Something to Sing About

A Review of the Once More With Feeling Soundtrack

hink back to November 1st, 2001 - the airing of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Musical Once More, With Feeling. Joss Whedon created something that most thought was impossible: an enjoyable, artfully crafted musical television episode. Critics and fans alike hailed it as a complete success. Top-notch acting, musical composition, direction, and choreography melded into one of Buffy's most unique and memorable episodes. Once More, With Feeling Willow and Tara with lyrics Finally the fans have what they endlessly pleaded for - the soundtrack to Once More With Feeling. On September 24th 2002, Rounder Records, Mutant Enemy, and Shore Fire Media released the long awaited CD. Trust me, the wait has been worth it. The first thing you will notice is the elegant packaging and presentation of the disc. The promotional, vintage-style painted poster, created exclusively by acclaimed comic book artist Adam Hughes, for the episode spans across the cover. More pictures of the stars and a track listing are on the back. The booklet is also full of goodies; there are pull page painted pictures of all the main characters in the episode as well as screenshots, lyrics are included for every song, and finally, a three-page letter from Joss Whedon himself. Presentation always helps, and they really nailed it here. More importantly, the sound quality is unbelievable. Buffy (Gellar) will be "Going Through the Motions" louder & clearer than ever! Every song and instrumental piece from the show is available on the CD: from Amber Benson's (Tara) angelically voiced "Under Your Spell," to Anthony Stewart Head's (Giles) heart wrenching "Standing." Even little bits like, David Fury's "The Mustard" and Marti Noxon's "The Parking Ticket" have been included in full. All of the tracks are beautifully transferred direct from the original studio recording rather than filtered through the televised episode. Thus dialogue and sound effects do not interrupt the natural flow of the singing. Once More With Feeling sounds better than it ever has before. Complete Track Listing The soundtrack is a gem not only for Buffy fans, but also for anyone who truly enjoys great music. Joss made sure to include a vast array of arrangements and themes that span across a spectrum of musical genres. These include: 40's swing in "I'll Never Tell" (Brendon/Caulfield), a classic hard rock anthem in "Bunnies" (Caulfield), rock ballad ìRest In Pieceî (Marsters), and an exceptional Jazz piece entitled "What You Feel" performed by none other than Hinton Battle. Having only played the piano for a few years, it is mind-blowing what Joss has accomplished. One could say that his musical skills exceed those of his writing, if that were even possible. The intricate interlacing of harmonies and vocals blends naturally with the abilities of his seasoned actors. From the staccato overlays of "Into the Fire" to its final crescendo, this musical comes full course in a combination of pure entertainment and complete enjoyment. You're sure to find a favorite among the 23 tracks included on this CD. But wait, there's more. Being the benevolent genius that he is, Joss has included bonus tracks; mind-blowing orchestral scores by veteran Buffy composer Christophe Beck from the episodes: Restless, Hush, and The Gift add a nice, nostalgic feel to the disc. Finally, one more gem was included: a rendition of "Something To Sing About", performed by Joss and his wife Kai Cole which was used as his promotional pitch! This disc is what every Buffy and musical fan has been waiting for, it has magnificent music and solid singing all contained in a pretty little package that no fan should be without it! Running time: 57:37 Buy it now from Amazon.com Buy it now from Amazon.co.uk Written by CoA Staff Writer, Jeff Ritchie CityofAngel.com would like to thank Shore Fire Media, and Rounder Records for generously providing a promotional copy of the CD for review. If you have any comments for CityofAngel.com regarding this 'Happenings' feature, we would love to hear from you. Just email us at: comments@CityofAngel.com Return to Behind the Scenes Main Page