Wired magazine's pop-culture blog, Underwire, reports on, well, The Wire. For those not yet wired in, writer Erik Malinowski previews the soon-to-be-released official series soundtrack from Nonesuch Records that "fans have been clamoring for years for." He recognizes the praise the series has gotten, saying that "few people will argue that The Wire is the best show on television. By far." But he also points to the important role music has played on the series over the past five years:

The realistic acting, clever writing, and gritty atmosphere of Baltimore's neighborhoods (shot on location) put The Wire on a pedestal beyond any of its small-screen competitors. But a somewhat-overlooked component of the show's success is the music that creator David Simon sparingly but deftly places at critical junctures of the narrative.

Nonesuch will release two CDs—one an eclectic mix of music from throughout the series, the other with music exclusively from the show's hometown of Baltimore—on January 8, two days after the start of the fifth and final season on HBO. And, Malinowksi writes, "boy are we in for a treat." To read his complete preview, visit blog.wired.com/underwire.

Season Four of The Wire hits stores on DVD next week. To hear that season's version of the show's theme song, "Way Down in the Hole," click here or listen to Nonesuch Radio by clicking on the icon at the upper left of this page.