Great Soundtracks: 'Black Panther'

Black Panther continues to dominate the box office and we can tell you, if you haven't seen it yet, it is one of the greatest comic book to movie adaptations ever. Believe the hype. While the film brings in ticket sales, its soundtrack also delivers in ways you would and would not expect.

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Executive produced by Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment, the soundtrack to Black Panther features heavy hitters like Lamar, SZA, James Blake, The Weeknd, 2Chainz, Schoolboy Q, Vince Staples, among others. The soundtrack has its moments where it gives direct shoutout to characters in the film like T'Chala, Kilmonger, and the fictional nation of Wakanda. More importantly the record not only fits in the universe of the film but TDE's as well. Lamar's thumbprint is on every song and each track feels like you are on a roller coaster ready to go on your own mission to save the world. If you were to just play the record straight and not know it was from a movie, you would think that TDE was assembling a victory lap with this record, which makes it that much more special. Each track could and should be a single, while not taking away from movie it simply adds to it.

Great Soundtracks: 'Judgement Night'

Before there was "rap rock" or bullshit "nu metal," there was the Judgement Night soundtrack. The music to the 1993 thriller had an interesting concept and one that was far ahead of its time -- take the most popular rock bands of the era and the most acclaimed hip-hop acts and have them do mash-ups together. This album created the cross-genre / mash-up hybrid.

Taking Pearl Jam and Cypress Hill, Helmet / House of Pain, Teenage Fanclub / De La Soul, Living Colour & Run DMC, Dinosaur Jr. with Del the Funky Homosapian, Sonic Youth with Cypress Hill, Slayer and Ice-T, it wasn't something that was done at the time. It was also something that was helping break down racial bariers within 90s sounds. It was mainly white kids from the suburbs getting their teenage angst out with garage rock and grunge and it was mainly black kids relating to what emcees had to say. While Ice-T had already dabbled in metal thanks to Body Count, this wasn't too much of a stretch for him, however, linking up with Slayer was a change.

While the songs may sound dated today, the soundtrack's importance and bravery needs to be applauded. This could have failed miserably both critically and commercially but was a success on all fronts.

Great Soundtrack: 'Cold Mountain'

In 2003, the Civil War drama Cold Mountain stunned critics and audiences alike and the film's soundtrack helped bring back the roots music of the Appalachian. The classic sounding roots music was given a modern twist thanks to those who created the sounds that accompanied the award-winning film. The soundtrack, produced by T. Bone Burnett, featured Jack White, Alison Krauss, Cassie Franklin, and featuring songs written by Burnett, Sting, and Elvis Costello. 

The soundtrack was nominated for 2 Grammys, 2 Oscars and peaked at the Billboard album charts at 51. The soundtrack even gained so much buzz that by the time the film was released on DVD, there was a special documentary about how the music was assembled and how each of the musicians got involved. Since the songs themselves are timeless, the soundtrack is one that will last for ages. 

Great Soundtrack: 'Permanent Records'

In 1988, a rising Keanu Reeves starred in the serious drama, Permanent Records, which was about suicide in young adults. The film, set in Portland, Oregon, became a cult classic and shed light on a topic then seldom discussed. To score the film, director Marisa Silver had the one and only Joe Strummer, who had recently split up the final version of The Clash to do the music.

Strummer, never one to stray away from social issues and hot topics, used the film's strong subject matter to give off the tone he was searching for. Strummer was backed by The Latino Rockabilly War and gave a sound that his longtime fans had not experienced from him before. Reeves, who plays guitar and bass in real life, also played with the former Clash frontman on one of the tracks. The soundtrack also featured music from Lou Reed, The Stranglers, BoDeans, The Godfathers, and J. D. Souther.

Great Soundtrack: 'Forrest Gump'

As we walked through the fictional life of Forrest Gump as he told it on a bus bench to anyone who was willing or unwilling to listen in the film, it brought back the rush of American nostalgia as he showed LBJ his ass, ran across the reflecting pool in D.C. during a Vietnam War protest, and watched Elvis on TV.

As the film captivated audiences around the country in 1994, its soundtrack of rock and soul did the same. While the film skirted the British Invasion, it didn't diminish the music that America created from the 1950s to the 1970s. With 32 classics featuring Bob Dylan, Elvis, The Mamas and the Papas, Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, The Doors, CCR, Gladys Night, among others, it showcases the rise of one of the country's greatest art forms -- music.

It documents your parents era but shows off the sound that is a timeless capsule to what shaped the soundtrack to the country.

Great Soundtrack: 'Where the Wild Things Are'

In 2009, Spike Jonze brought everyone's favorite childhood story to life with Where The Wild Things Are and Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O. gave it a beat. The soundtrack to the acclaimed film heard the New York singer go solo for the first time with a backing group called the Kids. The music, like the film, was filled with childlike innocence and wonderment as well as curiosity and intrigue. It was a departure for the singer and a whole new adventure.

Read: In 2013 We Named Karen O. an Icon

While the music gained attention and showed that Karen O. could do it alone, she called on comrades like her bandmates Brian Chase and Nick Zinner and former touring guitarist Imaad Wasif, Deerhunter's Bradford Cox, Liars' Aaron Hemphill, The Dead Weather and Queens of the Stone Age's Dean Fertita, and Jack Lawrence from The Raconteurs to contribute.The soundtrack's lead single, "All is Love," struck a chord with audiences around the world and helped propel the curiosity that this was something special to accompany the dynamic film.

Great Soundtracks: 'The U.S. vs. John Lennon'

In 2006, a team of documentary filmmakers set out to tell the true story of how the American government thought John Lennon was a threat to society and problem to the Nixon Administration in the 1970s. The film, The U.S. vs. John Lennon, is about the former Beatle's quest to end the conflict in Vietnam and demand equal rights for all in America while he was living in New York City following the break up of the Fab Four. Lennon, and his wife, Yoko Ono, would organize rallies, billboards, and of course concerts as well as create music with a message that chastised the American government. Lennon being British and his wife a Japanese immigrant manage to bother the government so much that they looked to deport him.

Read Our 2011 Interview with Yoko Ono 

The film showcases Lennon's issues against the U.S. government until his death as well as the music he created during this period. The soundtrack to the documentary captures the sound in his head and heart perfectly. Using Lennon songs like "Power to the People," "Nobody Told Me," "Working Class Hero," "New York City," makes the soundtrack one of the greatest post-Beatle compilations of his work.

Great Soundtracks: 'Dazed and Confused'

In 1993, Richard Linklater released his breakthrough coming of age film, Dazed and Confused, and help launch the careers of Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck. Along the way, the film became a cult classic and its soundtrack perfectly captured the era in which the film takes place.

Before That 70's Show brought on nostalgia of the 1970s, Dazed and Confused paid homage to the decade in the film about growing up in suburban Texas and trying to make a name for yourself in high school. It had the stoners, the jocks, the rejects, the nerds, the cheerleaders, the "it" girls, and those trying to break through into each clique. The soundtrack captured the era brilliantly and still holds up. Featuring the music of Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, ZZ Top, Deep Purple, The Runaways, War, Foghat, Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, and more, it is the sound of rebellious rock and roll as the genre even came of age.

Great Soundtracks: 'Rushmore'

In 1999, Wes Anderson's second film took audiences and critics by storm. Rushmore was the story a privileged teen filled with angst trying to get what he wants -- attention from a woman. While the film was a success and launched the careers of Anderson and star Jason Schwartzman to the main stream, the movie's soundtrack also reignited the interest of the leader of Devo -- Mark Mothersbaugh. 

The soundtrack was originally intended to just have Kinks songs on it but when Anderson and the studio allegedly couldn't secure the rights to all of the songs, Mothersbaugh, who worked with the director on his debut, Bottle Rocket, stepped in. Mothersbaugh composed the score and produced the soundtrack which featured The Kinks, John Lennon, Cat Stevens, Unit 4 +2, Faces, The Who, and Zoot Sims. The music compliments the quirkiness of the film and also helps you relive some scenes.

Great Soundtracks: 'Grosse Pointe Blank'

The charming action-comedy Grosse Pointe Blank became a surprise box office success story in 1997 when it arrived in theaters. The film, which stars John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Alan Arkin, and Dan Akroyd, about a hit man who attends his high school reunion is not only fresh and original but also ridiculous -- yet, it still worked.

The film, which takes place in the 90s, showcases the music of the era in which the protagonist were in high school -- the 1980s. The soundtrack captured the era perfectly with songs from David Bowie and Queen, The Specials, The Jam, The Clash, Violent Femmes,  Guns N Roses, and more. The soundtrack was such a hit with fans, it spawned a "More Music" compilation of the film which had Echo and The Bunnymen, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Pixies, Pogues, Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel. While we live in playlist ready-era, this soundtrack not only takes you back to the late 80s but to the film's storylines as well.

Great Soundtracks: 'Natural Born Killers'

1994 was a memorable year for movies as flicks like Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, The Crow, True Lies, The Lion King, Quiz Show, Shawshank Redemption, and countless others. One film, written by Quentin Tarantino busted down the door and had heads turning that summer and it was the Oliver Stone-helmed Natural Born Killers. The violent film about killers on the run in America had audiences gasping. One of the catalysts that drove the suspense of the story was the music.

Stone tapped Trent Reznor to produce the soundtrack and the Nine Inch Nails creator saw a different take as to how the music should be put out. Instead of just throwing songs together on a playlist and having his Nothing label put it out, he gathered tunes from the music of the era, his friends, and even crafted original songs and spliced them together with dialogue and scenes from the film. By doing this, the listener was able to experience the suspense and thrill ride of what the movie put out on screen.

With a soundtrack that featured NIN, Dr. Dre, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, L7, Peter Gabriel, Cowboy Junkies, The Dogg Pound, Leonard Cohen, and more, the violence on screen was brought into the listeners ears for a full on experience that still resonates today.

Great Soundtracks: 'High Fidelity'

17 years ago, one of the most beloved music books was turned into a cult classic film starring John Cusack. High Fidelity was about a hopeless romantic working in a music shop in the 1990s resonated with Generation X and the Baby Boomers. After the film became a hit, the soundtrack was just as talked about.

Director Stephen Frears assembled an array of classics from Aretha Franklin, The Jam, 13th Floor Elevators, Barry White, The Beta Band, The Velvet Underground, The Kinks, Stevie Wonder, and more. The soundtrack captured the cornucopia of sound that was featured in the film's record store and was enough for all generations to get behind. The soundtrack becomes a taste of what was in the film and could have been an anthology much like Danny Boyle did with Trainspotting. However, it is enough for fans to spin over and over even after all these years, the soundtrack proves that good music is timeless.

Great Soundtracks: 'Reservoir Dogs'

Quentin Tarantino came onto the scene in the early 90s thanks to his violent, intense, and well done independent debut, Reservoir Dogs. While the film would go on to become a gangster cult classic, it put Tarantino's name on the map and also showcased that he had impeccable music taste.

The soundtrack to Reservoir Dogs only contains six songs and the other 10 are dialogue excerpts from the film that set up the music including the KBilly DJ who is on the radio throughout the flick. Using music from Steelers Wheel, George Baker Selection, Joe Tex, Blue Suede, Bedlam and Harry Nilsson, the soundtrack takes you in the warehouse and praying you don't get your ear sliced off.

Great Soundtracks: The Wackness

In 2008, the New York City coming of age dramedy The Wackness took audiences around the world by storm. The little independent movie starring Ben Kingsly as a drug dealer and one of the Olsen Twins, showcased a Manhattan many remember -- the one of the 90s. Set in the summer of 1994, the film captures the city in Guiliani's era as a "broken windows" policy was implemented by the NYPD, Times Square started to become Disneyland and nothing could touch the city's hip-hop artists.

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The soundtrack captures the era perfectly. Featuring Biggie Smalls, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Craig Mack, KRS-One, A Tribe Called Quest, as well as a throwback classic rock song from Mott the Hoople, The Wackness blended the dopeness of NYC hip-hop of the mid 90s together better than any film ever. Listening to this album is the ultimate summer jam throwback and one that seals the debate -- the 90s rap of NYC was the best ever.

Listen to Our Essential Nas Playlist on Spotify!

Great Soundtracks: 'American Graffiti'

In 1973, George Lucas directed a film that would defy the generation before him -- American Graffiti. The film, which captured the greaser and Americana-era of the 1950s was a nostalgia trip even in the early 70s. Long before he directed Star Wars, Lucas was making his mark on American film and pop culture. As much as the film played a role for the careers of Ron Howard and Harrison Ford, it also was centered around the music of the bygone era.

With tunes from Del Shannon, Bill Haley & the Comets, Buddy Holly, The Tempos,  The Beach Boys, The Big Bopper and a slew of others -- the soundtrack featured 41 tracks of early American rock and roll. After it was reissued in 1993 and then again in 1998, the soundtrack would go on to become triple platinum and one of the best selling and most beloved movie soundtracks in history.

Great Soundtracks: 'Pump Up the Volume'

As Christian Slater enjoys a career resurrection thanks to Mr. Robot, in the late 80s and early 90s he was everywhere like Chris Pratt is today. In 1990, he starred in Pump Up the Volume, which was about an underground radio DJ playing new stars on a pirated radio station. While the film went on to achieve cult classic fame, its soundtrack became one of the biggest and best of the era.

Using music from Concrete Blonde, Soundgarden, Sonic Youth, Cowboy Junkies, Pixies, Bad Brains, Peter Murphy and more, Pump Up the Volume was an early mainstream stepping stone for Generation X. Many of the artists involved in the soundtrack achieved legendary status. One interesting note is a Beastie Boys song called "The Scenario" which was cut from Licensed to Ill because of how explicit it was appeared in the film but not on the soundtrack. The song was never officially released but has floated around bootlegs for ages.

Great Soundtracks: 'Friday'

21 years after its release, Friday is still a fan favorite and certifiable classic. While the movie still makes people laugh, the soundtrack is still one of the greatest to ever be released. The album took West Coast artists from the era and had them craft new songs for the original motion picture soundtrack.

Artists like Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill, Mack 10 and others created the feel, mood and vibe of what a Friday in Compton would be like. The album was released in April 1995 but is a record chock full of summer jams. A year after it was released, it went double platinum and in 2015, the record was pressed for the first time on vinyl to celebrate it's 20th anniversary.

Great Soundtracks: 'Reality Bites'

The 90s became the decade that gave us some of the best soundtracks that captured the feel of the decade as well as the film they represented. In 1994, Ben Stiller released the romantic comedy about Gen X called Reality Bites, the film chronicled a love triangle within the convoluted ideals of the decade. The soundtrack captured the characters relationships with each other and their enviroment.

Featuring music of the era like Lenny Kravitz, The Juliana Hatfield 3, Dinosaur Jr., The Posies, Lisa Loeb, Stiller also opted to go to the decade prior with hits from Crowded House, Squeeze and U2 to fill out what the intentions of his actors needed to embrace. The soundtrack still holds up and showcases a moment in time and a generation at a crossroads.

Great Soundtracks: 'The Wedding Singer'

Before Adam Sandler made shit films, he once wrote and directed very funny, clever features that had audiences riveted. One of those gems was 1998's The Wedding Singer. The film, which was about a wedding singer who falls madly in love with an unattainable woman in the 1980s was a slice of the decade. While the film was a nostalgia trip, the music helped bring it all to life.

In a soundtrack that featured New Order, David Bowie, Culture Club, The Smiths, The Police, Sugarhill Gang, Elvis Costello, and many more. It became a fan favorite and even inspired a second volume of music which came out later that year. The second volume featured Depeche Mode, Madonna, The Cars, Spandau Ballet, and others. Both of the soundtracks made the decade of glam and new wave come alive again for a whole new generation.

Great Soundtracks: O Brother, Where Art Thou?

When the Coen Brothers get together to create a film it is always a special event, yet, when they blended their direction with music, a timeless masterpiece was created -- O Brother, Where Art Thou? The film, which was opened to critical acclaim, featured the music of America during the Great Depression.

With T-Bone Burnett at the helm as executive soundtrack producer, the country king assembled Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Norman Blake, The Cox Family and others to cover traditional songs and music of that era. The result brought songs that were almost 100 years old to a whole new audience in 2000. Hailed as one of the greatest soundtracks of all time, it spent 20 weeks on the Billboard charts when it was originally released and continues to be praised by fans and critics.