Yellowjackets is basically a trauma-bonding exercise for anyone who grew up in the 90s. We watch for the cannibalism, sure, but we stay for the music that sounds like a sweaty, flannel-clad fever dream. When Showtime announced the official Yellowjackets Season 2 (Music From The Original Series) album, people expected a simple playlist of every song heard in the show. Honestly? It's not that at all.
The album is a curated, 16-track beast. It doesn’t just repeat what was on screen; it reimagines it. You’ve got legends like Alanis Morissette and Florence + The Machine breathing new, weird life into the show’s DNA. If you were looking for every single background track from Jeff’s minivan sessions, you might be surprised by what actually made the cut. Learn more on a related topic: this related article.
The Alanis Morissette Factor: No Return
You can't talk about yellowjackets season 2 music from the original series album songs without starting with the queen of 90s angst. Alanis Morissette didn't just contribute a song; she hijacked the opening credits.
For episode four, "Old Wounds," the show swapped its usual theme for a cover of "No Return" by Alanis. It's industrial. It's gothic. It’s got that signature keening vocal that makes you feel like you’re lost in the Canadian wilderness without a map. Additional journalism by Vanity Fair highlights similar perspectives on this issue.
The album actually gives you two versions of this. There’s the No Return (Extended Version), which is the full-blown experience, and then the No Return (Lottie’s Dream Sequence) version. The latter is a shorter, more hallucinatory take. It’s the kind of music that plays when your brain is starting to rot from starvation and you think a moose is talking to you.
Florence + The Machine and the "Just a Girl" Evolution
One of the biggest moments in the Season 2 marketing was that trailer featuring Florence + The Machine. Covering No Doubt is risky business. Gwen Stefani’s original "Just a Girl" is a bratty, high-energy anthem. Florence Welch, however, turned it into something deeply unsettling.
Basically, she took the "horror" elements of the show and injected them into the track. It’s slower. It’s heavy. It’s the second track on the album for a reason—it sets the mood for the rest of the 90s-heavy lineup.
The Heavy Hitters: Grunge and Alt-Rock Staples
The album acts as a concentrated dose of 90s radio. It skips the filler and goes straight for the jugular with the tracks that defined the era's moodier side.
- Nirvana – "Something In The Way": This isn't the first time this song has been used to signify "brooding in the dark," but in the context of the Yellowjackets' winter, it feels particularly bleak.
- The Cranberries – "Zombie": A massive, politically charged anthem that the show uses to underscore the sheer violence of their survival.
- Garbage – "#1 Crush": Pure 90s obsession. It’s dark, sexy, and a little bit dangerous—exactly like the adult versions of these characters trying to hide their secrets.
- Live – "Lightning Crashes": You know the one. It’s a song about life and death, and given how many people die in this show, it’s a perfect (if slightly on-the-nose) inclusion.
Why Some Songs Didn't Make the Album
There’s a weird gap between "songs played in the show" and "songs on the official album." For example, the show used Radiohead’s "Climbing Up The Walls" during that scene—you know, the one with the "snack" at the end of episode two. But you won't find it on the official 16-track CD or vinyl.
Why? Licensing is a nightmare, for one. But also, the album is meant to be a cohesive "vibe" rather than a chronological list. The producers prioritized tracks that felt like they belonged together in a dark room with a single candle burning.
Instead of Radiohead, we get Elliott Smith’s "Pitseleh" and Nouvelle Vague’s cover of "The Killing Moon." These choices lean into the melancholic, acoustic side of the show’s trauma. They’re for the quiet moments after the screaming stops.
The Full Tracklist: What You’re Actually Getting
If you’re picking up the physical copy (and the "Rune" yellow-and-black splatter vinyl is pretty gorgeous), here is the exact order of the yellowjackets season 2 music from the original series album songs:
- Alanis Morissette – No Return (Extended Version)
- Florence + The Machine – Just A Girl
- Nirvana – Something In The Way
- Live – Lightning Crashes
- The Cranberries – Zombie
- Garbage – #1 Crush
- Pulp – Sorted For E’s & Wizz
- Veruca Salt – Seether
- Necking – Big Mouth
- Papa Roach – Last Resort
- 4 Non Blondes – What’s Up?
- Sparks – Angst In My Pants
- John Cameron Mitchell with Elijah Wood, Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker – Sit Right Down
- Nouvelle Vague – The Killing Moon
- Elliott Smith – Pitseleh
- Alanis Morissette – No Return (Lottie’s Dream Sequence)
The Surprise Guest: Elijah Wood?
Yes, that’s real. Track 13, "Sit Right Down," features John Cameron Mitchell and Elijah Wood (who played Walter in Season 2). It’s a weird, theatrical departure from the grunge and alt-rock. It fits Walter’s eccentric personality perfectly. It’s one of the few "original" pieces on the album that isn't a cover or a 90s hit, and it provides a much-needed break from the crushing weight of the other songs.
The Papa Roach Minivan Moment
"Last Resort" by Papa Roach is arguably the most famous music moment of the season, mostly because of Jeff. Seeing a suburban dad lose his mind to early 2000s nu-metal in a minivan is peak television. Including it on the album was a smart move—it acknowledges that while the show is a tragedy, it’s also kind of absurd.
How to Use This Music
If you’re looking to relive the season, don’t just shuffle this on Spotify. Listen to it in the order the creators intended. It starts with the grand, epic reinterpretations by Alanis and Florence, dives into the heavy 90s angst, and then slowly dissolves into the more fragile, broken sounds of Elliott Smith and Nouvelle Vague.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Vinyl Versions: There are several D2C (Direct to Consumer) versions, including the "Teen Queen" and "The Hive" editions, which feature different artwork.
- Listen for the Contrasts: Notice how "Sorted For E's & Wizz" by Pulp brings a Britpop energy that clashes with the American grunge, highlighting Taissa and Van's complicated adult dynamic.
- Seek Out the "Missing" Tracks: If you want the full experience, you'll need to build a custom playlist that includes the Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins tracks that didn't make the official 16-song cut due to licensing.
