The L Word: The First Season CD Review by Kace

This is the CD that's based on The L Word and its First Season's music as featured on the show itself in 2004. It was released shortly after Season 1 concluded in the Spring. Your Producer is Rosie Lopez with Excecutive Producer Credits going to Ilene Chakien, Natasha Duprey and Lopez. It has 14 songs and features music that's particularly fun to listen to Late in the Evening. ON TO THE TRACKS!

1- The Murmurs "Genius"

If the voice sounds familiar in this song, it should as it's none other than Leisha Hailey AKA Alice from the show. Yes, before winning everyone's hearts as Alice she was Lead Singer for a nice Adult Alternative group (she also did some Yoplait commercials, but let's just ignore that and keep going). I'm surprised this song didn't get more attention in 1997 especially considering similar sounding acts like Shawn Colvin and Sarah McLachlan were getting major airplay that year. But if nothing else, this song provides a good introduction to the group and if you like this song, you'll like a lot of their other stuff as well.

2- Lucinda Williams "Right In Time"

To give you an idea of how laid back the overall sound is on this CD, this is one of more upbeat songs. Good beat with a Country sound to it, but not so much where you're wondering why your dog got hit by a train...or however that joke goes. Anyway, it's good to see Lucinda get some spotlight time after relative obscurity from the Mainstream. Another good song to check out by Lucinda if you're interested is "Those Three Days."

3- Ella Fitzgerald w/ the Buddy Bregman Orchestra "Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)"

Cole Porter: Legend. THIS is what a Love Song was supposed to sound like in Pre-Elvis Canon. Ella's got one of the Greatest voices to ever grace a microphone and don't be surprised if you catch yourself swaying to the song while listening. Kudos to Rosie or whoever thought it'd be a good idea to put this in as it introduces Ella's voice to a New Generation.

4- Fantcha "Sol Ja Camba"

From the Acquired Taste Department. It's like a slowed down Salsa sound and I could almost swear I've heard this in a commercial somewhere. Not much I can really say about this song other than if you know how to dance to it, you'll like it a little more than the rest of us. Not Good, Not Bad. Just sorta there.

5- Joan Armatrading "The Weakness In Me"

Okay, I have to admit when I first heard this song I thought it was Cher, 'cause the voice is identical. This song is really slow, but soothing. Really good to relax to or if it's Sunday Morning and you're just waking and ont wanting anything loud or fast while enjoying your breakfast. For something similar in sound, check out some October Project stuff.

6- Connie Francis "Everybody Somebody's Fool"

I'm still partial to Dean Martin, but Connie's version is pretty good as well. This song gives you a good idea of what Pop Music sounded like after "The Day The Music Died" and before the Beatles ransacked the Billboard Charts. The song itself has a moderately uptempo beat and the lyrics are simple enough to follow.

7- Shelley Campbell "Drivin' You"

More Adult Country fun, this time with Shelley and one of those songs that reminds me of some of Mazzy Star's stuff from 1993. Good to slow dance to or just kick back and drink a beer to, whichever works for ya.

8- The Be Good Tanyas "In Spite Of All The Damage"

I can't help but wonder what the origin surrounding the band name is. More relaxation as by this point in the CD it should become obvious that this compilation was not put together with the intent of getting a person outta bed in the morning. The song itself provides a nice Faux Apology Anthem for all of us.

9- Rufus Wainwright "Hallelujah"

For some of us, this song almost became the stuff of overexposure. Used very nicely during Season 1 of The L Word, but was also part of Shrek (which isn't much of a stretch considering the song's owned by DreamWorks). Rufus has been one of the more underrated talents of the past 10 years. Written by Leonard Cohen, this song's a bit depressing.

10- Kinnie Starr "Alright"

Kinnie's one of those artists I've come to know a little better and listen to more due to her music being used in The L Word, much like Fisher and Damien Rice and others. This song provides a nice mixture of slow moderation with rapid fire bass percussion. Good make out song if nothing else. There's also a dance mix version of this song available that's good if you know where to look.

11- Jason Collett "Blue Sky"

This song has a sound that makes me wonder if Jason was inspired by Tom Petty's Wildflowers CD, or maybe another Traveling Wilbury alumni George Harrison. Of course, this is another relaxation tune. The most positive thing I can say about this song is that it doesn't suck.

12- Marrianne Faithful "The Pleasure Song"

Ah yes, the song that introduced The L Word in Episode 1: The Pilot Menace as I like to call it. This is a definite 180 from "As Tears Go By" and up to this point, the younger members of Generation X and those born after would probably know Marrianne for her voice being used at the end of Metallica's "The Memory Remains." This song is just cool and one of the better reasons to go out and buy this CD.

13- Joseph Arthur "In The Sun"

Awesome, Awesome Song which many Alice and Dana fans remember from the Limb From Limb episode very fondly. However, I have a bit of a beef here with the fact that this song is so heavily edited down and kinda takes from the appeal. But at least it's included nonetheless...I'm just sayin' it woulda been nicer if they had went with the Full Length Version instead of the short version used here.

14- Frances Faye "Frances And Her Friends"

Recorded a Live Performance at a club somewhere. In fact, the introduction into the song's actually cut from this for the Soundtrack. But you still get the song itself and the song itself is just fun. This should be the Alice Love Chart Theme, seriously. And considering Bette and Kit's Father is Melvin, it's kinda odd hearing "and Melvin goes with Marvin," but maybe that's just me. Good, humorous way to cap off an otherwise heavily contemporary sounding disc.

In terms of consistency, The L Word CD grabs for the Adult Contemporary Jugular and doesn't let go. Good for that purpose, bad if you want more variety in your Soundtracks. If you're an L-Fan, there's no discussion here as you'll want the CD if you don't have it already. Pretty much every song on here's identifiable with Season 1 and will remind of you of something seen in the show. If you're unfamiliar with the show, but still want a CD that'll help you unwind at the end of a long day then go out and buy this first chance ya get.

Overall: Recommended

Season 2 Soundtrack Review