This post will be for the old folks like myself. Do young people even know what a movie soundtrack is? Anyways, back in the olden days, soundtracks were fantastic. And honestly, it would end up being one for a movie that you would never expect. There are different types of soundtracks. Some of them have original music (that would be the exciting way of discovering the album–a band you love has a new song on an album, you gotta get it!). But there are others that use existing music so well, that hearing those songs will transport you to a scene. I love both types. 

So here are my five favorites…

First, some honorable mentions:

 

Judgement Night–Rap meets rock, this soundtrack took some huge groups and put them together. The results are fantastic.
Lost Highway–Music by Trent Reznor for a David Lynch film? One of my favorite NIN songs, “The Perfect Drug” comes from this one.
Cruel Intentions–There are some sneaky great songs, like “Colorblind” by Counting Crows as well as “Coffee & TV” by Blur.
Singles–Early grunge era soundtrack. 

FIVE

 The Crow: City of Angels

A terrible movie, but great soundtrack. Some great bands crushing some covers: White Zombie, Bush, and Hole. But also some fantastic songs from Deftones, Filter, Korn, Seven Mary Three, and PJ Harvey. 

Favorite Song: “Gold Dust Woman” by Hole (I absolutely love this Fleetwood Mac cover)

 

FOUR

Dazed and Confused

One of my all-time favorite movies. Every song is perfect, and it instantly transports you to the scene in the movie. For example, I cannot hear “Jim Dandy” by Black Oak Arkansas and not think of the seniors chasing after the freshmen in their truck. 

Favorite Song: “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan. Just a cool song to play when Wooderson, Pink, and Mitch walk through the doors of the Emporium. 

THREE

Spawn

This soundtrack brings back so many memories. Metal mixed with electronic. We used to listen to this soundtrack while we cleaned the meat room at Comet Market (don’t ask, haha). There are some great songs likes “Long Hard Road Out of Hell” by Marilyn Manson & Sneaker Pimps, “Kick the P.A.” by Korn & The Dust Brothers, “Tiny Rubberband” by Butthole Surfers & Moby, and the very cool “For Whom the Bell Tolls (The Irony of It All)” by Metallica & DJ Spooky.

Favorite Song: “(Can’t You) Trip Like I Do” by Filter & The Crystal Method. Funny enough, if the kids say “can’t you…” I usually cut them off by singing “TRIP LIKE I DO!!!” They love when I do that.

TWO

 The Crow

Excellent movie with a great soundtrack. Seriously, ever track is great. There are some originals for the movie, but since it came out in 1994, it was my first taste of a few bands, such as Rage Against the Machine and Helmet. I love the Nine Inch Nails cover of Joy Division’s “Dead Souls” and “Golgotha Tenement Blues” by Machines of Loving Grace is highly underrated song. 

Favorite Song: “Burn” by The Cure. This was written for the movie, and it was cool since the original comic has the lyrics of one of their songs printed on the page. If you remember, in the movie Eric is a musician. The comic has tons of musical references, particularly The Cure and Joy Division.

ONE

 Garden State

I love the story that Zach Braff included a copy of the soundtrack with the script when sending it to Natalie Portman. He picked all the songs for the movie, and every song has resonance with the scene. It is funny, I was really into The Shins right before this movie came out, so when we were at the theater, and Sam has Andrew listen to her headphones, and The Shins started playing, I instantly knew this movie was for me. Still one of my favorite movies.

Anyways, every song is great. Here are my favorite three (I know, a top three inside a top five…mind=blown).

 “In the Waiting Line” by Zero 7…the perfect song for the party.

“Let Go” by Frou Frou…just a great song to end the movie. It feels like you are looking forward to the future. 

 “New Slang” by The Shins…I mentioned it earlier, but come on, a classic scene, a great song.