True Blood: Music from the HBO Original Series, Vol. 3 picks up more or less where Volume 2 left off, gathering music featured in the show’s third and fourth seasons as well as some previews of songs used in season five. The
Karen Elson/Donovan duet “Season of the Witch” ties into season four’s focus on Bon Temps’ local coven, while
Neko Case and Nick Cave have campy fun with their version of
the Zombies' “She’s Not There.” Other strong moments include
Nick Lowe's “Cold Grey Light of Dawn,”
Gil Scott-Heron's version of
Robert Johnson's “Me and the Devil,” and
PJ Harvey's cover of
the Violent Femmes' “Hitting the Ground,” on which she sounds more like
Patti Smith than ever.
Massive Attack are their usual eerily elegant selves on “Paradise Circus,” while
Slim Harpo's “Te Ni Nee Ni Nu” recalls the earthy authenticity of the first True Blood soundtrack, and
Cary Ann Hearst's “Hell’s Bells” is a feral standout from season three’s music that’s especially welcome.
True Blood: Music from the HBO Original Series, Vol. 3 doesn’t feel as hand-picked as the first volume of music from the show, but there are enough bright spots that die-hard fangbangers can buy this without feeling too suckered. ~ Heather Phares