Angelo Badalamenti - Twin Peaks (1990)

Angelo Badalamenti
Twin Peaks (1990)

Ah, Twin Peaks. Brainchild of cult weirdo David Lynch (and the lesser acknowledged Mark Frost). Widely considered one of the greatest television shows of all-time despite only having ran for two seasons, 29-episodes total, and only about 17 of those 29 episodes worth watching. But it's still somehow deserving of its classic status because sheeeeeiiit those 17 good episodes were really fucking good. Great music, that show had. Yeah, most of it was dominated by the constant repetition of that all-purpose "Laura Palmer's Theme", which was used for everything from serious dramatic scenes to uplifting emotional scenes to scenes with nothing but simple exchanges of dialog. But you didn't really notice most of the time, and if you did, you didn't mind, because it was a good theme. And plus the show, it was one of the greatest television shows of all-time. You were too engrossed.

It wasn't until listening to this soundtrack that I realized that there were indeed more than three or four songs that played throughout the series. There's the simple fingersnap melody ("Freshly Squeezed") that drives the more quirky scenes. The wild, free-form sax of Dale Cooper's prophetic dreams ("The Bookhouse Boys"). Even a few dreamy vocal tracks featuring the angelic voice of Julee Cruise. And most surprisingly how could I have overlooked "Audrey's Dance"? With it's sleek keyboard keys and a bass line as sultry, mysterious, and sexy as the character herself. Has there ever been a television character as intriguing as Audrey Horne, before or since? If Twin Peaks' following could be described as "cult", hers was pure obsession, plain and simple. The Audrey Horne hardcore band can attest to this, I'm sure.

You can't help but come away from this soundtrack without a newfound appreciation for Angelo Badalamenti's compositions. Even after your memory of the plot points have faded -- you can't remember who killed Laura Palmer without giving it some thought, or can't recall how the convoluted Windom Earle plot even came about -- you still remember the feel of the show and the mood of the characters and how much of a role the music played in establishing it. And then you wonder why Bohren & der Club of Gore and The Necks have been the only bands to make careers out of this sound.


Score: 7.5/10


"Laura Palmer's Theme"