Soundtrack of the Month: March 2016

It's all Joss Whedon's fault, honestly. If he'd stop making so many diabolically brilliant television series and movies, I wouldn't have to spend so much money on their incredible soundtracks. Angel: Live Fast, Die Never is the official soundtrack to the television series Angel, created by Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt, which acted as a spin-off to Whedon's television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Robert J. Kral served as the primary score composer for Angel, although the album features a handful of other individuals and artists as well. The soundtrack very much reflects the dark and twisted themes of the series, but also the prominent, ever-focused theme of atonement; of searching for redemption, but knowing you may never truly find it so long as you walk the Earth.

Initially, Robert Kral began work on the series as an assistant to longtime Buffy composer Christophe Beck, who acted as main composer for the first season. One of Beck's compositions made it onto this album with the track "I'm Game", which occasionally acted as a heroic theme throughout the series, from the very first episode. It can be heard for the final time in the penultimate episode of the series.

Featured Tracks

Track 1: The Sanctuary (Main Theme Extended Remix) – An extended version of the series' outstanding opening theme, composed and performed by the band Darling Violetta.

Track 6: Hero – One of the most memorable episodes of Angel's first season, and possibly the entire series. First soldier down.

Track 15: Through the Looking Glass – One of five tracks that cover the several-episode arc that takes place in the mystical, demon(ish) dimension of Pylea, toward the end of Angel's second season.

Track 21: LA Song – This song is performed by actor Christian Kane, written by Kane and series showrunner David Greenwalt. It's performed in-series by Kane's character, Lindsey McDonald.



Note: The physical version of this soundtrack contains four additional songs by other artists that were featured in the series. These songs are well worth the physical purchase.

Purchase Angel: Live Fast, Die Never on Amazon or iTunes.
Or listen to it for free on Spotify or YouTube.