The Soundtrack of Our Lives

Mr. On'ry:

I want to talk movie soundtracks.  Now I’m not talking about musical scores, I’m talking about soundtracks that include songs performed by individual artists.  Are there any soundtracks you adore?  Maybe you like the soundtrack more than the movie itself? 

I went back and revisited the soundtrack to the film Honeysuckle Rose recently and realized how much more I like it than the movie itself. The movie, starring Willie Nelson, Amy Irving, and Dyan Cannon is o.k. but the soundtrack featuring a dozen or so songs from Willie, two tracks he does with Emmylou Harris and a handful of others from his movie and real life band is amazing.  My favorite versions of a couple of his songs come off this soundtrack and it gave birth to his most famous song – “On The Road Again”. 

Go.   

Mr. Lonesone:

There are a couple soundtracks that I absolutely adore:

1. The Big Chill - the oldies nostalgia is in prime form here, and there's not one bad song on the disc.

2. The Mothman Prophecies - so, this movie is one of my favorites. Something about the moodiness, the supernatural, the acting, the melancholy. There are a few movies that really enter my fibers, and this is one of them. The soundtrack only adds to the fascination. Exceptional tracks by Low and King Black Acid, very moody and dark and undulating and gorgeous.

Otherwise, I have to confess to not owning any others. Though there are some fantastic tunes on the Urban Cowboy soundtrack. Oh, and the song "Eastbound and Down" alone should make the Smokey and the Bandit soundtrack a top 5er!

Mr. Mean:

 

Some soundtracks are very important to me for myriad reasons. The Big Chill is so good. Not one bad song is extremely accurate.

       1. Thief – the entire score was done by Tangerine Dream and it remains my favorite TD album of all time. The movie is one of my all-time favorites as well…it was Michael Mann’s first movie before he did Miami Vice and the pre-Silence of the Lambs classic Manhunter. The score completely fits the movie and every time I hear it, I am brought back to certain scenes.

       2. Trainspotting – not only is it a great soundtrack, the songs are absolutely perfect to the film. Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” during the overdose scene is completely insane. The song’s tone does not fit the scene at all but the tongue-in-cheek-ness about it makes the scene classic and the song essential. Everywhere on the soundtrack are absolute classics of the Britpop/glam/electronic genre…Underworld’s “Born Slippy NUXX” is one of the best electronic songs ever recorded.

        3. 24 Hour Party People – my love of Factory Records means this is an obvious choice, but the other non-Factory tracks used (Buzzcocks, Marshall Jefferson, 808 State) mean a lot to me as well because they were songs that made Manchester the best music city in the world for a decade. No matter the era, I am drawn to what it must have been like. This song/scene gives me chills: Happy Mondays “Hallelujah” playing during the scene when The Hac is closing up and Tony Wilson is just taking it all in. I feel like that sometimes. I feel the pressure to stop and the desire to keep going. I feel like no one understands it but tons of people get me. I get a lot of crap about my love of a label and club owner who could do absolutely nothing right from a business standpoint, but I really feel a kinship to Factory in many ways. I respect that they just wanted to make music and enjoy music.

4.       The Doom Generation, Nowhere, Spendor – all three are Gregg Araki films and all three soundtracks are aces. The movies are horrible. All of them. Splendor is kind of interesting because it has some classic UK indie/shoegaze tracks being remixed so most of these classics are heard in another light. Great stuff. 

Mr. Lonesome:

I absolutely agree with you, Mr Mean: Araki's films are just awful.

I am a dolt and forgot the following:

1. Lost Boys - an absolute stunner of a movie from youth, and a really good soundtrack. The Echo & the Bunnymen cover of "People Are Strange" doesnt break new ground, but it's still really good. My personal fave is the INXS/Jimmy Barnes track. Great rock 'n' roll there, very infectious tune. Plus, an oiled-muscly guy shirtless playing the sax. How does it get better than that?

Mr. Lonesome's favorite part of the movie...

Mr. On'ry:

You guys have thrown some good stuff out there.  Well done.  I would also like to submit:

Urban Cowboy – Mr. Lonesome mentioned it in passing.  Great, great campy movie.  I own it.  One of my personal favorites.  The soundtrack though is stellar.  Charlie Daniels Band (including one of the best songs they ever wrote – “Falling In Love For The Night”), Johnny Lee, Kenny Rogers, Mickey Gilley, hell even Anne Murray does the one song from her I actually liked.  There are a couple clunkers for sure but overall it’s solid. 

Gummo – The movie was bizarre as hell (which of course means I loved it) but the soundtrack was effing fantastic.  Eyehategod, Absu, Bathory, Sleep, Bethlehem, Mortician, Burzum, etc., etc.  It’s the best metal movie soundtrack ever in my opinion.   

Winter’s Bone – This is one of the greatest movies of the last decade in my opinion.  The soundtrack is equally as good.  The highlights include music that truly captures the essence of folk music from the Ozarks performed by artists from that part of the country.  It’s so authentic and sounds so good it hurts.   

Mr. Lonesome:

Right on with Winter's Bone. I've been really intrigued by that folk/country/regional type of music the past year or so. What about Crazy Heart? I have the movie but still haven't seen it yet. Does the soundtrack kill?

Also, I'd like to give a mention to Once. I think I like the songs so much because of the movie, and seeing them performed in it. I still prefer the Frames version of "Falling Slowly" but the scene in the movie in the music store, where Hansard introduces it to Irglova's character is one of my favorites in all of cinema.

Mr. Mean:

Awwww…Once. You made Queen Cardinal Hansard Stalker happy.

I love Urban Cowboy. Never had it on cd…I need to rectify that. I had the vinyl when I was a kid. I also had Urban Chipmunk, which is Alvin & company doing country. Ha!

Here’s one I completely forgot about:

Repo Man – The movie is a classic, and the soundtrack was my first introduction to Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies, Circle Jerks, and Iggy Pop. Every song on it is amazing, even the bizarre Spanish version of “Secret Agent Man” (“Hombre Secreto”). I had the tape (San Andreas Records!?!?) and wore it out completely. I was so stoked when they finally issued it on cd in the early 1990s.

Soundtracks that I love that I completely overlooked on my initial response: Pretty In Pink, Vision Quest (my first movie soundtrack album), Cool World, Valley Girl, The Great Rock n Roll Swindle, The Harder They Come, The Decline Of Western Civilization, Rattle And Hum.

Mr. Lonesome:

Fuck Yeah on Vision Quest, dude! "The Lunatic Fringe" is one of my favorite songs, and you can never go wrong with a Madonna ballad.

Mr. Mean:

Fun fact: Vision Quest was the first cassette I had in a clear shell. It was around the time that came out that some labels switched to clear shells. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. That soundtrack had everything. A very underrated power pop gem by John Waite is on that album: “Change”. Such a great song.

Mr. Lonesome:

I'm with you on "Change" - great, great song.

Mr. Mean:

We’re agreeing too much. Stop it.

Mr. Lonesome:

er. "Change" would be a good song if Opeth covered it.

Mr. Mean:

And there we have it. Just stupid.

Mr. Lonesome:

Haha, Ok, ok. How about: "Change" would be a dreadful song if Moz covered it.

But, since it's John Waite, it's perfect. (sidenote, remember how big his hair was in Bad English?)

Mr. Mean:

Bad English was just not good. Horrible. Going from power pop to power ballads ain’t no way to get through life, son.

Mr. Lonesome:

 I'm telling you, it's the hair. It tempts you to do maddening things. Like it's from outer space. Their hair shouldn't ever be higher than their stiletto.

Mr. On'ry:

You guys really are agreeing way too much.  It’s hurting my brain. 

Great call on Repo Man. I’m also going to throw out another classic one I forgot – River’s Edge.  Crazy good movie, but any soundtrack that uses four Slayer songs (including an unreleased one) is classic in my book. 

Lonesome!  You haven’t seen Crazy Heart and it’s sitting at your house?!?!?!  Your “cinemaphile” card is hereby revoked.  The movie is amazing.  Get on it son!     

Mr. Lonesome:

I buy DVDs like you buy vinyl. I'm slowly catching up. Trust. I'll see it very soon.

But you didnt answer my question on the soundtrack. Despite that it won an Oscar for best song, how's the rest hold up?

Mr. On'ry:

Sorry, I was too busy chastising you.  Yes, the soundtrack is exceptional.   The Jeff Bridges songs hold up well outside the movie theater plus it has songs from Buck Owens, The Louvin Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Lightnin’ Hopkins, etc.  It’s excellent.

Mr. Lonesome:

Is it good or bad we haven't included any Cameron Crowe or Wes Anderson at this point?

Mr. On'ry:

 Both?  I always love the music Wes Anderson pulls into his movies but every soundtrack when not tied to the visual product of his film also sounds exactly the same to me.  So I have a hard time deciphering off the top of my head which song was in which movie.  

Mr. Lonesome:

 Very valid on Anderson. All I know for sure is "Needle In the Hay" was in The Royal Tenenbaums. Pretty sure.

I can't wait for Mr Mean to tell us how Singles is his favorite soundtrack, like, ever.

Mr. Mean:

 Singles had some good stuff on it. The Mudhoney and Paul Westerberg tracks, for instance. That said, I’d rather have shingles than watch or listen to Singles.

Mr. On'ry:

Singles the movie is one of the most overrated pieces of crap ever produced.

Mr. Lonesome:

 I give it props if for no other reason than the Lovemongers version of "Battle of Evermore" - Ann Wilson kills. Oh, and of course "Would?" which is one of my top 5 90s songs.

Mr. Mean:

“Would?” sucks. Alice In Chains sucks. End of thread. 

Mr. Lonesome:

 "Would?" is brilliant on so many levels. You actually suck. End of thread.