Songs in the Key of X: Short Stories of Horror and Paranoia

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock
xfiles album
Honoring the Pulp Glory of TV’s Finest Hour since the Original Star Trek

For us old guys who love music, 1996 was a pretty memorable year.  As always at progarchy.com, we’ll pay tribute to that year throughout this year.  We’ll look back at 1986 and 2006 as well.  Anniversaries matter.

One of my favorite releases of 1996 was the outstanding compilation album celebrating the weirdness (the prog-ness?) of the TV show, X-Files, SONGS IN THE KEY OF X.  As with probably most of us who write for and read progarchy, I was and remain an “album” guy.  Singles are fine. . . every once in a while.  But, I want something to sink my teeth into.  Compilations rarely do.

This one was an exception, as it has a bizarre–almost pulpish–consistency in the music, ranging from grunge to country to experimental to pop to heavy metal.  Everyone from Sheryl Crow to Nick Cave to Elvis Costello to Brian Eno to William S. Burroughs appeared on the album.  Stunning, really.  Even the CD insert was great–a thick cardboard poster, folded over, and adorned in cartoonish horror.

And, it was all put together by X-Files creator and mastermind, Chris Carter.

Strangely enough, I remember day SONGS IN THE KEY OF X was released, as it was March 19, 1996, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, a family feast day (on my mother’s side).

Here I am, twenty years later, still thoroughly enjoying every aspect of this CD, from its music to its art.  A thing to hold and behold.

6 thoughts on “Songs in the Key of X: Short Stories of Horror and Paranoia”

  2. Michał's avatar Michał

    Oh, the memories! At the time I was totally confused by this album. but I liked it nonetheless. I still have the other soundtrack (“The Truth and the Light – Music from the X-Files”) on tape. I remember the day I bought it very well, I was in the mood for some, well, mood music, and this album won over Fripp’s “1999”. The Latin titles, the eldritch sounds, the snippets of arcane dialogue – darkness indeed!

    Thanks Brad for this post, brings back great moments!

    Liked by 1 person

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      1. Michał's avatar Michał

        I’ll pull it out and give it a listen this evening to see how it’s aged, but it was on heavy rotation back then (except for the last track, a throwaway dance remix of the main theme, which I always skipped). I’m actually looking forward to it and also to re-listening “Songs in the Key of X”, a quality nostalgia trip is what one needs these days!

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