Six Feet Under 'Six Feet Under' album

For the growing legions of faithful fans of 'Six Feet Under', the unlikely HBO hit series about a family-run funeral home, there is now an apt companion piece in "Six Feet Under - Music from the Original HBO Series". Universal Records will release this engaging collection of songs from the ground-breaking series on March 5, 2002.

Created by Alan Ball (the Academy Award winning-writer of "American Beauty"), 'Six Feet Under' has become something of a phenomenon. Having aired only one season, the show has already garnered widespread critical acclaim, an ever-expanding collection of die-hard fans, and is presently basking in the glow of Golden Globe awards for Best Television Drama and Best Supporting Actress (for Rachel
Griffiths ).

The soundtrack, assembled by executive producers Alan Ball and Alan Poul and music supervisors Thomas Golubic and Gary Calamar, is a dense and eclectic collection featuring Thomas Newman's haunting title theme and selected songs from the first season (which aired from June through August last year) and the second season (which will debut on HBO on March 3rd).

"Naturally, music plays an integral role in 'Six Feet Under'," notes Alan Ball. "(We) attempt to create an environment that is contemporary yet somehow timeless, something that's matter-of-fact from one angle but slightly surreal from another."

True to that vision, the Six Feet Under soundtrack is anything but conventional. Running a wide range of styles and emotions across its 17 tracks, the soundtrack includes both selections from the cutting edge of new electronic music, driving rock n' roll, kitschy pop classics and even contemporary latin funk.
The album kicks off, appropriately, with Thomas Newman's compelling "Six Feet Under Title Theme" and moves into Lamb's soft electronic lullaby "Heaven", here in its first U.S. release (listen for "Heaven" in HBO's promos for the new season).

"Primarily, this is a soundtrack of new music," says Golubic. "We love to integrate new artists into the show that may be undiscovered or off the beaten path." Among those acts include the heavily hyped electronic duo Zero 7, the alt-rock innovators The Beta Band, and UK hip hop pioneers the Stereo MCs and Italian sonic architects The Dining Rooms

Rock n' roll gems are supplied by the likes of PJ Harvey with the blazing "One Time Too Many" (an obscure track originally only available as an import B-Side) and the Dandy Warhol's indie rock anthem "Bohemian Like You". Craig Armstrong's orchestrated cover of the Blue Nile song "Let's Go Out Tonight" is a standout track which was prominently used in the first season. The Massive Attack orchestrator and film score composer employed the Blue Nile's Paul Buchanan on vocals and creates an emotional masterpiece that actually improves upon the original. The Irish band The Devlin's contribute their moving ballad "Waiting", beautifully used to close the Six Feet Under pilot episode.

"Six Feet Under - Music from the Original HBO Series" also brings in several wonderfully unexpected choices like the late Peggy Lee's brassy 1961 rendition of "I Love Being Here With You", the old school soul of Shuggie Otis' sweet 1974 gem "Inspiration Information", the Classics IV's seminal hit "Spooky", and the infectious samba of "Mis Dos Peque?as", from Buena Vista Social Club legend Orlando Cachaito Lopez.

The album closes with two expansive and compelling remixes of Thomas Newman's Six Feet Under title theme, by UK hip hop duo Rae & Christian and dance producer Photek. The collection ends playfully with a surprise hidden track, Julie London's creamy rendition of the Ohio Express's "Yummy Yummy Yummy".

"Six Feet Under allows us to be incredibly eclectic in our choices, to bring in music from all over the world," adds Calamar. "Every episode gives us another opportunity to flex our musical muscles and the Alans (Ball & Poul) always guide us toward the most truthful and resonant music for the show."

Golubic & Calamar come from the highly regarded Los Angeles radio station KCRW, where both are music programmers and on-air hosts. "The open-minded approach to music at KCRW has had an enormous influence on us," explains Calamar. "We are encouraged to play the music we love, and offer listeners the challenge to come along for the ride." Golubic adds, "And we hope the music in Six Feet Under does the same. We want the soundtrack to offer listeners a compelling adventure, even if they don't know where the whole thing is headed."

And as fans of Six Feet Under eagerly await to see where the Fisher family is headed to next, this compelling collection of music should make for good company on that journey. The songs may remind us of particular highlights from the last season and may offer glimpses of moments to come, but as Alan Ball puts it, the Six Feet Under soundtrack album "is best enjoyed simply for being a collection of great music." A fitting epitaph if there ever was one.

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Six Feet Under - Six Feet Under