Queer as Folk: The Final Season (CD - 2005)

Liner Note Authors: Daniel Lipman; Ron Cowen.

Queer as Folk: The Fifth Season ends the series' collection of soundtracks close to where it began: with a compilation of dancefloor-friendly tracks with a few slower songs thrown in for good measure. Geri Halliwell's "Ride It [Hex Hector 12" Mix]," DV Roxx's "Hardcore Mutha F***a," and DJ Rhythm Presents Soul Theory's "Drama [Warren Clark Club Mix]" are all pretty much par for the four-on-the-floor course, while the Scissor Sisters' "The Skins" and Superpitcher's "Fever" mix in some quirkier style with their relentless beats. The album's less-energetic tracks are just as important, if not more so, to Queer as Folk: The Fifth Season's overall flow: Madeleine Peyroux's flawlessly elegant cover of Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love" makes it a quintessential torch song. PJ Harvey's gorgeous duet with Thom Yorke, "This Mess We're In," is the perfect hung-over, heartbroken counterpart to more hedonistic songs like Marilyn Manson's "Personal Jesus." Exclusive mixes of Cyndi Lauper's "Shine" and Heather Small's "Proud" end the soundtrack on a high note. ~ Heather Phares minimize