Summer Soundtrack

Scattered through radio pop garbage, I find the occasional treasure trove of beats that makes me happy my car has a stereo. I’ll hear a song that’s almost a memory and think, Damn, that’s good. How do I know it? Songs from movies have a way of entering my conscious without announcing themselves, kind of like that old Pete and Pete episode. The younger Pete stumbles upon a garage band practicing, falls in love with one song then spends the rest of the thirty minutes tracking down the group. Enter my own mad search for “that song” here.

I roped together a bunch of soundtracks that rock my socks to make your search for that perfect song you heard once easier. Turn it up.

The Twilight Soundtracks: You may be Team Jacob, Team Edward, or Team Vampires Suck – the music alone makes the two-hour ‘tween wet dreams worth it. All three movies harbor great sounds, including songs from Metric, Muse, Band of Skulls, Lykke Li, Editors, Grizzly Bear, Thom Yorke of Radiohead and the Black Keys.

Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet: It was seventh grade. It was Leonardo DiCaprio. It was love. The R + J posters festooning my walls are gone, but the soundtrack remains one of my favorites. It features the Butthole Surfers, Radiohead, the Cardigans, Nine Inch Nails, and the Wannadies.

Empire Records: Renee Zellwegger’s and Liv Tyler’s belly buttons are two of many, many reasons why this movie became a cult classic. Remember why it’s so cool with the Gin Blossoms, Cranberries, Toad and the Wet Sprocket and Cracker.

The Wedding Singer: Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore fell in love. I renewed my affection for New Order and Billy Idol. Also on the soundtrack: The Police, the Smiths, David Bowie and the Presidents of the United States of America.

Step Up 2 The Streets: The plot was lame, and the acting matched the plot. But, damn – that dancing. Featured artists include: Flo Rida and T-Pain, Missy Elliot, Akon, Enrique Isglesias, Scarface and B.o.B.

Purple Rain: Prince. What else do I need to say?

Pretty In Pink: Molly Ringwald was John Hughes’s muse, and we all saw why. On the soundtrack: INXS, The Smiths, Suzanne Vega, New Order, and the Psychedelic Furs.

Clueless: Alicia Silverstone gave us catch phrases, permission to wear plaid skirts even if you’re not in an Irish dance group and furry pens. This was before she became an animal activist. Director Amy Heckerling gave us a collection of great music, including Luscious Jackson, Smoking Popes, Beastie Boys, Radiohead, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

Reality Bites: Before Winona got caught shoplifting, she stole our hearts in this angst-ridden 90’s classic. Where is Janeane Garofalo, anyways? Hear Lisa Loeb, Lenny Kravitz, Arrested Development, The Knack, U2, and Crowded House on the soundtrack.

Almost Famous: Kate Hudson convinced us that the love for the music is what really mattered. She also convinced me I needed a faux-fur floor length jacket immediately. The soundtrack has over fifty songs from epic artists like Led Zepplin, Steely Dan, the Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell and Elton John.

8 Mile: Before Eminem went emo. The record also features 50 Cent, Obie Trice, Jay-Z, Xzibit, Macy Gray, Nas and Gang Starr.