Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album

The first soundtrack was released in 1999, and features music from the first three seasons of Buffy. (purchase information)

Sarah Michelle Gellar may be saving the world from vampires but her TV show is also helping a few worthy bands get some much needed exposure. Dayton, Ohio's ridiculously prolific Guided by Voices lead things off with the playful "Teenage FBI," a strong distillation of the band's knack for the irrepressible hook. The all-femme Hepburn protest in true "Maggie's Farm" fashion (as in "I ain't gonna work on...") for the quickstepping, bubble-gum punk-pop of "I Quit." Bif Naked's arena anthem "Lucky" is perfect for staring at candles. Garbage are in suitably psychedelic glam shades for "Temptation Waits." Rasputina, the gothic cello ensemble, include the appropriate "Transylvania Concubine." The only misstep is from virtual old-timers the Sundays, who deliver a lazy-day version of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." But this is made up for with the inclusion of Nerf Herder's "Buffy" theme song and Christophe Beck's instrumental theme music, which round out this all-inclusive collection. --Rob O'Connor