SOUNDTRAX: THE WAITING PLACE
by Sean McKeever.

Each month, PopImage askS a different comic book creator or fan to share with us their fantasy soundtrack for the comic book story of their choice. This month, we're lucky to have Sean McKeever chime in with a list of songs to accompany his acclaimed series, THE WAITING PLACE

I tried really hard to not make this a "Sean's favorite music" CD. I had to put a lot of electronica/industrial stuff to the side because they just quite obviously do not fit with the style and mood of THE WAITING PLACE. Still, I think I did a fair enough job of sneaking some in.

If this were reality, of course, I would do my damnedest to use as many original tracks as possible, going to individual musicians/bands and convincing them with my charm and genuine love of their work. Heh.

On with the list. Wherever possible, I've added links to Real Audio clips of the songs, ranging in quality from pretty good to rather bad. Enjoy.

TRACY BONHAM | THE ONE
Soundtracks can make a great impact when they start out with a great rocker of a song. I picked this one, because it's a smart relationship song and has just the right feel for TWP.

STABBING WESTWARD | CONTROL
This song is shouted out by Scott at the top of his lungs in vol. II, No. 5, and plus it's a great (relatively) old song.

GRAVITY KILLS | HERE (MARK SAUNDERS REMIX)
"now I'm here for all to see/everything torn out of me/too late to drown in all my doubt /too much too late to sort things out" A heart screams in pain. Distorted guitar pushes the melody as mocking laughter creeps in from the periphery. And it's hauntingly beautiful.

CREEPER LAGOON | DREAMING AGAIN
Back when I was putting together a pitch for TWP as a TV series for someone (honest!), I imagined the instrumentals from this song as a possible theme song. I kind of see it as a fitting song for Scott Forbes.

PLACEBO | ASK FOR ANSWERS
Not lyrically appropriate, but the true atmosphere of overcast, dreary winter days.

MEDICINE | CANDY CANDY
Yet another TWP TV song. Mellow and atmospheric. Couldn't find a sample online, since the band and label are defunct.

UNDERWORLD | DIRTY EPIC
Sure, this song's 10 minutes long, but it's the musical equivalent to driving on an electric, snow-filled, cold winter's night. I listened to this a lot when conceptualizing TWP.

PLACEBO | SUMMER'S GONE
"you try to break the mold/before you get too old/you try to break the mold/before you die" Though by song title, Placebo's "Teenage Angst" would be more appropriate, but just look at those lyrics. Another song I pictured being used for promo spots.

PLACEBO | BIONIC
I pictured the bridge of this song being used for TWP TV series promos as well. Hell, if TWP ever became a TV series, I'd hunt down Placebo to write the theme song. Helluva band.

KMFDM | TODAY
"seconds slowly turn to minutes/a month of Sundays coming up/time again it pulls me under/I wonder if I'll ever rise above" A great techno/industrial band that most definitely deserves a spot on the disc.

BJORK | ALL NEON LIKE
"the cocoon surrounds you/embraces all/so you can sleep/fetus style"

DEPECHE MODE | HOME
"here is a song/from the wrong side of town/where I'm bound/to the ground/by the loneliest sound/that pounds from within/and is pinning me down" Dark techno blips and screeches combine with flowing strings to create heartache.

GARBAGE | MILK
"I am lost/so I am cruel/but I'd be love and sweetness/if I had you/I'm waiting/I'm waiting for you" The idea that we'd be so much better off if we just had that elusive "thing" that we're oh-so-sure will make us whole. For much of the cast of TWP, that "thing" is living somewhere else.

NINE INCH NAILS | I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO JOINING YOU, FINALLY
"in the blur of serenity/where did everything get lost/the flowers of naiveté/buried in a layer of frost; I've done all I can do/can I please come with you/sweet smell of sunshine/I remember sometimes" A fitting song for Scott's tragic loss and his dark journey into winter.

Sean McKeever is the writer/creator of THE WAITING PLACE, now in it's second volume(!) and available from SLAVE LABOR. You can visit Sean at www.seanmckeever.com.

Back

Attitude | ProFile | Industrial
Interviews | Reviews | Pi Comics
Talkback | Archives | Gallery