During the 6th season, one of the most depressing seasons in it’s existence, the makers of the show decided to take a lighthearted break and do an entire musical episode (although story wise it’s a rather important episode; mixing serious story line, with silly musical mayhem). All the songs of that episode have been compiled on this album.

So we are not dealing with a normal sound track of a TV series. This features all the songs, sung by the original cast members, and taken straight from the episode in question. The vocal talents of the various actors differs a lot. For example Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) and Alyson Hannigan (Willow), along with a few others, should NOT ever pursue a singing career if they’re acting careers stagnate. Anthony Head (Giles), Amber Benson (Tara) and James Marsters (Spike) on the other hand have great voices and are quite enjoyable to listen too. Fans of the series will probably not be surprised about Anthony Head’s vocal qualities, given he has sung in the series before and also has a singing career next to acting.

Not one second of music that was used in that episode was left out. For example, in the episode itself everybody is infected by a need to sing and so they also show parts where the main characters just quickly walk past townsfolk singing. Unfortunately all those small, -sections of-, songs are also included on this album. This has a tendency to break up the music. Esp. as they also are not even important for the storyline. Still, for the collectors, it’s nice to get everything and know nothing is left out.

The album also includes a few extra songs like instrumental scores used in various other Buffy episodes and a demo song recorded for the musical episode. Musically I have to admit the instrumental scores are the most interesting. There are a few really enjoyable songs on the soundtrack itself (Under your Spell, Rest in Peace, Standing), but nothing to make you go out and go "YES, I NEED THIS CD!". All in all I doubt anyone would want to buy this album for the high quality music.

Take this album for what it is, a neat collectable for Buffy fans, that is crammed tight with musical goodies, and not to hurtful for the ears either. Without having actually seen the actual episode in question or being familiar with the show I doubt you would ever be interested in this CD. Even if you are a fan I doubt this album wil be anything more then just something that is "just for keeps". In my case for example I mainly got the album because, a) I am a huge Buffy fan but mainly because b) it was dead cheap. It’s an enjoyable collector’s item that should be approached with the same lightheartedness as the episode it is taken from.

Ps. Emma Caulfield (Anya, the ex-ex-vengeance demon with a phobia about bunnies) little rock anthem about how the bunnies are to blame remains a true classic. Rock on Anya!