Ailly gave me this CD for my birthday and I was thrilled. Not only does it have all the songs sung by the cast in “Once More, With Feeling”, the disc contains a demo of “Something to Sing About”, the original scores from “Restless” and “Hush”, the instrumental “Sacrifice” from “The Gift”, the show’s theme performed by Nerf Herder, and “Dawn’s Ballet” which appeared in the original broadcast of “Once More, With Feeling” but was cut in repeat airings.
The entire cast has decent singing voices. Sarah Michelle Gellar sounds like a country singer. James Marsters slips in and out of his British accent. Anthony Stewart Head somehow keeps up his tweedy upper-crust Brit appeal while singing a theory about a demon.
Characters Anya and Xander have an adorable and slightly sad musical number about their matrimonial fears. Tara’s beautiful “Under Your Spell” almost makes me cry when you think about how literally she is under Willow’s spell. The said song’s last verse contains what could be thought of and probably was intended as sexual imagery. Giles’ “Standing” will make even those who aren’t Slayer/Watcher shippers get a little mopey. Short and pointless numbers “The Mustard” and “The Parking Ticket” provide comic relief, as does Xander’s theory in “Theories” and Anya’s “Bunnies”. Spike’s bitter, dejected love song “Let Me Rest In Peace” is incredible fun to sing along with in the shower. It will also serve as a kick for those of you who thought VampWillow in “The Wish” was funny, and were later amused by the tortured, souled version of Spike in Season Seven. Especially involving Eve.
“Walk Through The Fire”, with everyone singing different words at the same time, can be seen either as a horrible, confusing mess or as ear candy. I hear it as ear candy. This makes the “A” list with “Let Me Rest In Peace” and “Sacrifice (from The Gift)”. Contains some of the best lines on the entire disc, one of which Ailly got stuck in her head and sang all morning (I hope she fries/I’m free if that b*tch dies/I better help her out).
All in all a wonderful birthday present, if not just for the excellent instrumentals. The one Big Thing I Dislike about the disc is the short waste-of-space entitled “Dawn’s Lament”. All of two self-centered lines long. The shortest track on the disc. Naturlich, I dislike it because it’s whiny, pathetic Dawn. I’ve never liked her character, as sweet a girl as Michelle Trachtenberg seems. The actress has a sweet voice, but it’s pretty weak.
I encourage Buffy fans to buy it. Buy it for the lyrics booklet (complete with screenshots). Buy it for the award-winning scores from “Hush” and other episodes. Buy it for James Marsters’ references to dominance. Don’t buy it for your grandma, but get yourself a copy.
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