8/10 ‘ I’m alright, I’ll be ok if I can keep myself awake’

Quite dark song, but I really like it, because if you listen to the lyrics they are quite human, I have lived these lyrics, but I don’t like coffee, reminds me a bit of Matchbox 20. Guitar solo a bit over long though. He has a very American voice which could annoy some people, but I think it’s a more than worthy addition to this CD. Featured in 'The I In Team'' . The official website is no longer up and running but details of the band and their music can be read at http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/black_lab/bio.html

Taken from the album: Appears on this album only.

Track 9.Virgin State of Mind - K’s Choice 9/10

‘Now there’s a key, where my wonderful mouth used to be.’

How depressing. How delicious. If I need to cry, I listen to this. Sultry vocals and lyrics that punch me in the womb. Womanly insecure, with harpsichord and strings. Good harmonies. Taken from ''Doppelgangland''. The ''Best of''' called ''10'' celebrating the fact that they've been together since the late 1980's. You can wonder why Sarah looks like a dodgy Mark Owen at :http://www.kschoice.com/

Taken from the album: Only appears on this album.

Track 10.Already Met You- Superfine 10/10

‘You tell me you’re bored and you don’t like the colour of my shoes’

A little more upbeat melody, but if you listen it is one of the sweetest songs ever. I adore this. It is about the sense of de ja vu when we fall in love. And hoping that it will work out but not being too sure. Kind of Semisonic but with an edge, if you can imagine it. Taken from ''Teacher's Pet'' The song ''Stoner Love'' which is also in the same episode is just as good It's obvious why they cite artists like Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Jeff Buckley and Nirvana as their influences. You can download mp3's from the band as well as find out a little bit more about them via :http://www.superfineband.com/index.htm. I must get around to buying there only CD this year...

Taken from the album: Only appears on this album.

Track 11.The Devil You Know (God is a Man) - Face to Face 10/10

‘ So you try, you made up your mind, something’s still not right.’

Yes, this is where the CD kicks in. Still quite upbeat, with a good baseline. Vocals are still very Americanesque punk . Very catchy chorus, but so is clamydia. You will find yourself singing this when you least expect it. Taken from ''Where The Wild Things Are'' Face to Face have called it a day but if you like Green Day you might want to check out their impressive backcatalogue at www.facetofacemusic.com.

Taken from the album: Ignorance Is Bliss.

Track 12.Nothing But You - Kim Ferron 8/10

‘You can’t reach me, You can't touch me now, You can’t hold me down’

Back to female vocals. Ah this is very bleak, but always makes me think of a autumn day. Still full of hope all the same. I really like this but it is a bit chick rock for my usual taste, but very good when you need some background music for your candlelit bath. A bit like Paula Cole’s younger and funkier sister. (Paula Cole is my second favourite female after Joni Mitchell) there is some real feeling here and talent. As featured in ''Beer Bad''. There doesn't seem to be an official or otherwise viable site for her at the present time, I'm not too bothered as I still much prefer Paula Cole........

Taken from the album: Appears only on this album.

Track 13.It Doesn’t Matter - Alison Krauss and Union Station 9/10

‘ You’ve been in a cage, throw you to the wind and you’ll fly away’

Acoustic guitar opens, vocals almost like a breeze in your ear on a warm summer’s eve. Once again a tale of loss but it is done in a very sweet way, but your teeth won’t rot. Fabulous. Taken from ''When She Was Bad''.Alison Krauss continues to be very underrated and I would definitely recommend looking her up if you're into melodies that are squished between country and folk that is, don't say I don't do anything for you :http://www.alisonkrauss.com/ ...you can even have the latest live stuff streamed to your computer as a taster...

Taken from the album: So long, so wrong

Track 14.Wild Horses - The Sundays 8/10

‘ Wild horses couldn’t drag me away’
Floaty vocals of a Stones classic with sublime strings.Not a bad cover but I hate this track because it reminds me of someone I loved years ago., who I should have never loved in the first place so maybe I am a bit biased. You'll probably like this if you like that Sixpence None The Richer ''Kiss Me'' or the candyfloss period of The Cardigans because Harriet Wheeler's vocals are all like a dummer's breeze. Taken from ''The Prom''. The band have been silent for years, with nothing being released since 1997 but it's worth taking a peek at the fansite to gen up :http://www.huan.com/sundays/home.html

Taken from the album : Blind

Track 15.Pain (Slayer Mix) - Four Star Mary 10/10

‘ You can never understand me ‘less you’ve seen those tears '

This track was the whole reason why I bought this CD in the first place. This song is played by Oz's band ''Dingoes Ate My Baby''... ( the stuff they did for Oz's band can be found on the cheesily titled Thrown To The Wolves CD -- Oz is a werewolf, geddit). but of course it really is Four Star Mary. A great rock track that stands out from the rest of this compilation. Manages to fuse semi chilled with a weird sense of euphoria, still a tad American but hey it's an American show so what do you expect? Probably the song that has stayed with me, this may be as it is taken from one of my favourite episodes ''Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered'' as well as the episodes ''Dead Man's Party'' and ''Living Conditions''. Still going with demos of their latest stuff (2004) available courtesy of www.fourstarmary.com.

Taken from the album: Four Star Mary

Track 16.Charge - Splendid 4/10

‘ What do you say to a dream that won’t go away’

Quite melodic, but Angie Hart's vocals get on my nerves. That’s all I can say because I skip this one everytime. Taken from the episode ''I Only Have Eyes For You''.. In fact it seems they have been musically dormant too but you can (if you must and if you really do like the sound of them) track them down at :http://splendidonline.tripod.com/main.html

Taken from the album : Have You Got A Name For It

Track 17.Transylvanian Concubine -Rasputina 8/10

‘ You can never be too rich or too thin’

Prowls like a weird panther. Excellent use of strings and strange lyrics. Quite an epic, almost slyly hipnotic.The lyrics are somewhat distorted at times and therefore very hard to make out -- but any song that quotes a top ''bitch'' like Wallace Simpson is ok by me When you have driven yourself mad by listening to this on repeat, you are taken to a world of gothic grandeouse that would make some teenagers envious. Taken from the episode ''Surprise''. Oh how I miss Drusilla. They are currently working on a new album, If you're into that ''goth'' stuff you'd do a lot worse than to pop over to :http://www.rasputina.com/

Taken from the album: Thanks For The Ether.

Track 18.Close Your Eyes (Buffy/Angel Love Theme) Christophe Beck 7/10

A warm and strangely haunting classical piece, quite tender with a very charming use of piano. I like this because of the series and the context more than anything else. It is gently melodic though. Christophe Beck went on to supervise and compose all the music for Season Three in BtVS.. There are various versions of this theme used in the show this version is from ''Becoming Part Two''



Conclusion :-

All in all I would say that this CD is well worth buying if you have the patience to genuinely listen to it for a while.
There are some gems here, but also a great deal of alchemy, maybe as some of the tracks don't even make an appearance on the show, whereas bands such as ''The Dashboard Prophets'' and ''The Flamingoes'' have been left out.but, if you want something to listen to when you’re feeling a little pensive, but on the right side of suicidal or want to remember the genuius of BtVS then you need look no further than this CD. If you still can't work out the lyrics www.stakesandstones.com has them all.

Currently£.9.99 on www.amazon.co.uk -- excuse me while I get my bankcard and hey wake up !

This opinion was orginally submitted as ''Pepperann'' for Dooyoo in 2001. It has been edited and had further observations and updates made specifically for this submission.

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