20 TV shows with the best soundtracks and music

Peaky Blinders

I have a soft spot for gangsters, but add in a little period drama, the dreamy blue eyes of Cillian Murphy and grimy early 20th century Birmingham, England, and I’m sold. Peaky Blinders can be called a lot of things, but the best way to describe is just plain cool. From its hipster tweed vests to its free-flowing whiskey, everything about this show smarts of the kind of not-trying-too-hard vibe I hope to attain in my life. Its soundtrack is no different, offering one indie anachronism after another.

Murphy plays Tommy Shelby, the boss of the Peaky Blinders, a rough street gang turned powerful conglomerate in post-war England. Tommy runs a tight organization with his siblings, aunt and cousin, owning the streets of Birmingham with bookmaking, bootlegging and a little light murder. Everything about this show screams “cool,” and its music is partly to thank for that.

From the moment the intro starts, flawlessly executed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, you know you are entering a seedy world of handsome, powerful me  and cunning, competent women. Tom Waits make an appearance, alongside other powerhouses like The Black Keys and David Bowie. There is also a smattering of indie and punk, giving us gems like “One For The Road” by the Arctic Monkeys.

The music feels so out of time, yet so absolutely appropriate. The effect is almost otherworldly. This is also a fine way to describe the show and its characters, as they seem both old and new school all at once. The soundtrack embodies the inherent sadness the show evokes, but it also captures the show’s focus on outlaws and outcasts, setting each season with its own tone and texture.