My So Called Life (CD, Jan-1995, Atlantic)

This CD is a must-have for not just fans of My So-Called Life, but for fans of 90's rock. Instead of just getting right into the rock, it builds slowly. It kicks off with Juliana Hatfield's haunting "Make It Home", an ode to the show's lonely runaway Rickie. Then it moves into "Soda Jerk" by Buffalo Tom before getting into the rockin' "Genetic" by Sonic Youth. Fans of the show will recognize a few tracks off this CD as music for the show, and I believe it set the stage for soundtracks on television shows (like Grey's Anatomy), allowing current artists to set the mood for the characters' lives.

While I like the majority of the songs on the album, I find myself wishing for three things:
1) That the songs (with the exceptions of Hatfield's and Buffalo Tom's) were a little longer. They're often anywhere from 2-3 minutes.
2) One song in particular that I was hoping they would expand on for the album is W.G. "Snuffy" Walden's fantastic "My So-Called Life Theme", which is the last song on the CD. It's beautiful and when I hear it, it makes me think back to being 12 and sneaking the TV in my room on at 9pm to watch Angela and her friends.
3) One song on the album, "Come See Me Tonight" by Daniel Johnston, is absolutely painful for me to listen to. It reminds me of Brian Krakow (sorry Brian fans, I don't like him at all) and it sounds like it'd be a theme song for him. Mr. Johnston's voice is whiny and reverberates like a goat's bleating. I found myself thankful that the song is only two minutes long and try to skip it whenever I get to it on the CD.

Overall, this is definitely a great album despite it's brevity (just a little over 30 minutes for 11 songs). Fans of the show or fans of 90's bands like The Lemonheads, Madder Rose, Sonic Youth, Buffalo Tom, and Afghan Whigs should definitely check it out. You won't be disappointed.

I love the theme song to the TV series and the song by Buffalo Tom. I decided to buy it because I miss that show. Too bad that they discontinued it after one season.

This soundtrack is outstanding-defines the 90s' music in a praising way. However, I don't understand why Buffalo Tom's "Late At Night" is not featured on this CD, it was played twice in the "Self-Esteem" episode. I believe it was a song that definitely should have been on the soundtrack (if anyone remembers this was the song played when Jordan takes Angela's hand at the end in the hallway). Also, I would've liked to see REM's "Everybody Hurt's" on it, which was featured in the pilot episode.

Considering these negativities, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars...Juliana Hatfield's "Make It Home" is beautiful.

Only 20-or so episodes, but a wonderful show about growing up. Very similar to the Wonder Years, but from a girl's perspective and set in "modern-day" as opposed to the 60s or 70s. Starred a young Claire Danes, and a cast of little-known actors. I bought the soundtrack to the show because I couldn't find the opening theme song available on limewire or any of the other downloadable sites, and it is a MUST for my mp3 player. Instrumental theme song, no words, but I like it a lot.

Definately a great conglomerate of bands on this soundtrack for an amazing t.v show almost similar to any growing teens life!