Six Feet Under: Everything Ends, Vol. 2 (Music from the HBO Original Series)

iTunes Review

Released as the fifth and final season of creator/producer Alan Ball’s Emmy-winning HBO series drew to a close, this second musical anthology picks up on the first volume’s eclectic sensibilities and expands them even further. If the show’s mordant ethos is ably echoed by the shrewd catalog choice of Nina Simone’s slinky opener “Feelin’ Good,” this collection has a distinctly more contemporary feel overall, thanks in no small part to the inclusion of a couple of smart, mood-enhancing tracks by Coldplay (“A Rush of Blood to the Head”) and Radiohead (“Lucky”). Other strong modern choices include “Transatlanticism” from Death Cab For Cutie, Jem’s previously unreleased “Amazing Life,” and Sia’s bittersweet “Breathe Me.” The show’s success has also spawned a handful of original recordings here, including The Caesars’ faithful read of BOC’s ‘70s chestnut “Don’t Fear the Reaper” and Arcade Fire’s ethereal “Cold Wind.”