Episode #133: Osei Essed & Amend

The six-part Netflix documentary series, Amend: The Fight for America, is executive produced and hosted by Will Smith and features a number of luminaries including Mahershala Ali, Diane Lane, Samuel L. Jackson, Pedro Pascal, and Yara Shahidi among others, and explores the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution—which, in 1868, promised liberty and equal protection for all persons—as America’s most enduring hallmark of democracy.

Amend has wall-to-wall music, including Osei Essed’s score, which is intermixed with inspiring pop hits throughout. Essed describes the score as "modern minimalist, meets orchestral Americana." The composer is a lover of simplistic music and making textures interact with harmony and various instruments. English horn, bass clarinet, and electric guitar are some of the most prevalent featured in the music.

I spoke via Skype with Essed about the score for Amend and how it fits into his career.

Tracklist

Amend trailer

Osei Essed, "The Same Answer" (Jim: The James Foley Story OST)

Osei Essed, "Let's Do This Damn Thing" (Finders Keepers OST)

Mikhala Jené, D Smoke, & Deputy, "We Are the Promise" (Amend OST)

Episode #131: Kid Cosmic with Andy Bean

Netflix's Kid Cosmic -- from Craig McCracken, creator of the Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends -- follows the adventures of an imaginative and enthusiastic boy who lives with his free-spirited Grandpa in a sparsely populated desert town. The Kid’s dreams of being a hero seem to come true when he discovers 5 Cosmic Stones of Power in a wrecked spaceship. He forms a team of local heroes to stop an onslaught of alien attacks to steal back the stones. Though the Kid and his team are the good guys, they’re really bad at it,and the Kid learns that his fantasy of being a hero is very different from the reality of what it actually means to become one.

A major part of the world of Kid Cosmic is the music. Composer Andy Bean not only did the score for the Netflix series, but also created a series of bands from whose dusty 45s we hear their music, such as the psychedelic garage of Dr. Fang and the Gang, Cepha Pond and the Muzzy Hill Boys' rockabilly, or the joyous R&B of the Soul Contributions.

I love, love, love this show and the soundtrack, so it was a real treat to nerd out about all of this -- and even a little bit of Ducktales -- in this conversation with Andy Bean.

Tracklist

Dr. Fang & the Gang, "The Kid (Kid Cosmic Theme)" (Kid Cosmic and the Sonic Courage)

Cepha Pond and The Muzzy Hill Boys, "Greasy Spoon Space Gal" (Kid Cosmic and the Sonic Courage)

Don Carnage, "Sky Pirates" (Ducktales)

The Soul Contributions, "Party Back at My House" (Kid Cosmic and the Sonic Courage)

Episode #60: The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale with Eli Braden

Back in February, Joel McHale made a triumphant return to making fun of TV clips with the show that's definitely not the Soup reloaded, but absolutely definitely is. The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale is on Netflix, and it's hilarious and kind of the way I kick off every week. Part of what makes the show so wonderful is the music which plays over the closing credits.

Written and performed by comedian and musician, Eli Braden, the song pokes fun at the fact that most people skip the closing credits to Netflix shows. It's become a surprising hit, and has even begun changing. We talked with Braden about the song, his career in comedy and music, and more.

Tracklist:
Eli Braden, "The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale end credits"
Fuse, "Smack Wham"
Eli Braden, "Laverne & Booey"

Episode #46, MST3K: The Return with Har Mar Superstar

We're glad to be back from vacation, and on this episode, we're talking with Sean Tillman -- better known as Har Mar Superstar -- about his musical contributions to the Netflix series, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return, as well as his new EP, Personal Boy.

Tracklist:
Har Mar Superstar & Felicia Day, "MST3K Love Theme" (Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return)
The Skeleton Crew, "I Wish I Was Back In Old Canada (The Canada Song)" (Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return)
Har Mar Superstar, "Personal Boy" (Personal Boy)
The Skeleton Crew, "Wild Rebels Cereal" (Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return)
F.A.M.E.'s Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra, "Mighty Science Theater" (Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return)