What makes a perfect movie soundtrack? If the music sets the tone for the film perfectly. When the music captures the mood of the movie instantaneously, it creates an emotional connection between the audience and the film. I am a firm believer that the music is what really pulls a movie together, making it both a memorable and binding experience.

Here's a list of my top favorite go-to movie soundtracks in no particular order that take me back to the good times. I wish I could post at least another twenty albums, but these six have been on repeat for quite some time.



1. Garden State

This honestly, has to be one of the greatest soundtracks of all time, and I don't think I'm even being biased. Literally, every movie soundtrack list has Garden State near the very top. Words can't even describe the brilliance of the compilation of tracks. The film opening up with "Don't Panic," by Coldplay sets the mood for the film immediately. Featuring songs by The Shins, which Natalie Portman's character exclaims "You gotta hear this one song - it'll change your life; I swear," while "New Slang" plays calmly and collectively in the background. You can listen to the soundtrack without seeing the movie first, which is what I did, but after seeing the film, I highly recommend watching it first and hearing the music play during the scenes. Everything makes so much more sense now.



2. Almost Famous

Being raised on classic rock, I knew that this soundtrack was a must have. One of my top five favorite movies of all time, Almost Famous is the quintessential classic rock soundtrack, reflecting one of the most influential time periods for music in history. How could anyone not remember the sing-a-long on "Dolores," the band's tour bus with everyone belting out "Tiny Dancer," by Elton John? Along with Cat Stevens, The Beach Boys, and Simon & Garfunkel, what more could you want? Light a candle, play this album, and you'll see your entire future.



3. Into the Wild

I am obsessed with Eddie Vedder, his voice just might be able to render me unconscious. Once I saw this movie, I, probably like everyone else who saw it, wanted to escape the qualms of society and venture out on my own and see the world without any restraints. The film is inspiring, let's leave it at that. I can't explain the feeling you get when watching it, so just go rent it. The music is the perfect accompaniment to the movie, anyone else who would have sang it would have butchered it. Vedder's heart-felt voice that combines with folky acoustic tunes, lets the audience feel the freedom, simplicity, and carefree life that the main character is first experiencing in the movie. I also just recently downloaded the score by Michael Brook, absolutely beautiful. Check out "Best Unsaid."



4. The Wackness

Hip Hop has always been a huge part of my life, especially the old school 90s beats. This album is pure, unadulterated flow. The coming of age film tells the tale of a high schooler who is trading drugs for therapy and to help make money for his family who are in extreme financial troubles. The movie takes place over the summer in New York during the 90s in which you can hear classic tracks of that time period throughout the film. Classic Tribe Called Quest bumps in the film and "Summertime," by Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff which is absolute PERFECTION. The soundtrack surprisingly isn't all hip hop, which I think is what makes it refreshing. Sprinkle some Neil Young and Mott the Hoople and you have a solid gold album.



5. Dazed and Confused

Words can't describe how I felt when I first watched the opening scene for Dazed and Confused. The build up of Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" combined with the slow mo roll out of the 1970 Pontiac GTO brings back a kind of high school nostalgia of old times and youthful freedom where all that matters are good music and even better friends. One memorable scene from the film are when the senior girls are hazing the incoming freshman and "Why Can't We Be Friends," by War is playing, which demonstrates the relationship between the upper and lower class students. Another obvious, "School's Out," by Alice Cooper, once the final bell rings for summer to finally begin, symbolizes that similar feeling everyone had once school was finally over for the year. Regardless, this film is a reflection that everyone had felt during their teenage years and a time of rebellion, indulgence, and carpe diem.



6. Donnie Darko

Both the score and the songs are phenomenal. Demonstrating the darkness of the film, Michael Andrews creates an ambience that gives off a different kind of connection with the audience, making it a more personal experience between the audience and the film. The two disc album is half the score, and half songs that are shown through the film. The ending track to the movie is "Mad World," by Gary Jules which is both eerie and a haunting kind of beauty that leaves the viewer in a trance and a perplexed mood. Also should be noted, Tears for Fears and Joy Division make a perfect contribution to the album.


Just listen to the lyrics for this song off "Into the Wild," the raw sincerity of it is unbelievable.