I know you might not expect it from a hard-core punk girl like myself, but I love movie soundtracks. It’s music for the lazy listener. I love that a good soundtrack can completely change your mood. A good soundtrack simultaneously reminds you of the movie that it derives from and feels like a surprise around every corner. Like how, in The Little Miss Sunshine Soundtrack, you can go from DeVotchKa to Tony Tisdale… I love it! So I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorite movie soundtracks – if you have some that I’m missing leave a comment and I’ll go on an iTunes shopping spree!
The Darjeeling Limited – love this one! Wes Anderson always has great music in his movies, but this one is my favorites. I listen to this one when I’m feeling quirky or stressed.
Magnolia – I’ve had this soundtrack for years and it’s still in heavy rotation. Amy Mann is a gem. I listen to this soundtrack when I’m feeling a little blue.
Little Miss Sunshine – Quite possibly my favorite soundtrack of all time. A long time ago, a fellow photographer sent me an email suggesting that I check out DeVotchKa. I immediately fell in love! Believe it or not, I listen to this soundtrack when I go running. It makes me feel like I’m in Chariots of Fire 
Juno – I actually think the silly single from this movie (The Moldy Peaches song) is the weakest on the album. Kimya Dawson is a genius; if I could sing or write songs, I would sound just like her (at least I like to think so….) My favorite line from this soundtrack is: “I like my new bunny suit. It makes me feel cute.” I listen to this soundtrack during consultations or when I’m cranky.
Garden State – I just picked this one up, although I’ve known about it for ages. It’s just a kick-ass compilation of some of the best songs written in the last 10-15 years. Good for parties, or when you’re feeling indecisive – it’s got something for everyone.
Apr
09
If you haven’t seen “Once” yet (best movie of 2007?) you GOTTA! Everyone I know who sees the film buys the soundtrack immediately after. It won the oscar for best song and theirs was the sweetest moment of the awards show.
Awesome compilation. My fave soundtrack is the Juno soundtrack, and my husband loves Garden State.
Chenin,
A really good list you’ve got going…and I am also the sucker for the movie soundtrack, even more so the musical movie soundtrack. With that said…Across the Universe (the musical comprised of 31 Beatles staples) is a must have. If you are feeling somewhat orchestral, then the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Howard Shore is a must have. Enjoy
awesome list. wes anderson puts together some good eclectic sountracks, and i love the royal tenenbaums disc. sofia coppola movies have really cool sountracks, too.
Hi Chenin, I chk your blog daily and have really commented, but this is right up my alley. Garden State is my favorite movie soundtrack. I’m a big fan of The Shins in general (a featured band on Garden State)…check out their albums, and all the other artists on the compilation – worth exploring. The new Iron & Wine album is great. Also, The Vanilla Sky soundtrack is quite interesting…have you heard it? I’m a total fan of ‘Once’ also.
Moulin Rouge!!
Ah – Garden State is so great! I’m with Jared, Once has a wonderful soundtrack. I downloaded it immediately after watching the movie! A couple of my all-time favorites are Romeo and Juliet and Cruel Intentions.
I’m having an awesome time trying to put the things I learned at the workshop into practice! I am anxious to see how my business will change in the coming months!
LOVE Wes Anderson! I agree, the Royal Tennenbaums soundtrack is awesome!! And of course I love the Juno soundtrack, as does my 3-yr. old daughter:)
I love your taste in music as well as your photography
…
Another one that I like chillin’ out to is the “Lost in Translation” soundtrack. Mellow and very Lush like.
Oh Chenin,
Stop being so amazing already! You’re such a fun writer, an amazing photographer and you have great taste in music too.
Hugs!
Royal Tennenbaums, Rushmore, American Beauty, Goodwill Hunting (lots of Elliott Smith- he was the greatest). I’m not a big fan of “Scrubs” but Zack Braff picks out the music for it so that’s a highlight. Perhaps my favorite soundtrack that doesn’t exist is the soundtrack for Harold and Maude.
looove this post! garden state + magnolia are two of my fave soundtracks, too. i also adore “once” (as a previous poster mentoined)… it amazing. i also love the soundtracks for the virgin suicides, amelie, and the royal tenenbaums. xoxo
Not the biggest fan of soundtracks but I love the soundtracks from “The Life Aquatic”…amazing Brazilian music. “Dead Presidents” had the Curtis Mayfield sound that captured an the essence of an entire generation. Hanz Zimmer did a great job with “The Last Samurai”…Come to think of it, I have a ton of soundtracks
Peace,
Parris Whittingham
New York City Wedding Photography
I had to leave you a comment! YES, KIMYA DAWSON IS A FREAKING GENIOUS!!! I am obsessed with that soundtrack! Tire swing is the best song
I have seen the movie 3 times, and I could watch it again 
Have you seen Once? You should! They wrote the movie based on the songs, not the other way around. Neither of the lead actors,are actors, just musicians. They were amazing non-the-less. One more thing. If you love Kimya Dawson like I do, go to my blog and listen to this song. Another genious http://susielinquist.blogspot.com/2008/03/thank-you-thank-you.html
I too listen to The Darjeeling Limited & Juno while working…hum I thought it was just my strange listening taste. Cool. I’ll have to check out the others you mentioned. Soundstracks are basically the only way I can name music…I don’t always remember the artist (sorry), but it seems that within seconds I can name the movie the song was from.
Almost Famous is an oldie but a great soundtrack. I mean, who doesn’t love that scene where they join in chorus for Tiny Dancer?
Lots of folks here have given great nods to Garden State. Zach Braff also picked a few gems for his more recent film, Last Kiss. That’s a pretty great soundtrack.
And +100 to the Once followers – watched that film twice in a day then immediately bought the soundtrack. SOOOO good!!
If you like Beatles tunes, the soundtrack for I Am Sam offers up some good renditions by contemparies like Aimee Mann, Ben Harper and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder.
Looking forward to checking out the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack ….
This one is so old but I love the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack that had Claire Danes in it. I just came across it the other day and I enjoyed listing to it again and I remember in high school it was my favorite cd.
Hi Chenin, this is my first comment, but been visiting for a while now. I, too, love soundtracks and Magnolia is one of my faves. My all time favorite is one I discovered about 15 years ago from an early 90s film but still amazing–Until the End of the World.
Hi Chenin. I’m a longtime blog stalker… first time commenter. Like a few others have already mentioned, you totally have to check out “Once – Music From the Motion Picture”…. completely amazing!! I would also recommend the soundtrack for “Elizabethtown”. Cameron Crowe always compiles such wonderful songs for soundtracks
I love the Garden State soundtrack! But I listen to Across the Universe daily! (Doesn’t Doug have a cd of a punk rock band covering Beatles music and you don’t like it? This one’s much better!)
What a great list!! I love all the suggestions. It’s funny that we recommend some of the same ones!
Once – fabulous x1000
Rushmore – my “get work done” CD
I am also looking to get the “13 Going on 30″ for all the great ’80s songs!
Yes Once is great! So is Dan In Real Life! Really good!
I always love a good movie soundtrack. You have most of my favorites there, and the ones I was going to suggest are already mentioned. My top three are Once, Juno, and Romeo and Juliet.
Chenin!!
Maybe you can ansewer this for me!!! In the movie Magnolia why!!! Why are the frogs falling!!this questions has haunted me for years!!!!
Love the soundtrack from Cider House Rules . . . it’s a great one when clients stop by the office.
I love all of those soundtracks too! I love all of the wes anderson movies and especially the soundtracks. Another few of my favorites are I heart huckabees, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind & punch drunk love- all done by Jon Brion. He is incredible- you should check him out!
I forgot to mention in my last post that Jon Brion was the composer for magnolia too
Awesome awesome choices!! I have a huuuuuuuge range of music choices, but these are the best! I looove Garden State. Some directors just have a calling for finding the right song for the right moment! I have yet to be disappointed by Sophia Coppola too.
Rock on!
See if you can get your hands on a “Little Red Rocket” album, especially “In the Sound”. They are an old indie Athens, GA band. http://www.myspace.com/lrrocket
Garden State is definately a staple. Lovin’ Eddie Vedder on the Into the Wild soundtrack.