The End of the F***ing World is in a league of its own. The new British [1]Netflix [2] show, which premiered Jan. 5, follows two teenage runaways as foul-mouthed Alyssa and self-diagnosed psychopath James [3] make a break from their boring home lives, only to end up in more trouble than they bargained for. Eight episodes long, the show is dark and bloody while also maintaining a unique blend of humour and romance, a balance that plays out well partially because of the show's stellar, nostalgic music.
Like the cast, script, and look of The End of the F***ing World, the show's soundtrack is bloody amazing. Not only is the show self-aware enough to acknowledge its American influences, but the soundtrack even features songs from British artists whose sounds have roots in American blues, soul, and rock music. "Keep On Running" by 1960s-era UK band The Spencer Davis Group accompanies James and Alyssa while they themselves are on the run, and the soundtrack is riddled with doo-wop, classic rock, country, and soul songs that are enough to make you forget that the show is set in present day. At first it may seem as if James and Alyssa's grisly world is at odds with a soundtrack steeped in American of American-inspired oldies, but listen closer to the 33 songs we've compiled and it's clear why the music, like the main couple, is just crazy enough to work.
"Laughing On The Outside" by Bernadette Carroll
Plays in: Episode 1
"Where Is Love" by The Monzas
Plays in: Episode 1
"Never" by Larry Chance and The Earls
Plays in: Episode 1
"Have You Ever Loved Someone" by The Vocaleers
Plays in: Episode 1 and 3
"Funnel of Love" by Wanda Jackson
Plays in: Episode 1
"At Seventeen" by Janis Ian
Plays in: Episode 1
"Superboy & Supergirl" by Tullycraft
Plays in: Episode 1
"Walking All Day" by Graham Coxon
Plays in: Episode 2 and 8
"We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow" by Soko
Plays in: Episode 2
"Settin' The Woods On Fire" by Hank Williams
Plays in: Episode 3
"Five String Serenade" by Mazzy Star
Plays in: Episode 3
"I'm Sorry" by Brenda Lee
Plays in: Episode 3
"T.B. JerK +++" by Pascal Comelade & Les Limiñanas
Plays in: Episode 4
"Zu Zu" by The Bonnevilles
Plays in: Episode 4
"Smile" by Timi Yuro
Plays in: Episode 4
"Care a Little" by Bernadette Carroll
Plays in: Episode 4
"You Must Be An Angel" by Richard Myhill
Plays in: Episode 4
"Lonesome Town" by Ricky Nelson
Plays in: Episode 4
"Why Can't I Touch It" by Buzzcocks
Plays in: Episode 5
"Voilà" by Françoise Hardy
Plays in: Episode 5
"I Apologize" by Timi Yuro
Plays in: Episode 5
"Come Back" by The Belles
Plays in: Episode 6
"Keep On Running" by The Spencer Davis Group
Plays in: Episode 6
"Sweet Thang" by Shuggie Otis
Plays in: Episode 6
"Kmag Yoyo" by Hayes Carll
Plays in: Episode 6
"Oh Daddy" by Fleetwood Mac
Plays in: Episode 7
"A Way With Words" by Carl Smith
Plays in: Episode 7
"That's How I Got To Memphis" by Tom T. Hall
Plays in: Episode 7
"Hillbilly Child" by Alan Moorhouse
Plays in: Episode 7
"Strange Things Happening Every Day" by Fern Jones
Plays in: Episode 8
"Rye's Theme" by Jeff Russo & USC Drum Corps
Plays in: Episode 8
"Young Men Dead" by The Black Angels
Plays in: Episode 8
"The End Of The World" by Julie London
Plays in: Episode 8