Story highlights
"Songs of Anarchy," explores "Sons of Anarchy's" use of up-and-coming artists
Forest Rangers, who play on the majority of "Songs of Anarchy," have appeared in episodes
"SoA" fan Alison Mosshart joins the Forest Rangers on a cover of "What a Wonderful World"
The FX television series “Sons of Anarchy” is known for its brutal depiction of biker life in the fictional town of Charming, California, but another hallmark of the series is its clever use of independent music.
Its new soundtrack, “Songs of Anarchy,” explores the program’s use of up-and-coming artists to convey the gritty reality of the motorcycle club’s members and those closest to them.
“I think sometimes of the music as a character in and of itself,” music supervisor Bob Thiele, Jr. tells Rolling Stone. “The songs become the narrative. They’re moving the story and functioning emotionally like some of the characters would.”
Thiele is a member of what he calls the Sons’ “house band,” the Forest Rangers, who play on the majority of “Songs of Anarchy” and have appeared in a few episodes. “Sons” actress Katey Sagal sings on four of the album’s tracks, and Kills singer and “SoA” fan Alison Mosshart joins the Forest Rangers on a cover of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.”
Despite music’s major presence on the show, producers have waited four seasons to release a soundtrack.
“Halfway through season two, we knew there was a soundtrack somewhere, but Fox is a big company and they had a little show called ‘Glee,’” says Thiele. “It’s hard to measure up to that.”
Adds fellow “SoA” music supervisor Michelle Kuznetsky, “I think that now is the right time, exactly.”
And perhaps it is: season four is the highest-rated one yet for the series. The finale airs December 6 at 10pm ET on FX.
Copyright © 2015 Rolling Stone.