The NCIS Los Angeles Original TV Soundtrack is one big party waiting to happen. From the first song by Daughtry, a pounding rock anthem called Never Die through to the last cut on the cd, the music never stops rocking and rolling. Although some of the tunes are very techno pop, it is the soundtrack of an exciting, pulsing city and it has been used effective as the background music for many different episodes over the course of the last four seasons on NCISLA. Sure, there’s a few clunkers but for the most part, the cd is a terrific representation of the music that makes the series so electric. Unfortunately, the sleeve notes do not identify the song to the episode. But our incredible webmaster, sindee has identified most of the episodes and I have listed them below in connection to the songs on the cd. We’re still looking to identify a few more episodes and attach them to the song, so if you have any idea what episode they belong to, let us know.
Some highlights on the cd for me: Allen Stone’s Mama Gonna Punish You is the first track that stands out from the bunch. Allen is an up and coming soul revivalist with a wonderfully sweet voice, but he can also push it to the limits as he does in his contribution to the cd. If you never heard the guy sing, pick up his first two cds…you won’t be disappointed. Of course, there is LL Cool J’s song of a love gone wrong. No More has a great punch to it and was a wonderful addition to the Sam-centric episode when it was used this season.
My favorite song has to be Jacob Dylan’s Arms of a Ghost. If you’re a Densi fan, you probably heard the song used in the opening scene of Neighborhood Watch when Deeks wakes up to an empty bed. The song drifts lazily along as Deeks pads his way through the house looking for his sugar bear and it really set the tone for the rest of the episode. Another gem, is Zac Brennan’s (son of Shane) angsty contribution to the final few minutes of the episode Sans Voir II (3X24). Definitely one of my favorite Callen and Hetty moments. I loved how the song wafted over the poignant scene where Callen is looking out the car after he was arrested for the death of the Chameleon. The music is used effectively to convey Callen anxiety and Hetty’s sadness. It gave me goose bumps as the scene faded to black. Such a perfect example of how music can make a dramatic scene even better.
There was one omission that stands out for me and that’s Loomis and the Lust’s contribution to Personal (2X17). The song Good Time Lover was played as Deeks was running along the beach and on the way to the convenience store. There’s no way to think about that scene without hearing the playful song pulsing in the background. It was so perfect for Deeks’ character and his devil-may-care attitude. I can’t hear it without it bring back all those feelings that made the episode so memorable for me. Too bad it wasn’t included in this cd. Luckily you can pick it up through iTunes if you want to add it to your NCISLA soundtrack. I can think of one or two others, but hopefully there will be a second soundtrack that will grab some of these lost tracks.
The picture of the cast inside the liner notes is also worth the purchase of the cd. It was from last summer’s photo shoot and it’s a great group shot of the gang. I have a feeling this cd is going to be playing in my cd player for a long time…it’s a great compilation of some of the best music on the scene today. Let us know what your preferred track on the cd is and if they left off any of your favorites. You can purchase the soundtrack by clicking the Amazon link below. Enjoy!
Track List
1. Never Die (Daughtry)
featured in episode “Purity” (4×20)
2. Wine & Vinegar (The Wild Feathers)
3. Lipstick On His Collar (Caro Emerald)
featured in episode “Wanted” (4×17)
4. No More feat. Ne-Yo (LL Cool J)
featured in episode “Betrayal” (3×09)
5. Shotcaller (Taio Cruz)
featured in episode “Lokhay” (4×16)
6. Alive feat. The Good Natured (Adrian Lux)
featured in episode “Crimeleon” (3×15)
7. Everythang’s Corrupt (Ice Cube)
featured in episode “The Chosen One” (4×13)
8. Momma Gonna Punish You (Allen Stone)
featured in episode “Wanted” (4×17)
9. Devil In The Backseat (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)
10. Lonesome Valley (Ryan Bingham)
11. Shuffle A Dream (Little Dragon)
12. Where Is The Heart? (Alex Clare)
featured in episode “Red, Pt.2” (4×19)
13. Arms Of A Ghost (Jakob Dylan)
featured in episode “Neighborhood Watch” (3×22)
14. Misery (The Gaslight Anthem)
15. Your Next Move (Zac Brennan)
featured in episode “Sans Voir II” (3×24)
16. Kerosene (Jim Hanft)
