Tonight marks the series finale of The O.C., the best FOX show about wealthy L.A. teens since Beverly Hills, 90210. While we won’t exactly be sitting in front of the TV with a box of Kleenex in hand, we’re sad musically-challenged teens across the country will no longer be exposed to The O.C.’s weekly hipster soundtrack.
Let’s face it, The O.C. jumped the shark years ago, whether leaping Jaws with Mischa Barton’s Marissa’s lesbianism dabbling, her fiery car-crash death or the fact that the show used the cliche “Career Opportunities” episode — named after that John Hughes movie where Jennifer Connolly and Frank Whaley get locked in a department store after hours — way too early in the show’s arc. (Both Saved By the Bell and the superior-to-O.C. Dawson’s Creek waited at least four seasons before their “Career Opportunities” episode.)
So why’d we keep tuning in? The soundtrack. As opposed to its peers, The O.C. provided indie rock hopefuls a shot to shine during primetime. In tribute to banner O.C. moments — previewing Beck’s Guero, the continual use of Radiohead and odd Radiohead covers (Sia playing “Paranoid Android”?) and a love for all things Sufjan Stevens — we present our Best of The O.C. Compilation. Adam Brody, we hardly knew ya…
- Phantom Planet - “California”
- Beulah - “Popular Mechanics For Lovers”
- Super Furry Animals - “Hello Sunshine”
- The Beta Band - “Assessment”
- Feist - “Let It Die”
- Mark Lanegan - “Strange Religion”
- LCD Soundsystem - “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House”
- Wilco - “Panther”
- Matt Pond PA - “In The Aeroplane Over the Sea”
- Nine Black Alps - “Unsatisfied”
- Sun Kil Moon - “Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes”
- Gang of Four - “I Love a Man in Uniform”
- Silversun Pickups - “Lazy Eye”
- R.E.M - “Talk About the Passion”
- Jeff Buckley - “Hallelujah”
Which songs would you include? (Need help: Use this handy site as a reference.) And what do you think will be The Song played before the series fades to black?

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- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC.