TV and movie soundtracks for discovering new music
August 31, 2021 11:59 AM Subscribe
I'm always looking for new/unfamiliar music to listen to and have found that soundtracks often introduce me to good music and genres that I might not seek out myself. What other TV and movie soundtracks should I listen to for music discovery??
Looking more for soundtracks with multiple artists than original scores by a single composer. Open to any genre except for classical-inspired orchestral sounds -- so again anything BUT John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone etc.
Below are some examples of soundtracks that I've loved:
O Brother, Where Art Thou - introduced me to some great bluegrass and folk artists like Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris
Grand Budapest hotel - not that into the originals by Alexandre Desplat but introduced me to a couple Swiss and Russian folk tunes
Killing Eve - psychedelic rock and dark, moody songs
Let It Snow - fun teenagery pop and rock
Thanks y'all!
Looking more for soundtracks with multiple artists than original scores by a single composer. Open to any genre except for classical-inspired orchestral sounds -- so again anything BUT John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone etc.
Below are some examples of soundtracks that I've loved:
O Brother, Where Art Thou - introduced me to some great bluegrass and folk artists like Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris
Grand Budapest hotel - not that into the originals by Alexandre Desplat but introduced me to a couple Swiss and Russian folk tunes
Killing Eve - psychedelic rock and dark, moody songs
Let It Snow - fun teenagery pop and rock
Thanks y'all!
If you enjoy ambient music, the Chernobyl soundtrack is wonderfully eerie and atmospheric.
posted by orrnyereg at 12:23 PM on August 31, 2021
posted by orrnyereg at 12:23 PM on August 31, 2021
I loved the soundtrack for both seasons of Umbrella Academy. Very eclectic, some excellent covers, some stuff I’d never come across before and probably wouldn’t have otherwise. Spotify list for both seasons of Umbrella Academy.
Same goes for the soundtrack for the German series Dark, which is also very good. Spotify list for Dark.
Note: In case you don’t have a Spotify account—I don’t have one either; I just use the playlists as a reference for the titles and names of artists.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:31 PM on August 31, 2021
Same goes for the soundtrack for the German series Dark, which is also very good. Spotify list for Dark.
Note: In case you don’t have a Spotify account—I don’t have one either; I just use the playlists as a reference for the titles and names of artists.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:31 PM on August 31, 2021
Ted Lasso has an Apple-sized song-licensing budget, and they're not afraid to use it (Apple Music playlist, but it's also a list of songs for non-Apple-ecosystem folks).
posted by box at 12:39 PM on August 31, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by box at 12:39 PM on August 31, 2021 [4 favorites]
The Royal Tenenbaums. I recommend the movie itself just as highly as the soundtrack.
posted by rd45 at 12:50 PM on August 31, 2021
posted by rd45 at 12:50 PM on August 31, 2021
Guardians of the Galaxy, awesome mix vol 1&2 have soundtracks that I love. (There is a seperate musical score soundtrack). awesome mix vol 1 , awesome mix vol 2
Songs from the 60s-80s.
garden state has a great soundtrack too, led me to discover frou frou and the shins.
posted by TheAdamist at 12:52 PM on August 31, 2021 [3 favorites]
Songs from the 60s-80s.
garden state has a great soundtrack too, led me to discover frou frou and the shins.
posted by TheAdamist at 12:52 PM on August 31, 2021 [3 favorites]
I discovered several of my favorite songs through the outros for Mad Men. IIRC The Queen’s Gambit also had a good soundtrack.
posted by chaiyai at 1:14 PM on August 31, 2021
posted by chaiyai at 1:14 PM on August 31, 2021
Ghost World
Rushmore
High Fidelity
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:16 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
Rushmore
High Fidelity
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:16 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
I haven't watched Grey's Anatomy in a long time, so I don't know if it's still as good, but I found a lot of music through them. Also The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond was great. Alternative rockish and bluegrassy.
posted by BlueBear at 1:20 PM on August 31, 2021
posted by BlueBear at 1:20 PM on August 31, 2021
There was a BBC series several years ago called Case Histories that had a beautiful, melancholy soundtrack of mostly country and bluegrass songs. Apparently, the author of the books that the series was based on, Kate Atkinson, had a lot of this music in mind when she wrote them.
Here's a Spotify playlist that has some of the songs from I think the first season.
posted by theory at 1:57 PM on August 31, 2021
Here's a Spotify playlist that has some of the songs from I think the first season.
posted by theory at 1:57 PM on August 31, 2021
Great question! I'm obsessed with the soundtrack to season one of True Detective, SO atmospheric and such a wide range of stuff that works really well together
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is similar
True Blood soundtracks are a mixed bag but definitely worth a listen
If for some reason you aren't familiar with the Manchester music scene of the roughly-80s, 24-Hour Party People is a great primer
Soundtrack to La Haine for Nineties French hiphop
The songs used in Homicide Life on the Street were tremendously well chosen
Also those of Dirty Dancing, Stand by Me, Grosse Pointe Blank, Monsoon Wedding, Spike Lee and (!)Sofia Coppola(!) films
TRAINSPOTTING omg
posted by runincircles at 2:49 PM on August 31, 2021
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is similar
True Blood soundtracks are a mixed bag but definitely worth a listen
If for some reason you aren't familiar with the Manchester music scene of the roughly-80s, 24-Hour Party People is a great primer
Soundtrack to La Haine for Nineties French hiphop
The songs used in Homicide Life on the Street were tremendously well chosen
Also those of Dirty Dancing, Stand by Me, Grosse Pointe Blank, Monsoon Wedding, Spike Lee and (!)Sofia Coppola(!) films
TRAINSPOTTING omg
posted by runincircles at 2:49 PM on August 31, 2021
Best soundtrack: Garden State. I've discovered so many artists from it.
2nd favorite: Juno
posted by hydra77 at 3:04 PM on August 31, 2021
2nd favorite: Juno
posted by hydra77 at 3:04 PM on August 31, 2021
France Musique has an excellent webradio called La B.O. Musiques de Films featuring vocal and instrumental music from soundtracks. I've discovered a lot of artists this way.
Their very eclectic sister station fip.fr is where I pick up most of my new music discoveries, mostly from the main Fip station, but also the genre stations on that same site when I'm the mood for a more specific sound. Fip Nouveautés (the rightmost station) features new releases.
posted by pendrift at 3:18 PM on August 31, 2021
Their very eclectic sister station fip.fr is where I pick up most of my new music discoveries, mostly from the main Fip station, but also the genre stations on that same site when I'm the mood for a more specific sound. Fip Nouveautés (the rightmost station) features new releases.
posted by pendrift at 3:18 PM on August 31, 2021
Seconding this is a great question! In the olden days I'd go see a film and immediately head over to Music Buying Place for the soundtrack.
Karyn Rachtman Pulp Fiction is among her finest, see also: Boogie Nights, Rome + Juliet, Get Shorty, Bulworth, Last Seduction, Reservoir Dogs, Basketball Diaries....
Jackie Brown
Lost In Translation
The Animatrix
Basquiat
Frida-- Chavella Vargas!
My Blueberry Nights
Swingers
Sweet and Lowdown and Radio Days are two of my favorite soundtracks. Django Reinhardt and others; and big & little band music from 30's and 40's.
(They are Woody Allen films, but he's not in the first one and the second is his nostalgia-childhood memoir, so no creepy adult Allen stuff.)
posted by winesong at 3:38 PM on August 31, 2021
Karyn Rachtman Pulp Fiction is among her finest, see also: Boogie Nights, Rome + Juliet, Get Shorty, Bulworth, Last Seduction, Reservoir Dogs, Basketball Diaries....
Jackie Brown
Lost In Translation
The Animatrix
Basquiat
Frida-- Chavella Vargas!
My Blueberry Nights
Swingers
Sweet and Lowdown and Radio Days are two of my favorite soundtracks. Django Reinhardt and others; and big & little band music from 30's and 40's.
(They are Woody Allen films, but he's not in the first one and the second is his nostalgia-childhood memoir, so no creepy adult Allen stuff.)
posted by winesong at 3:38 PM on August 31, 2021
The soundtrack to Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters is worth finding.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:51 PM on August 31, 2021
posted by Thorzdad at 3:51 PM on August 31, 2021
The soundtrack for I May Destroy is great and has an associated Spotify playlist.
posted by too bad you're not me at 4:19 PM on August 31, 2021
posted by too bad you're not me at 4:19 PM on August 31, 2021
Netflix has a moody German series called Dark. Soundtrack and fan inspired soundtracks are excellent dreamy swoon stuff.
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:37 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:37 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
I’m halfway through the series Lucifer and while I think it’s just really painfully bad, holy crap does their soundtrack slap. Here’s a Spotify list someone made.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 5:44 PM on August 31, 2021
posted by kitten kaboodle at 5:44 PM on August 31, 2021
If you haven't had your fill of Alpine music from The Grand Budapest Hotel, the entire soundtrack of The Third Man is provided by Zither master Anton Karas and it works just brilliantly. (Also the film as a whole is an indisputable masterpiece.)
The makers of the concentration camp survival film The Counterfeiters made an ostensibly incongruous choice to have the soundtrack consist of Argentine Tango music. But it pretty much works.
I also remember liking the soundtrack to Soderbergh's Out of Sight. From the link:
The foundation is jazzy funk, spiked with techno and electronica. His music is so lively and diverse, it makes perfect sense when the soundtrack segues from originals into the Isley Brothers' "Fight the Power" or Willie Bobo's "Spanish Grease" or Mongo Santamaria's "Watermelon Man" "or Walter Wanderley's "One Note Samba" or Dean Martin's "Ain't That a Kick in the Head."
posted by bertran at 6:08 PM on August 31, 2021
The makers of the concentration camp survival film The Counterfeiters made an ostensibly incongruous choice to have the soundtrack consist of Argentine Tango music. But it pretty much works.
I also remember liking the soundtrack to Soderbergh's Out of Sight. From the link:
The foundation is jazzy funk, spiked with techno and electronica. His music is so lively and diverse, it makes perfect sense when the soundtrack segues from originals into the Isley Brothers' "Fight the Power" or Willie Bobo's "Spanish Grease" or Mongo Santamaria's "Watermelon Man" "or Walter Wanderley's "One Note Samba" or Dean Martin's "Ain't That a Kick in the Head."
posted by bertran at 6:08 PM on August 31, 2021
I absolutely loved the soundtrack to the recent The Pursuit of Love miniseries, available on Amazon Music (it's an Amazon show).
posted by clair-de-lune at 6:12 PM on August 31, 2021
posted by clair-de-lune at 6:12 PM on August 31, 2021
Dating Around yielded some good tunes for me!
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:05 PM on August 31, 2021
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:05 PM on August 31, 2021
High Maintenance had a superb soundtrack.
posted by furnace.heart at 8:16 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by furnace.heart at 8:16 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
Oh I almost forgot…The Great had a fabulous soundtrack!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:21 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:21 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
The soundtracks to some Tarantino movies are quite good
posted by piyushnz at 11:32 PM on August 31, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by piyushnz at 11:32 PM on August 31, 2021 [2 favorites]
The ahow Sex Education has a fantastic soundtrack.
posted by emd3737 at 12:40 AM on September 1, 2021
posted by emd3737 at 12:40 AM on September 1, 2021
Soundtracks to these films: Crash; A Single Man; Sing Me the Songs (honoring/celebrating Kate McGarrigle).
posted by The Patron Saint of Spices at 12:54 AM on September 1, 2021
posted by The Patron Saint of Spices at 12:54 AM on September 1, 2021
I would recommend the soundtracks to the TV series :-
This is Us
The Marvellous Mrs Maisel
The Sopranos
Better Call Saul
posted by rongorongo at 2:46 AM on September 1, 2021
This is Us
The Marvellous Mrs Maisel
The Sopranos
Better Call Saul
posted by rongorongo at 2:46 AM on September 1, 2021
Baby Driver has a really fun soundtrack!
posted by prewar lemonade at 4:30 AM on September 1, 2021
posted by prewar lemonade at 4:30 AM on September 1, 2021
The Handmaid's Tale
Outer Banks
Clickbait
Sex Education
Atypical
I think most of them are on Spotify playlists as well.
posted by maxg94 at 5:58 AM on September 1, 2021
Outer Banks
Clickbait
Sex Education
Atypical
I think most of them are on Spotify playlists as well.
posted by maxg94 at 5:58 AM on September 1, 2021
Well, it's mainly classic songs you probably know, but The Big Chill has got to be one of the best soundtracks. Too short, though.
(Also Pulp Fiction and Garden State, as mentioned above.)
posted by Glinn at 6:36 AM on September 1, 2021
(Also Pulp Fiction and Garden State, as mentioned above.)
posted by Glinn at 6:36 AM on September 1, 2021
Spotify playlists for great shows with great music:
Little America (mostly international pop)
Los Espookys (Latin American)
posted by Gortuk at 8:24 AM on September 1, 2021
Little America (mostly international pop)
Los Espookys (Latin American)
posted by Gortuk at 8:24 AM on September 1, 2021
The original Sopranos soundtrack release (The Sopranos: Music from the HBO Original Series) is an incredible mix of songs. The second release (The Sopranos - Peppers and Eggs: Music From The HBO Series) is less so, but still pretty decent.
posted by General Malaise at 8:57 AM on September 1, 2021
posted by General Malaise at 8:57 AM on September 1, 2021
But I'm a Cheerleader (if you can get your hands on it - I think I had to pull it track by track off of Napster at the time...)
posted by Mchelly at 10:29 AM on September 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Mchelly at 10:29 AM on September 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
The soundtracks to some Tarantino movies are quite good
Yep. QT has a good ear for selecting overlooked gems.
posted by ovvl at 4:37 PM on September 1, 2021
Yep. QT has a good ear for selecting overlooked gems.
posted by ovvl at 4:37 PM on September 1, 2021
Six Feet Under
The O.C
You’re The Worst
Parenthood
Veronica Mars
Good Girls
posted by Champagne Supernova at 4:53 PM on September 1, 2021
The O.C
You’re The Worst
Parenthood
Veronica Mars
Good Girls
posted by Champagne Supernova at 4:53 PM on September 1, 2021
I have been a fan of ‘The Norman Bates Memorial Soundtrack Show’ for over a decade. Three hours of soundtrack and show tune deliciousness every Saturday. And archives of the previous couple of shows too! It is listener supported so please consider chipping in if you become a fan.
posted by royboy at 5:10 PM on September 1, 2021
posted by royboy at 5:10 PM on September 1, 2021
Both Fargo and Legion have excellent soundtracks by Jeff Russo (who also worked on The Umbrella Academy and Lucifer, mentioned above).
posted by quizzical at 5:18 AM on September 2, 2021
posted by quizzical at 5:18 AM on September 2, 2021
Agree with Tarantino movies.
Blacklist has a lot of good songs
Garden state is classic but some of those bands don't exist anymore
thanks for the recommendation about dark
posted by radsqd at 7:22 AM on October 12, 2021
Blacklist has a lot of good songs
Garden state is classic but some of those bands don't exist anymore
thanks for the recommendation about dark
posted by radsqd at 7:22 AM on October 12, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by phunniemee at 12:11 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]