In the mid-2000s, The O.C. became a treasure trove of indie music in an unexpected place: one of network television’s “Big Four” broadcasters. Through Fox’s sudsy teen drama, most specifically, the character of Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) and the series’ fictional music venue, The Bait Shop—bands like Death Cab For Cutie, Bright Eyes and Phantom Planet, which provided the unforgettable title track, attracted wide attention—including from audience members not previously tuned into the artists featured on the soundtrack. In honor of series’ incredible (and influential) music, here’s Paste’s list of The O.C.’s 50 Best Musical Moments, in chronological order. (Be sure to check out our list of the series’ 50 Best Moments and our ranking of all 92 episodes, too.)
Phantom Planet, “California”
Joseph Arthur, “Honey and the Moon”
Mazzy Star, “Into Dust”
Doves, “Caught By the River”
Jeff Buckley, “Hallelujah”
Turin Brakes, “Rain City”
South, “Paint the Silence”
Jet, “Move On”
The Seth Cohen starter pack: “We got Death Cab. We got Bright Eyes. We got The Shins.”
Ron Sexsmith, “Maybe This Christmas”
Finley Quaye, “Dice”
Rooney
Super Furry Animals, “Hello Sunshine”
Ryan Adams, “Wonderwall”
Patrick Park, “Something Pretty”
Nada Surf, “If You Leave”
The Vines, “Ride”
Jem, “I’m Amazed”
Jeff Buckley, “Hallelujah”
Rachel Yamagata, “Wore Me Down”
The Killers
Modest Mouse
The Thrills
Rachael Yamagata
Matt Pond PA, “Champagne Supernova”
Death Cab For Cutie
Coldplay, “Fix You”
Imogen Heap, “Hide and Seek”
Bloc Party, “Bluest Light”
Youth Group, “Forever Young”
The Subways
The Subways, “I Want To Hear What You’ve Got To Say”
Sufjan Stevens, “For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti”
Youth Group, “Forever Young”
Bettie Serveert, “Lover I Don’t Have to Love”
Bloc Party, “Pioneers”
Imogen Heap, “Speeding Cars”
Apogee, “Chapters”
Imogen Heap, “Hallelujah”
Placebo, “Running Up That Hill”
Keane, “Bad Dream”
Alexi Murdoch, “All My Days”
The Pogues, “Love You Till The End”
Sia, “Paranoid Android”
Coconut Records, “The West Coast”
Youth Group, “Start Tomorrow Today”
The Midway State, “Unaware”
Patrick Park, “Life’s a Song”
Ross Bonaime is a D.C.-based freelance writer and regular contributor to Paste. His starter pack includes Death Cab, Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs, and a Captain Oats. You can follow find more of his writing at RossBonaime.com and follow him on Twitter.