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An Appreciation: Sounding the O.C. Death Knell

2/22/07, 5:39 pm EST

The O.C.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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Comments

S.O. | 2/27/2007, 2:41 pm EST

“Evil” - Interpol

Anonymous | 2/24/2007, 2:35 pm EST

andreina, the song in question is Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek.”

I’m surprised that Matt Pond PA’s god-awful cover of “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” is on the list. I thought it was an insult to Neutral Milk Hotel–flat, boring, and totally lacking.

A.J. | 2/23/2007, 3:13 pm EST

“Paint the Silence” the South
“To Sheila” Smashing Pumpkins
“Eastern Glow” The Album Leaf

Mike S | 2/23/2007, 1:25 pm EST

It was Smile Like You Mean It, an amazing song. And I’m sick of people talking shit about The Killers without even listening to them. Who cares? You either like something or you don’t, get over it!

AyoMusic | 2/23/2007, 12:27 pm EST

Lest people forget the killers were on the show a couple seasons back

Fungus Amongus | 2/23/2007, 12:24 pm EST

“Nice to Know You” by Incubus.

The band was never featured on the show, that’s just my dedication towards that mediocre show.

Stoykoh | 2/23/2007, 11:39 am EST

Love as Laughter’s song “Dirty Lives.” Great, great band.

Mike | 2/23/2007, 11:13 am EST

Imogen Heap “Hide and Seak”, season 2 finale, during Caleb’s funeral and after Marissa shot Tre. Perfect blend of cool and creepy. The same lady who does the music for OC does the music for Grey’s Anatomy. How the fuck do you get a job like that? Best
job ever.

And there was an acoustic version of Coldplay’s “Yellow”. Cover version, I can’t remember who sang it. That was cool.

back to reality | 2/23/2007, 11:09 am EST

the one episode I watched in its entirety played Adam’s cover of Wonderwall. That was awesome.

Teef | 2/23/2007, 9:59 am EST

Lazy Eye, and anything By Deathcab

Joe | 2/23/2007, 9:54 am EST

Dawson’s Creek — better than The OC? Are you insane?

also, Imogen Heap ftw.

b | 2/23/2007, 9:45 am EST

best use of a song was “Paint the Silence” by South.

Brittany | 2/23/2007, 9:25 am EST

Spoon and The Subways

yssys | 2/23/2007, 8:28 am EST

Bright eyes; Modest Mouse; Imogen Heap and the four words that we learn thanks to Seth: DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE…

B P | 2/23/2007, 8:17 am EST

radiohead - fog (again) LIVE
and of course, We Used To Be Friends by The Dandy Warhols
ow, and Modest Mouse with Float On
and Rufus Wainwright with California, and Jeff Buckely with hallelujah, etc. etc.

Matthew Foran | 2/23/2007, 7:24 am EST

Modest Mouse. They are gonna be big in 2007.

Mimi | 2/23/2007, 7:16 am EST

The O.C should never had been cancelled. I blame it on the director! If it wasnt for him, marissa wouldnt have died, and everyone could of kept on watching it.

Ernst | 2/23/2007, 7:13 am EST

I’d like these to be included:

“California” by Rufus Wainwright
“If She Wants Me” by Belle and Sebastian
“Flying High” by Jem
“Burn Baby Burn” by Ash
“Cannonball” by Damien Rice
“Doxology” by David Poe

Cheers,
Ernst (myspace.com/amystere)

David | 2/23/2007, 6:26 am EST

I liked Jem’s version of “Maybe I’m Amazed”. Is anything better than Jeff Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah”?

thomas | 2/23/2007, 5:32 am EST

I thought it was really great when The Subways played at the bait shop! But the placebo song “Running Up That Hill”
that was used in the season 4 premiere was just perfect.

John | 2/23/2007, 4:28 am EST

To andreina:

i think the song you’re thinking about is Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap. Great song.

Sketch | 2/23/2007, 3:48 am EST

Nada Surf “If You Leave”
Band Of Horses “The End’s Not Near”
Bloc Party “Pioneers”
Catherine Feeny “Mr. Blue”
Doves “Caught By The River”
Kooks “Ooh La”
Modest Mouse “The World At Large”
Placebo “Running Up That Hill”
Spoon “The Way We Get By”
The Stills “The House We Live In”
Turin Brakes “Rain City”
Tally Hall “Hidden In The Sand”

I’m extremely sad the show is over…
So now I’ll have to hope the black donnelys is good and doesn’t get cancelled.

23fan | 2/23/2007, 2:04 am EST

Imogen Heap - hide & seek

mike | 2/23/2007, 1:20 am EST

death cab for cutie

andreina | 2/23/2007, 12:54 am EST

could someone please tell me the name of a song they played several times that started slowly, like “where are we? what the hell?..”

Feature Pre American Idol | 2/23/2007, 12:42 am EST

May be you are good singer, you have good voice and you just don’t have confidence to sing in front of some presence. Gain your confidence before you put your self front of judges. Now easier way. Just add you performances at www.preidol.com and others will post them opinion about you. Who is with me?

Dream On | 2/22/2007, 11:57 pm EST

Keane - Bad Dream

Stuporfly | 2/22/2007, 10:29 pm EST

This show was still on?

jezza | 2/22/2007, 10:01 pm EST

ryan adams’ cover of wonderwall… awesome

Nick | 2/22/2007, 8:06 pm EST

“Forever Young” - Youth Group

tariq sharif | 2/22/2007, 7:26 pm EST

i wand sand mey comment

Graham | 2/22/2007, 7:16 pm EST

I’ve only seen the O.C. twice, so I can’t really comment on the music that they used, but Dawson’s Creek did the whole music thing way before the O.C. I know that it’s totally lame, but I have a huge soft spot in the basement for the Creek. Give me Josh Jackson over Adam Brody any day. Good on Rolling Stone for rekognizing the Creek’s superiority.

musicman | 2/22/2007, 6:34 pm EST

the song played at the end is called life is a song by patrick park
or supposedly

john | 2/22/2007, 6:32 pm EST

jeff buckley - hallelujah
butch walker - hot girls in good moods
keane-bad dream
imogen heap-hide and seek
bell x1-eve, the apple of my eye
stars - your ex-lover is dead
insomnia - electric president

Nick | 2/22/2007, 6:23 pm EST

Lali Puna - Faking The Books

lik roper | 2/22/2007, 6:13 pm EST

lesbian porn totally rules!

Joe | 2/22/2007, 6:10 pm EST

Could it be anything else other than “California”?

Musicman | 2/22/2007, 6:01 pm EST

Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky

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