Bad Music

Even though Breaking Bad is probably my favorite show currently on television (for another eight episodes next year, at least), I don't regularly talk about it here on the blog. But I couldn't pass up the chance to mention the wonderful soundtrack album of the score that was released not long ago.

Composer Dave Porter assembled an album of 20 songs taken from all five seasons of the show. They showcase the unusual nature of the music, fitting for an unusual show. It blends folksy elements almost reminiscent of Firefly (as highlighted in the title theme), industrial percussion that sounds like it could have been taken from Stomp, and atmospheric strings dancing in an unsettling free time.

The strange cocktail works as well off the screen as on. Sure, it helps that the composer could curate more than 60 episodes for just one hour of music, but he did by and large make the right choices. I found the album to be loaded with 4- and 5-star tracks. I'd say they were taken from some of the best episodes of the show, but anyone who watches Breaking Bad will tell you that nearly all of them are the best episodes of the show.

I'm disappointed that this amazing and tense final season of the show has been broken in half, and even more dismayed that there's been no word yet on exactly when those final episodes will air. But having this soundtrack has been a pretty good way of filling the wait. I grade the soundtrack album a B+.