Top 10 Movie Soundtracks
By Aaron and Bob 10/2/2008
While last week we wrote about Con Men, this week, with the release of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, we looked for the movie with the best playlist of it's own. We looked for movies that had songs that really spoke to the film's themese and made the movie better because they were there. So while these movies might not have "infinite" playlists, they are still really good.
10) i am sam (2001)
While Tropic Thunder has an interesting take on why Sean Penn didn’t snag an Oscar for his role here, that would be an oversight of Sam’s true genius – his love of The Beatles. As many have realized it isn’t very hard to pick and choose Beatles songs and string them together to form a cohesive story. Here you have great pop acts performing classics instead of the more musical-y style of Across the Universe. -AWV
Best Songs: Two of Us (perf by Aimee Mann and Michael Penn), I’m Looking Through You (perf by The Wallflowers), Revolution (perf by Grandaddy)
9) American Pie (1999)
One of the seminal films of our childhood, the soundtrack of American Pie did a great job to collect the songs that were popular in the late 90s. While the film isn’t linked to it’s songs, the songs do an excellent job of setting the film in a given time period. For people that were in middle school and high school when this film was released watching it today would bring back fond memories of, well nothing really, middle school sucks. But, you get the idea. -RCK
Best Songs: Semi-Charmed Life (Third Eye Blind), One Week (Barenaked Ladies), Mutt (Blink-182)
8) Garden State (2004)
“You gotta hear this one song, it'll change your life I swear.” Sure everyone knows the Garden State soundtrack is overrated and they know the Zach Braff story and all that. But the tracks are still great indie gems – combining the perfect highs and lows of some bands that are best in those small doses. More importantly the music matches the mood and builds on it in a way that no other set of songs could. -AWV
Best Songs: Caring is Creepy (The Shins), In The Waiting Line (Zero 7), Let Go (Frou Frou)
7) The Blues Brothers (1980)
If only they made tv adaptations this well today…you would get the benefit of singing cameos from the likes of Aretha. Then I’d respect those flicks. Here you have great blues mixed in with great songs we now call “oldies.” Music, comedy, fun, run together with a sweet soundtrack that that only one thing could ruin: Blues Brothers 2000. -AWV
Best Songs: Gimme Some Lovin’ (perf by The Blues Brothers), Main Theme From Rawhide (perf by The Blues Brothers), Minnie the Moocher (Cab Calbeway)
6) The Departed (2005)
One of Martin Scorsese’s many classics, the director stays true to his style here by again using an array of rock songs to augment the action on screen. These songs are utilized mainly to dictate the tempo of the film, but they are also highly effective at setting the mood throughout. Scorsese utilized songs from a variety of eras and genres here, that helped to fully bring us into the story that he was telling. -RCK
Best Songs: Gimme Shelter (The Rolling Stones), I’m Shipping Up to Boston (Dropkick Murphy’s), Comfortably Numb (Van Morrison)
5) Pulp Fiction (1994)
A movie that ties together disparate stories is perfect for an eclectic soundtrack that while great lacks any of the fluidity that make soundtracks like Garden State great. QT must have really pushed himself to put together an iconic soundtrack to match his iconic film because each song has its own great craziness – just like every character in Pulp. What's more is that so many of the songs are tatooed on our brain, along with the memorable scene that acompanies them: dancing with Uma, the gimp... -AWV
Best Songs: You Never Can Tell (Chuck Berry), Misirlou (Dick Dale & Del Tones), Comanche (The Revels)
4) Apocalypse Now (1979)
Towards the tail end of the New Hollywood Era, Francis Ford Coppola went off to the jungle to create this epic Vietnam masterpiece. While Coppola still had his father Carmine score the film, he also used several existing songs to set the mood of the film. While many films use music to highlight the themes or mood, Coppola uses music in this film to firmly base the film in a setting, and to notably highlight an action scene. -RCK
Best Songs: The End (The Doors), Ride of the Valkyries (Wagner)
3) The Graduate (1967)
While Simon and Garfunkel were destined for greatness from their talent alone, Mike Nichols decision to use their songs in this film helped to skyrocketed them to stardom. There are a lot of things that make this film memorable, but the music is the one thing that really sets the mood. From the opening shots of Benjamin in the airport, through the scenes of him in the swimming pool, and to the films co conclusion, the music of Simon and Garfunkel is omnipresent. While Nichols wanted Paul Simon to write new songs for the film, it seems that did not happen, and the lyrics to one of their songs were changed to create one of their most well known songs. -RCK
Best Songs: The Sound of Silence, Scarborough Fair, Mrs. Robinson (all Simon and Garfunkel)
2) Almost Famous (2000)
Cameron Crowe takes us along for the ride that made him who he is with indie-fave Patrick Fugit playing Cameron. So many of the songs hit the right chord, whether it is Stillwater’s take on Fever Dog which bursts out the first real scene we see Stillwater live, is one of the subtle touches that doesn’t even make the soundtrack like Neil Young’s Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, or the sing along Tiny Dancer that captures the essence of every character – and every theme. But really, every song captures the time period and the emotion of Fugit/Crowe. -AWV
Best Songs: Fever Dog (Stillwater), Tiny Dancer (Elton John), Sparks (The Who)
1) Easy Rider (1969)
Dennis Hopper’s seminal road film from the heart of the counterculture era was one of the first films (and certainly one of the most notable) to use rock music in place of a traditional score. While The Graduate before it showcased the talents of one group, Dennis Hopper put together an eclectic array of songs from the era. The film lives through its music as the main characters make their way on a trek across the country. Few films have ever utilized music to eschew the thematic elements in the ways that Easy Rider did, and no other film on this list uses its music to portray a movement and a generation as effectively as Easy Rider did. -RCK
Best Songs: The Pusher (Steppenwolf), The Weight (The Band), Born to be Wild (Steppenwolf)
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