Roswell, New Mexico has quickly cemented itself as one of our favorite shows. We love everything about it, including the soundtrack. Every episode from Season 1 has incredible songs that pair with the story in a beautiful way. Music feels like another character on Roswell, New Mexico, so we wanted to pay homage to that fact.
Keep reading to see our musical breakdown by episode for Roswell, New Mexico Season 1, or check out our Spotify playlist here!
1×01 “Pilot”
COUNTING CROWS, “Mrs. Potters Lullaby”
This song is a standout from the pilot because it sets the musical tone for the rest of the series. ‘90s music plays a major part on Roswell, New Mexico, and what better way to kick off the series than with a Counting Crows song? “Mrs. Potters Lullaby” is revisited by the episode’s end.
It also lets us get to know Liz Ortecho more in a moment of complete abandon where she dances it out at the Crashdown Cafe. By then, viewers are well aware Liz returned to town with a lot of secrets, pain, and ghosts, but there’s also moments like this where everything is safe and good for three minutes of musical bliss. This is Liz’s song, so it has to be on our Roswell, New Mexico playlist.
Runner Up:
SHOVELS & ROPE, “Evil”
We can’t exclude the song that ushers in the introduction of Michael Guerin.
1×02 “So Much for the Afterglow”
THIRD EYE BLIND, “God of Wine”
This song is more aware about what’s to come than the two couples are during their respective scenes. Even though Max Evans and Jenna Cameron sleep together, it’s evident he’s still hung up on Liz. It’s also pretty clear Michael and Alex Manes aren’t in the clear from the drama that seems to follow them.
Runner Up:
TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN, “Lipstick Wonder Woman”
This moment is great and arguably one of the most memorable from the first season. It doesn’t seem like much at first, because a woman being better at her job shouldn’t be a revolutionary standard. But regardless, we still feel like Jenna Cameron showing Wyatt Long she’s better at shooting a gun than him deserves a spot on our playlist.
1×03 “Tearin’ Up My Heart”
NOVO AMOR, “Colourway”
If Counting Crows’ “Mrs. Potters Lullaby” is Liz’s song, then Novo Amor is Echo’s artist (“Echo” is the ship name for Liz and Max). His music follows the pair throughout the first season in some of their most epic moments, including when Max tells Liz that he’s basically loved her forever.
Runner Up:
JAI WOLF, “Starlight (feat. Mr Gabriel)”
This moment leaves us with a bad taste in our mouths knowing what we know now about Noah Bracken, Isobel Evans-Bracken’s (secret alien) husband. Although, in real time, Noah’s grand gesture of Land Before Time is just what Isobel needed to take her mind off of everything for a while. Jai Wolf’s calming lyrics pull the scene together perfectly, despite Noah’s gesture-turned-distraction being totally creepy in retrospect.
1×04 “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?”
DAN OWEN, “Hand That You Hold”
The scenes that play over this gorgeous song are so beautiful. Roswell is small and people find their people, and the characters of this show are fiercely protective and loyal. Just as the lyrics suggest, Kyle Valenti and Liz find some solace in the distraction of recreational sex, while Michael tends to a sick Isobel. Everyone needs someone, and this song sees our favorite characters turning to a person they can trust. That’s pretty special.
1×05 “Don’t Speak”
THE PHANTOMS, “Not Over Yet (It’s Only Begun)”
This song marks a turn in the first season, where everything viewers and characters alike thought they knew about Rosa Ortecho’s murder is flipped on its head. Trust is broken and relationships are tested, and nothing is ever the same from this moment on. It’s a song for the books, hence why we included it in our playlist.
1×06 “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
BRIGHT EYES, “First Day of My Life”
Bright Eyes’ “First Day of My Life” is the perfect song for this episode because it encapsulates the complicated feelings that come with experiencing things for the first time as a teenager. Everything is big and new and important. Instead of trivializing the young adult experiences of our favorite Roswell, New Mexico characters, the show treats them with the respect and validity they deserve.
Runner Up:
ANDREA WASSE, “Ain’t No Devil”
This song works wonders in the scene where Liz learns the truth about her sister’s murder. It’s memorable because it’s when Liz sees the cracks in Max’s “good guy” persona. He isn’t as good or as innocent as she believed him to be, and he played a big part in covering up the murder of the person she loved most in the world. There is no coming back from an upset like that.
1×07 “I Saw the Sign”
NATALIE TAYLOR, “Jumper”
This gorgeous cover of the iconic Third Eye Blind song ties together a series of tense scenes, like Isobel being locked up and Cameron turning Max in to Jesse Manes, together. They are all connected by the fact that they show people putting everything on the line for their loved ones, and they’re pushing their capabilities to the very brink — the very edge.
Runner Up:
SUPERGRASS, “Alright”
There aren’t enough good things to say about this song’s incorporation into the scene where Alex, Maria Deluca, and Liz have lunch with Maria’s mother Mimi. Mimi looks at Liz and sees Rosa, and Mimi sees an eerily similar expression on Alex’s face to that of his father. Supergrass’ upbeat and optimistic song championing adolescence brilliantly juxtaposes the way time unfortunately blurs together for Mimi.
1×08 “Barely Breathing”
THE WILD REEDS, “Back to Earth”
This song works for the significance of the Wild Pony because Maria uses the sign as a guiding light for her mother when she’s lost, pulling her back to Earth. “Back to Earth” also teases the will-they-won’t-they nature of Michael and Maria’s relationship, the uncertainty of where it could lead. It’s such a great pick.
Runner Up:
RUELLE, “Genesis”
Ruelle’s voice offers an otherworldly factor to this scene, which pairs perfectly with putting an alien in a stasis pod. The title and lyrics are almost too perfect for this scene, because putting Isobel in her pod is a literal connection to her genesis.
1×09 “Songs About Texas”
NATALIE TAYLOR, “Iris”
How more romantic can a soundtrack for an epic first kiss be than a gorgeous cover of the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris?” Max and Liz really lucked out with this one. This song also represents how truly epic it is to see these two finally get this moment.
Runner Up:
YOUNG THE GIANT, “Superposition”
This song says all the things Max and Liz can’t while they toss and turn in their respective motel beds.
1×10 “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”
JORDAN CRITZ, “No Matter What (feat. Svrcina)”
This one really breaks our hearts. Isobel just wants to repair her marriage after being in her pod.
Runner Up:
FORD TURRELL, “Days Go By”
“Days Go By” seems to encapsulate all the things Alex has thought and felt since Michael Guerin has come in and out of his life over the years. We’re in our Malex feels over here.
1×11 “Champagne Supernova”
SHOVELS & ROPE, “Hail Hail”
Liz saves the day in a dress and heels, leaving Max and Michael in shock and awe. That’s right, nothing can stop Liz Ortecho!
1×12 “Creep”
NOVI, “Can’t Love Me (feat. Tyler Blackburn)”
This one will always make us cry. Not only is this song featured in one of the most moving Malex scenes, Tyler Blackburn (who plays Alex Manes) is also featured on the track. The world was literally crumbling around Alex and Michael, and Alex still found a way to remind Michael that he is loved. Not to mention the incredibly devastating revelation that the alien in captivity was Michael’s mother. It’s fine, we’re still not over it.
Runner Up:
MATCHBOX TWENTY, “Real World”
Just like the song says, Liz and Kyle could use a break from the real world for a bit. Everything with Noah, Kyle’s father, and Rosa is enough family drama to last a million lifetimes.
1×13 “Recovering the Satellites”
DANIEL BLAKE, “Here With Me”
The Roswell, New Mexico team waited until the season finale of the reboot to bring this song into the mix, and it totally paid off. For those who don’t know, “Here With Me” was the theme song for the original Roswell, so that only adds to the emotion of what plays out during the song. It’s such a great song to sum up the final moments of the season when Max sacrifices himself to bring Liz’s sister, Rosa, back to life. It speaks to all of the different dynamics, romantic or otherwise, on Roswell, New Mexico. It’s truly an unbeatable musical moment.
Runner Up:
NOVO AMOR, “Carry You”
We said that Novo Amor was Echo’s artist, and we meant it. This stunning song plays over their epic embrace and the sex that follows. It shows how tender and special their love for each other really is. This song captures the relief that comes with these two finally being together after all that waiting.
Lucky for us, Roswell, New Mexico is currently airing its second season. That means there are so many more musical moments to celebrate in the future. Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch” and Dame’s “Holy Moly” are already on our list to add to the playlist for Season 2.
Roswell, New Mexico airs on The CW, Mondays at 9pm.
