CD - Grey’s Anatomy Original Soundtrack Volume 3

Reviews, By Blinking With Fists, 5th November, 2007

Grey’s Anatomy Original Soundtrack Volume 3, like many a compilation soundtrack, features songs littered from throughout the show (in this case the third season of the hit show). Soundtrack album executive producers Shonda Rhimes (show creator) and Betsy Beers note in the booklet that they hope ‘to give you a clear representation of the different moods from the season.’ Whilst the only song I can definitely place is Ingrid Michaelson’s Keep Breathing from the season finale, I’m sure the hard-core fans can make the connections with ease. That or just wait for the release of the season on DVD and line the songs up that way.

The musical offerings are from quite a diverse range of independent and obscure artists (as seems to be in vogue for television shows for some time now). Most of the immediate appeal and the core strength of this soundtrack is in the first half. Peter, Bjorn and John’s delightfully offbeat song Young Folks (aka the whistling song) kick starts the album and leads straight into the delicate slice of trippy electo-pop that is Again and Again by the bird and the bee. We also get catchy offerings from The Jealous Girlfriends – Something In The Water – and Feist – Sealion – and two slower, more somber offerings with immense appeal – Bill Richhini’s A Cold Wind Blows Through Your Door and Grace Potter and the Nocturnal’s exceptional Falling or Flying. It’s also hard not to love the energy of Running on Sunshine by Jesus Jackson or the chorus of hand-claps, whistles and electric guitar that drive Robert Randolph & The Family Band’s brilliant Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That.

What of the rest of the album? The second half of the album is more somber and low key and features previously unreleased tracks by Mat Kearney, Gomez and John Legend. Whilst the songs themselves are at least decent and have started to grow on me, they highlight what is my biggest problem with the soundtrack. The first half of the album rides a wave of real energy that is suddenly dissipated for slower burning, slower building songs and it doesn’t do the latter half any favours, despite the strength of the individual tracks. It’s a shame that there is not better continuity in flow because I want to hear Moon and Sun by Gomez and The Story by Brandi Carlile, but find it hard to maintain the interest to get there.

Brandi Carlile’s offering is however noteworthy as the closer of the album as it serves as a great note to go out on – a track flush with raw emotion that builds to a powerful crescendo – somewhat reminiscent of the show itself.

All said and done, it’s a decent compilation filled with some great songs though it fails to really fire on all cylinders. Fans will probably enjoy this most for the connection to the show, whilst others may not really get into it for the same reason. Even so, it is worth a spin for the exposure to some of the wonderful and obscure artists on show here and worthy of the attention.

Plus it never hurts to broaden your musical horizons.

Grey’s Anatomy Original Soundtrack Volume 3 is out now through Hollywood Records/EMI Music Australia.