Having never seen this critically-acclaimed Denis Leary series about firefighters, I can't really speak for how the music applies to the show. Taken on its own however, the Rescue Me soundtrack (culled from the show’s first three seasons) is an enjoyable collection of old-school alternative rock mixed with songs from newer bands like Wolf Parade (“Shine A Light�) and The Von Bondies, whose sprightly “C’mon C’mon� also doubles as the series’ theme. Ex-Afghan Whigs leader Greg Dulli contributes the strongest cuts here, once with his Twilight Singers (“Bonnie Brae�), as well as his solo track “Pussywillow.� Both are clearly a few notches above the rest of the songs on Rescue Me, and further proof that Dulli is an exceptional songwriter who seems to get better and better as the years roll by. One to avoid is Brian Jonestown Massacre’s “Open Heart Surgery,� where BJM mainman Anton Newcombe warbles through one of the worst Robert Smith impressions ever. Nurse! Scalpel!
Mark Horan
Release date: May 30, 2006
