Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Special Sauce Soundtracks

The purpose of todays post is to give some recognition to films that possess exceptional soundtracks. Now we all know that soundtracks have the ability to heighten the viewing experience by evoking certain emotions that are relevant to the scene. The process of carefully choosing songs that will fit and flow throughout a certain scene is a painstaking one. So to pay a little homage to great soundtracks, I've compiled a list of some of the greatest soundtracks of recent memory (complete with MP3's, because I know that's the only reason you bother to stop by). Disclaimer: I fully understand that some of you may not have seen some of these films, thus you may not be able to fully appreciate the songs in relation to the film in which they appear, but it's your own fault for not seeing them, not mine. So go take your cheap ass to Blockbuster.

1. Romeo + Juliet - The film itself, is a breathtaking piece of cinema in it's own right. leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes have an undeniable chemistry and the sheer uniqueness of the film is mindblowing. The cinematography is sharp, making the sun drenched beaches of Verona seem incredible. With this being said the best part about this film hands down was the music. But I'll let you decide for yourself.
Radiohead - Talk Show Host / Garbage - #1 Crush
2. Vanilla Sky - A surreal movie that was made by Cameron Crowe. So you don't need me to tell you that the soundtrack kicks ass.
Radiohead - Everything In It's Right Place
Sigur Ros - Untitled #4 (aka njosnavelin/the nothing song)
3. Donnie Darko - Donnie Darko is not only a great movie that everyone should see (#100 on IMDB's top 250), but it proves to us all that the 80's does have an awesome catalog of music.
Tears for Fears - Head Over Heels / Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart / Gary Jules - Mad World / Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
4. Trainspotting - Trainspotting is one of the few films that I dare to say is superior to the book (mostly because the book is near impossible to read) and the soundtrack that Danny Boyle and co. put together is stellar.
New Order - Temptation / Pulp - Mile End / Blur - Sing / Damon Albarn - Closet Romantic
5. Snatch - Guy Ritchie's superior follow-up to Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels is not only an adrenaline pumping ride that entertains to the very end, but has some great music as well.
Oasis - Fuckin' In The Bushes / The Stranglers - Golden Brown / Massive Attack - Angel / Huey "Piano" Smith - Don't You Just Know It
6. Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels - Guy Ritchie's debut film. Guy Ritchie is called the "British Tarantino" for two good reasons. One: Ritchie, like Tarantino, makes good flicks. Two: Ritchie, like Tarantino, has awesome music in the aforementioned flicks.
The Stone Roses - Fools Gold / The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog / James Brown - The Payback

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