The soundtrack for a film won't necessarily make or break the viewing experience, but it can definitely enhance it. And over the past five years alone, we've heard some incredible work in the world of film soundtracks. That's particularly true in regards to scores composed by legends like Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone, and John Williams.
But for the purpose of this post, we wanted to focus on the work of bands, musicians, rappers, and the like who have contributed to some of the best soundtracks of the best five years. To be fair, we made one exception, but it also happens to stand up well on its own outside of hearing it during the film. We went with a handful of movies for this piece, but let us know in the comments if you have any selections of your own that you believe are worth highlighting.
Django UnchainedQuentin Tarantino never skimps when it comes to film soundtracks,
2012's Django Unchained included. Where he works his magic is in getting you to enjoy artists you might not otherwise like. Take Rick Ross, for example, whose "100 Black Coffins" was absolute perfection in how it was presented in the film. And how about that 2Pac and James Brown mashup, "Unchained"' Stuff like that shouldn't work, but Tarantino and his team make it happen. Also, any soundtrack featuring Ennio Morricone is almost always great.
The ComedyHere's one for the indie rock crowd, especially fans of the label
Jagjaguwar, which is home to Okkervil River, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Wolf Parade, among others. As for
The Comedy's soundtrack, the Indiana-based label gathered songs from Gayngs, Here We Go Magic, and Gardens & Villa to complement the film starring Tim Heidecker as an aging hipster. Chances are you'll know him for being one half of the duo behind the absurd "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!" television show. Also, don't let the
mediocre reviews of the film turn you away from checking out the OST.
HannaAfter releasing a damn-good seventh album in
Further, the Chemical Brothers decided that their next project would be a little different. They linked with director Joe Wright to craft the soundtrack for 2011 thriller
Hanna. Not every critic was in love with their creation, with many claiming there wasn't enough experimentation on the Brothers' part. But when you hear how well they complement the mood of the film, it's clear that they nailed this one. And yeah, it makes for a solid listen outside of the movie's context, too. Just in case you haven't seen it yet, you can actually watch
Hanna now without worrying about a DVD or Blu-ray. It's up for streaming now at
Picturebox, where it should be available for the next month or so.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The WorldThe soundtrack for
this Michael Cera film wins on so many levels it's not even fair. In addition to choice classics from T. Rex and the Rolling Stones, there are original tunes from the likes of Beck and Broken Social Scene. In fact, those two acts wrote (and performed) the music for two of the bands in the film, Sex Bob-Omb and Crash and the Boys.
As if that wasn't awesome enough, Radiohead collaboration Nigel Godrich composed almost the entirety of the film's score. Yeah, we mentioned not getting into this side of the soundtrack world, but come on. In addition to Godrich, Beck contributed to this one along with Japanese singer/producer Cornelius, producer Dan The Automator, and breakbeat producer Osymyso.
The WacknessHip-hop heads in particular have a lot to love about 2008's
The Wackness and its soundtrack. It's also a go-to selection for anyone who wants to get a friend or loved one into rap music, because it boasts classics from East Coast stalwarts Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Raekwon, KRS-One, and the Notorious B.I.G. Not only that, but there's even a bit of R&B on the soundtrack thanks to Total and R. Kelly, the latter of whom's "Bump n' Grind" is on there.
