Tracks

  1. Little Boxes — The Shins
    from the internet, 2007
    Theme from Weeds

    There were a lot of choices here, as Weeds is cool enough to have let a number of hip artists reinterpret this old-time gem. I'm partial to this version though, mostly for James Mercer's country croon.

  2. Welcome Back — John Sebastian
    from Welcome Back, 1976
    Theme from Welcome Back, Kotter

    I think I saw this show once or twice a long time ago. It was, like most things from the late '70s, cheesy. But I think that's why I like this song so much. Like Vinny Barbarino himself, it's just so unhip it almost comes back around to being cool. Almost.

  3. My Life — Billy Joel
    from 52nd Street, 1978
    Theme from Bosom Buddies

    It's hard to believe a show that only ran for a few years (and began the year I turned two) could be so implanted on my memory. But I distinctly remember watching the travails of Hildegard & Buffy. If we only knew at the time what Tom Hanks would become, maybe somebody would've stopped him from becoming a bosom buddy.

  4. Cleveland Rocks — The Presidents of the U.S. of A.
    from Pure Frosting, 1998
    Theme from The Drew Carey Show

    I never really cared much for that show. I was however a huge Presidents fan for many years. Song & show make a good pair though, especially when you consider that most people think neither Drew Carey nor PUSA were especially talented.

  5. Stand — R.E.M.
    from Green, 1988
    Theme from Get a Life

    Get a Life was both terrible and terribly ahead of its time. I don't think people could truly appreciate the stupidity of it all. As for the song, sure it's one of R.E.M.'s biggest hits, and sure, it doesn't really age all that well. But when I was a kid, I loved this song. I knew all the words. And back then, I didn't even know R.E.M. was my favorite band.

  6. Closer to Free — BoDeans
    from Go Slow Down, 1993
    Theme from Party of Five

    I used to watch Party of Five regularly. It was soap-y, Jennifer Love Hewitt was hot, and this song was really catchy. I got this BoDeans album from a Tower listening station; one of my favorite early discovery centers. I miss Tower.

  7. Hey Sandy — Polaris
    from Music from the Adventures of Pete & Pete, 1994
    Theme from The Adventures of Pete & Pete

    Pete & Pete was then and remains now one of my all-time favorite shows. This song had a huge part in that. It somehow is nostalgic without being quaint, and hip without coming off as trying too hard. Just like the show itself, I guess.

  8. Who Are You — The Who
    from Who Are You, 1978
    Theme from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

    I kind of hate CSI in general, but at least the producers have good taste in music. I could've gone with some of the other Who tracks, but chose the original, mostly cause the others were too long to fit on the CD. No matter, they're all solid.

  9. How Soon Is Now? — The Smiths
    from Meat Is Murder, 1986
    Theme from Charmed

    Turns out the show used both versions of this song (there's also a Love Spit Love cover of it), but I went with the original, despite my greater familiarity with the later rendition. I do love a cover, as you know, but I can't deny Morrissey his due.

  10. Save Me — Remy Zero
    from The Golden Hum, 2001
    Theme from Smallville

    Now here's a WB show I actually used to watch. When I did, I always got excited to hear this theme. I'm not sure why I've never been compelled to seek out more Remy Zero though, seeing as how good this track is.

  11. Moment in the Sun — Clem Snide
    from The Ghost of Fashion, 2001
    Theme from Ed

    Here's another show that had multiple themes. I picked this song though because in addition to being slightly better than the Foos (sorry, Dave G.), this gem introduced me to a great band.

  12. California — Phantom Planet
    from The Guest, 2002
    Theme from The OC

    Much like geek hero Ira Glass, I am an unabashed fan of The OC. Though, for the record, I liked this band and this song before the show even came out. I got into them thanks to drummer Jason Schwartzman (who's since moved on, sad), a guy who can almost do no wrong in my eyes. Except of course for that terrible SAT cheating movie.

  13. Superman — Lazlo Bane
    from All the Time In the World, 2001
    Theme from Scrubs

    I remember Lazlo Bane from before the turn of the century, back when they were doing memorable covers of Men at Work ("Overkill" I think it was) and getting their videos on 120 Minutes. In the days before the internet, that show was my lifeline to new musical horizons. I kind of miss it.

  14. Boss of Me — They Might Be Giants
    from Dial-A-Song, 2000
    Theme from Malcolm In the Middle

    I used to watch Malcom in the Middle. I loved that little Dewey kid all the way back from when he was in Cider House Rules. Then he grew up. And so did Frankie Muniz, and I hated them both after that. I did like it when Ashton Kutcher punk'd Muniz though. He should do that again.

  15. We Used To Be Friends — The Dandy Warhols
    from Welcome To the Monkey House, 2003
    Theme from Veronica Mars

    I won't lie: I really like V Mars. It was a good high school show, a good detective show, and it had some very likable actors. And a great theme song, at least until they made it all weird and electro for the underwhelming season 3.

  16. Bad Reputation — Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
    from Bad Reputation, 1981
    Theme from Freaks and Geeks

    Being one of my favorite shows of all time, I had to include the F&G theme here. Joan Jett makes the show better, and vice versa. Sometimes I wish that program had lasted longer, or that I had watched it when it was actually on tv… but I think it's better that nobody saw it, and now Freaks & Geeks lives on in greatness.

  17. C'mon C'mon — The Von Bondies
    from Pawn Shoppe Heart, 2004
    Theme from Rescue Me

    Rescue Me is one of those really good shows I never actually see. Something about it being on cable, where they re-run stuff too often, or where the shows are on the summers. Maybe one day I'll catch up with the whole series, but for now I'll just enjoy this quick burst of energy from Jack White's favorite band.

  18. Rock Around the Clock — Bill Haley and His Comets
    from Rock Around the Clock, 1956
    Theme from Happy Days

    Most people probably remember "Happy Days" being the theme to Happy Days, but back in my day, the theme was sung by Bill Haley and it sounded like this: "Eyyyy!"

  19. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da — The Beatles
    from The White Album, 1968
    Theme from Life Goes On

    If I recall, the show producers couldn't actually secure the rights to the Beatles version, so they used some pale imitation. Since I flaunt such rules and regulations, you get the original in all its White Album glory. I resisted the Beatles growing up, but with the Fab Four, resistance is futile. I'm a huge fan.

  20. Reflections — Diana Ross & The Supremes
    from Reflections, 1968
    Theme from China Beach

    I actually watched this show when I was a kid, even though I didn't really know at the time much, if anything, about Vietnam. I did know that this was an iconic theme song choice, and that Dana Delaney and Marg Helgenberger were pretty hot back in the day.

  21. With a Little Help From My Friends — Joe Cocker
    from With a Little Help From My Friends, 1969
    Theme from The Wonder Years

    If you grew up in the '80s, you watched this show, and you loved this song. I cannot deny either of those statements, and that's why it's on here. That and Joe Cocker's really good at reimagining other people's songs.

  22. God Only Knows — The Beach Boys
    from Pet Sounds, 1966
    Theme from Big Love

    I've never seen Big Love, but I hear it's good. Probably not as good as this tune from the Beach Boys though. By the way, has anyone noticed the rash of Brian Wilson-inspired songwriters of late? It's remarkable.

  23. Tea for the Tillerman — Cat Stevens
    from Tea for the Tillerman, 1970
    Theme from Extras

    Extras was a sad but ultimately hopeful show. This song is perfectly suited, then, as the coda for yet another classic short-run series from Ricky Gervais. I wanted to include the original Office theme on here too, but couldn't find the proper version to feature. Oh well. Maybe next time.

cover: Zenith / January 21, 2008 / Seattle, Wa