Music lovers like myself often see the new year as an opportunity to assess our catalog of favourites, and chart our listening journey for the year to come. But, this year, I have to admit: I struggled.
My attention has been hogged by another, perhaps jaded, lover of mine: TV.
Recently, I’ve been so impressed by soundtrack choices in TV shows that I don’t even have enough content to write about a particular musician. My mind continues to be enamoured by the hours of television I was finally able to consume over the winter break.
So here are my favourite recently released TV soundtracks (plus a couple of honourable mentions).
Heated Rivalry
This smash-hit Canadian production known by many as the “gay hockey show” has impressed audiences so broadly that it deserves its own article. But the soundtrack alone is worth throwing your hat onto the ice.
I knew the soundtrack was truly a winner early in episode two when the song mangetout by English indie rock band Wet Leg played. Not only has this been one of my favourite songs recently, but the lyrics perfectly capture the emotional and sexual tension building between the show’s main characters, Shane and Ilya.
If your algorithm has drawn you into the ever-growing Heated Rivalry fandom, I figure there are multiple songs from pivotal moments in the series you likely have on a loop in your head — the sign of a job well done. I’ll focus on the two most iconic:
First, All The Things She Said by t.A.T.u. This song accompanies arguably the peak of dramatic tension between Shane and Ilya in episode four at a nightclub. Its angsty energy has certainly landed it a spot at the top of many fitness instructors’ playlists since the show’s release.
And second, I’ll Believe In Anything by Wolf Parade. No spoilers, but the end of episode five (now the highest rated episode of television on IMDb with a 9.9/10), breathes new life into this early 2000s indie rock hit.
Finally, a recurring musical guest in the show’s soundtrack I want to highlight is Feist, a Canadian indie and alternative artist. Two songs off of her 2007 album The Reminder are featured in the series, a choice that emulates the national pride the show has cultivated.
I Love LA
This one came out of left field for me. I don’t typically enjoy comedies, and a show about talent agents and influencers in LA wasn’t exactly on my watchlist. But I’m so glad I gave it a chance. Creator, writer and lead actress Rachel Sennot impressed me on multiple accounts, especially as the series drew to an end.
For a show meant to mock the industry of agents, celebrities and content creators, having good music would naturally be pretty important. For any work of satire to garner buy-in with an audience that represents the culture being critiqued, credibility matters. If your show has good music, I’ll wager you have some valid takes on the culture at large.
Episode seven really did something for me with the electronic staccato of Grimes’ Oblivion and LCD Soundsystem’s nostalgic indie anthem oh baby closing out the penultimate chapter. But the finale really finished on a high note. From Tame Impala’s foot-stomping hit Elephant to Fame is a Gun, a song off Addison Rae’s debut album that launched her from TikTok fame into pop-stardom, each song choice captures how beautifully this closing episode marries Sennot’s humour with the show’s high stakes.
The episode ends with Dreams by The Cranberries. Will the lofty goals of these fame-seekers be realized? This emotional closing leaves you yearning for answers.
Pluribus
This final pick is a little random, but it will hopefully speak to sci-fi lovers who managed to read past the hit-studded world of I Love LA. This Apple TV original from the creator of Breaking Bad brilliantly explores a post-apocalyptic world we haven’t seen on screens before.
An exploration of human nature, this show features a wide variety of music — but my favourite comes from Hermanos Gutiérrez, a latin instrumental band. As the character Manousos braves a beautiful but treacherous journey across South and Central America, stunning panoramic shots of canyons, cities, coasts and rainforests are partnered with rich and ambient guitar picking. It’s the kind of montage you wish would go on forever.
If you have time to spare before midterms sneak up on you and are looking for any kind of entertainment besides the dopamine-destroying doom scroll, I urge you to watch any one of these TV shows. Take note of how soundtrack choices can enhance the atmosphere. Aside from obvious attention-span health benefits, this is truly an inspiring new way to enjoy music if you find yourself in a slump.