Top 7- Best Movie Soundtracks
I get a lot of requests to talk more about music on the blog and while I want to give people what they want, I don't care enough about modern music to write about it other than to talk trash about it. Fortunately, I've found a middle ground in talking about soundtracks. Now, this is different to the best musical moments lists. They were about specific bits of films with great music. These lists however are about the film's music as a whole. And to keep things simple, when I say soundtrack, I'm referring to both licensed music and the film's score. Sound good? Then let's go!
7. Casino
This spot was going to go to Goodfellas but after seeing the less than mediocre Casino, I knew it had to make this list because while the film is frankly a mess, it's a mess with a fantastic soundtrack. Scorcese is known for choosing sublime music for his films and Casino could well be his magnum opus in that respect. It's got such classics as Gimme Shelter, Without You and the superb House of the Rising Sun. You won't enjoy the film but you'll sure love the soundtrack.
6. Rocky Horror Picture Show
As someone who hates musicals, Rocky Horror is a rare treat for me as a musical that is enjoyable, funny and has great songs. It's one of the strangest films ever made and that perfectly translates into the songs. Characters just burst into song at random moments and it all feels perfectly fine. We also get such great songs as Damnit Janet, Rose Tint My World and the endlessly iconic Time Warp. It's a total classic and the soundtrack only enhances that. For those who don't like musicals, may I recommend you try this some time.
5. (500) Days of Summer
As a textbook indie/hipster film about love (500) Days of Summer always had to have a pretty good soundtrack. What many didn't expect from this JGL led hit was how fantastic the soundtrack would become. It's a whole spectrum of artists showcasing all the emotions we're taken through on this film. We have Hall and Oates giving us pure delight. There's Vagabond by Wolfmother showing us how it feels to rise up after a tricky breakup. And we have The Smiths making everyone feel pretty depressed. A soundtrack as unique and beautiful as the film that houses it.
4. Blues Brothers
Nothing could stop Jake and Elwood from making it up this list. After all, they're on a mission from God. This is a surprising case where a film not just made the transition from TV to film but also from TV sketch to fantastic film. It also comes complete with a fantastic cast of cameos from the world of blues such as Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Ray Charles. With these Blues legends come a raft of legendary hits like the theme from Rawhide (you'd recognise it, trust me), Think and Everybody Needs Somebody. It's a soundtrack that fits the film's swagger to a tee.
3. Forrest Gump
Name a song from the 60s or 70s. Go on. Fine, I'll start. Hound Dog, by Elvis. That's there. Land of 1000 dances by that guy, don't remember his name. Anyway, that is also there. Be it Lynyrd Skynyrd or... Well, another Lynyrd Skynyrd song. The song covers as many years as it does emotions. You can feel the hope from young Forrest as Elvis sings to him or maybe even if it's sadness as SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS while that theme from the start plays but this time it has a slightly different, melancholy feel thanks to everything. It's one of the few entries on this list where it's score is just as important as it's soundtrack.
2. Anything by Tarrantino
So yeah, I've cheated a bit here. Tarrantino has an famously great taste in music and it shows in every single film of his. I can't comment on Inglorious or Jackie Brown but from his others, there's always at least one standout. Kill Bill, one of the weaker films in Tarrantino's library still has some cracking songs. There's the whistle song and that "woo hoo" one they sing. You know, that one. Reservoir Dogs has the famous "Stuck in the Middle with you" moment alongside the iconic walk scene. Pulp Fiction is simply too full to choose a moment from but then we reach my personal pick, Django Unchained. If you read my musical moments post, you'll know it's got some pretty good stuff in damn near all of it. Say what you will about his films, Tarrantino's soundtracks are never less than spot on.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy
This soundtrack will leave you Hooked on a Feeling, almost as if you Fooled Around and Fell in Love or got blown up by a Cherry Bomb. There Ain't no Mountain High Enough that'll make me not Go All The Way because I Want You Back. That was a series of references to the perfect soundtrack of this film that in hindsight, wasn't very funny or even that original. This is a soundtrack that deserves a far better intro joke than that. It's a tour through the 80s as we tour through Space with Starlord, Gamorra, Drax, Rocket Raccoon and everyone's favourite, Groot. If you haven't seen this film, go see it. It doesn't matter if you don't like superhero films, the soundtrack will keep you going through it. That and Peter Quill's "pelvic sorcery". Because damn, Chris Pratt is just so likable.
Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for: the poll results. In last place was more reviews. No one wanted that so that won't be happening. Next was News. Again, not many people. It got closer as second place went to a post about what I saw this week. But then the winner was *sighs* a watchthrough of Glee. Thanks guys. That'll be coming in the next few weeks on a Thursday, sometime soon. If you want to get a better idea of when, follow the blog on Twitter at@quitenerdyblog
7. Casino
This spot was going to go to Goodfellas but after seeing the less than mediocre Casino, I knew it had to make this list because while the film is frankly a mess, it's a mess with a fantastic soundtrack. Scorcese is known for choosing sublime music for his films and Casino could well be his magnum opus in that respect. It's got such classics as Gimme Shelter, Without You and the superb House of the Rising Sun. You won't enjoy the film but you'll sure love the soundtrack.
6. Rocky Horror Picture Show
As someone who hates musicals, Rocky Horror is a rare treat for me as a musical that is enjoyable, funny and has great songs. It's one of the strangest films ever made and that perfectly translates into the songs. Characters just burst into song at random moments and it all feels perfectly fine. We also get such great songs as Damnit Janet, Rose Tint My World and the endlessly iconic Time Warp. It's a total classic and the soundtrack only enhances that. For those who don't like musicals, may I recommend you try this some time.
5. (500) Days of Summer
As a textbook indie/hipster film about love (500) Days of Summer always had to have a pretty good soundtrack. What many didn't expect from this JGL led hit was how fantastic the soundtrack would become. It's a whole spectrum of artists showcasing all the emotions we're taken through on this film. We have Hall and Oates giving us pure delight. There's Vagabond by Wolfmother showing us how it feels to rise up after a tricky breakup. And we have The Smiths making everyone feel pretty depressed. A soundtrack as unique and beautiful as the film that houses it.
4. Blues Brothers
Nothing could stop Jake and Elwood from making it up this list. After all, they're on a mission from God. This is a surprising case where a film not just made the transition from TV to film but also from TV sketch to fantastic film. It also comes complete with a fantastic cast of cameos from the world of blues such as Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Ray Charles. With these Blues legends come a raft of legendary hits like the theme from Rawhide (you'd recognise it, trust me), Think and Everybody Needs Somebody. It's a soundtrack that fits the film's swagger to a tee.
3. Forrest Gump
Name a song from the 60s or 70s. Go on. Fine, I'll start. Hound Dog, by Elvis. That's there. Land of 1000 dances by that guy, don't remember his name. Anyway, that is also there. Be it Lynyrd Skynyrd or... Well, another Lynyrd Skynyrd song. The song covers as many years as it does emotions. You can feel the hope from young Forrest as Elvis sings to him or maybe even if it's sadness as SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS while that theme from the start plays but this time it has a slightly different, melancholy feel thanks to everything. It's one of the few entries on this list where it's score is just as important as it's soundtrack.
2. Anything by Tarrantino
So yeah, I've cheated a bit here. Tarrantino has an famously great taste in music and it shows in every single film of his. I can't comment on Inglorious or Jackie Brown but from his others, there's always at least one standout. Kill Bill, one of the weaker films in Tarrantino's library still has some cracking songs. There's the whistle song and that "woo hoo" one they sing. You know, that one. Reservoir Dogs has the famous "Stuck in the Middle with you" moment alongside the iconic walk scene. Pulp Fiction is simply too full to choose a moment from but then we reach my personal pick, Django Unchained. If you read my musical moments post, you'll know it's got some pretty good stuff in damn near all of it. Say what you will about his films, Tarrantino's soundtracks are never less than spot on.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy
This soundtrack will leave you Hooked on a Feeling, almost as if you Fooled Around and Fell in Love or got blown up by a Cherry Bomb. There Ain't no Mountain High Enough that'll make me not Go All The Way because I Want You Back. That was a series of references to the perfect soundtrack of this film that in hindsight, wasn't very funny or even that original. This is a soundtrack that deserves a far better intro joke than that. It's a tour through the 80s as we tour through Space with Starlord, Gamorra, Drax, Rocket Raccoon and everyone's favourite, Groot. If you haven't seen this film, go see it. It doesn't matter if you don't like superhero films, the soundtrack will keep you going through it. That and Peter Quill's "pelvic sorcery". Because damn, Chris Pratt is just so likable.
Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for: the poll results. In last place was more reviews. No one wanted that so that won't be happening. Next was News. Again, not many people. It got closer as second place went to a post about what I saw this week. But then the winner was *sighs* a watchthrough of Glee. Thanks guys. That'll be coming in the next few weeks on a Thursday, sometime soon. If you want to get a better idea of when, follow the blog on Twitter at
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