From easy to stranglehold in twelve acts

Like that other HBO series, Entourage premieres the second part of their season (their third) this Sunday, and the DVD of the first part hit the shelves this week... by my calculations, that gives you now just four days to hug it out with the collection. Musically, the show packs in a tremendous amount of music for a 30-minute program, and the track choices are more then just a backdrop of partying in Hollywood.

Playlist: Entourage - Season 3, Pt 1

Take for instance how the season begins and ends. It all begins with Ghostface Killah's request to "Be Easy," which is indicitive of the mood the gang's all in. Vinnie's blockbuster Aquaman is about to open, the money's flowing and the stardom is a heartbeat away. The season ends with Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold," and without spoiling too much, most of that goodwill seems now to be up in the air.

So how did we get from easy to stranglehold? In the first few episodes, everythings mostly copacetic. Songs like Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright," "I Just Want to Celebrate" from Rare Earth and Sinatra's "I've Got the World on a String" are all in sync with the gang riding the wave of fame and fortune. Eric's managing a star now, Turtle's got his own biz now managing the up and coming rap star Saigon, and Ari's new business is breaking ground. But then things start to get interesting. Notice how the songs (in general) get more conflicted and dramatic, and aside from the diversion with The Ramones ("Blitzkrieg Bop," "Rockaway Beach" are used in conjunction with a Joey Ramone bio film pitch,) it progresses steadily until we're led to the introspection of TV on the Radio's "Staring at the Sun," which was as profound a moment as the show has had in it's three seasons thus far.

What do we have to expect with this second part coming up? More specific then the usual great hip-hop, classic rock and indie rock, I'd venture to guess that Kings of Leon will be in the mix, as they've featured the band in each season (and they have a new album out this very week... coincidence?) Here's the teaser trailer for what's to come.

Full tracklisting
HBO's episode-by-episode music and scenes

tags: playlist, entourage, television, hbo, soundtrack, ted nugent, kings of leon, ghostface, indie rock, rap, hip-hop, the ramones, tvotr