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It is time for another gathering of all fans in the Buffy universe as Buffy The Vampire Slayer – The Score CD has just been released. While the television show is long gone, Buffy and her friends live on in DVDs, graphic novels, comics and an ever-increasing array of memorabilia.
This latest CD offering features the music of Christophe Beck from seasons two through five. Beck (whose first name does not 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 rare for network television. He 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.
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.
Tracks 15-29 — 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 series box 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 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.
I don’t know how much mass appeal this release will have, but it nevertheless makes for a pleasurable listening experience. Buffy The Vampire Slayer – The Score will draw listeners into another world of amazing characters and stories. In short, it's a musical journey worth taking.
