Staying safe at home has become the new normal, making the choice of what to binge watch feel like our most daunting daily task. As your favorite studios and streaming apps continue to roll out fresh new shows and push movie releases ahead of schedule, deciding what to devote your time to is trickier than ever. Luckily, we’ve narrowed down some choices for TV shows that feature awesome and diverse soundtracks that will bring your home theater system to life.
5) The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
Based on the comic book series of the same name by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy follows the dysfunctional lives of adult superhero siblings, the Hargreeves, as they reunite after the suspicious death of their father. Things soon escalate after a pair of time-travelling assassins arrive, forcing the siblings to work together to prevent the apocalypse. Featuring songs by Nina Simone, The Doors and Bay City Rollers, the music of The Umbrella Academy plays on the show’s theme of time by using classic tracks to soundtrack trippy flashforwards and heart-stopping action sequences.
What you’ll hear: “Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen, “I Think We’re Alone Now” – Tiffany, “This Year’s Love” – David Gray.
Best listened to on: PULSE SOUNDBAR, SUB 3.1 System
4) Luke Cage (Netflix)
Another series based on a popular comic book, Marvel’s Luke Cage follows the titular character as he defends Harlem from the criminal underworld of New York. When it came time to score the show, composers Adrian Young and Ali Shaheed Muhammad wanted to “create a classic film score for television.” Paying homage to the birthplace of hip-hop, the music of Luke Cage creates an atmosphere of authenticity in a world on the brink of corruption. Keep your ears open for songs by Jidenna, Wu-Tang Clan and Faith Evans.
What you’ll hear: “Good Man” – Raphael Saadiq, “Ain’t It a Sin” – Charles Bradley, “100 Days, 100 Nights” – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings.
Best listened to on: PULSE SOUNDBAR, FLEX, SUB 5.1 System
3) Insecure (HBO)
Born from the mind of series creator Issa Rae, Insecure has earned itself a reputation for featuring rising artists before they hit the mainstream. Focusing on two best friends as they navigate their late twenties, Insecure examines life and love in Los Angeles with some truly awkward moments along the way. Overlooked for showcasing GoldLink’s “Crew” before it became a TikTok sensation, Insecure features a wide range of artists from The Weeknd and SZA to Kari Faux and Sampha.
What you’ll hear: “Biking (Solo)” – Frank Ocean, “Hit the Ceiling” – Lion Babe, “Trouble On Central” – Buddy.
Best listened to on: POWERNODE + 5.1 Speaker System
2) Elite (Netflix)
For all its high school drama, the soundtrack for Elite is far more sophisticated than one might expect. Set at the fictional private school Las Encinas, Elite is a Spanish murder-mystery that deals with race, class and religion. Thanks to its vibrant soundtrack—which features songs by The National, Swedish House Mafia and the show’s own Danna Paola—Elite manages to successfully transcend other teen dramas to deliver rich characters and intricate storytelling.
What you’ll hear: “Gooey” – Glass Animals, “Forever” – CHVRCHES, “Queendom” – Aurora.
Best listened to on: PULSE SOUNDBAR + SUB 3.1 System
1) Stranger Things (Netflix)
Helping to ignite the wave of nostalgia for the 1980s, Stranger Things is unapologetically just that and its soundtrack is no different. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things follows a group of kids who unearth a series of government conspiracies that ultimately lead to a dark, strange world. Taking place in the early ’80s, Strange Things features a variety of iconic tracks by David Bowie, Michael Jackson and New Order that only add to the show’s heart.
What you’ll hear: “Should I Stay or Should I Go” – The Clash, “Whip It” – DEVO, “I Melt With You” – Modern English.
Best listened to on: POWERNODE + 5.1 Speaker System