5 Best Movie Soundtracks of 2012
posted in: Features • Music News
2012 has been a fantastic year for movies, but it may have been an even better year for movie soundtracks. From action and horror, to comedies and dramadies, the world of film was made more enthralling in 2012 than any year in recent memory thanks to music, and today we’re highlighting our five favorite releases. I would suggest you see every film mentioned on this list in order to fully appreciate the accompanying music, but perhaps one of the greatest features of each of these releases is how well they play outside the context of cinema. So whether you’re a cinephile or you refuse to pay ridiculous cinema prices, there is something here for everyone. Click through the “Read more” link and enjoy.
1. Django Unchained
Quentin Tarantino has always been recognized for his ability to create a fitting and replay-worthy soundtrack, but he stepped up his game with the release of Django Uncahined. For the first time in his more than 20-year career, Tarantino paid artists to create original works for the film, providing a modern twist to a story rooted in the mid-18th century America. The results are both startling and entertaining, with works spread over nearly every genre imaginable (sans-hard rock), and a list of artists both new and old.
2. Les Miserables
This may be the big “no brainer” choice for our list, but that would be underselling the success that is Tom Hooper‘s cinematic retelling of Victor Hugo‘s 1862 epic. Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, and (most notably) Eddie Redmayne absolutely perfect their various roles in the legendary musical, which provided moviegoers with both an introduction to a classic they may otherwise have never experienced, as well as new sides to some of Hollywood’s brightest stars. The full cast soundtrack will probably leave you sobbing just as much as the film itself, but that is a risk worth taking for such an enjoyable listening experience.
3. The Raid: Redemption
Gareth Evans‘ The Raid: Redemption was the talk of the film circuit in 2011. The film centers on a police raid of a high-rise apartment complex literally infested with bad guys, which is not exactly a likely scenario for a great soundtrack. Much of the film is filled with fight sequences, many involving firearms, so the accompaniment generally must take a backseat while simultaneously providing exciting ambiance for the frantic onscreen motion. In the case of The Raid, Evans found his score from Linkin Park‘s Mike Shinoda, who chose to give the feature a trance-heavy electronic score that does a great job of getting the blood pumping. If you want to get amped up for a workout or dig deep into writing without the distraction of someone singing/screaming about their feelings, this soundtrack will become your best friend in no time.
4. This Is 40
Judd Apatow has taken a dramatic turn with his recent films, and longtime fans have been left undeniably split on whether or not that’s a good evolution. One thing that has not changed, however, is the way Apatow chooses to incorporate music into his features. This Is 40 is not only accompanied by music, but also guided by it in many ways as well. As they move through the soundtrack, listeners are able to connect with the emotional highs and lows of Apatow’s story on reaching middle age in ways his dialogue and cinematography alone cannot.
5. The Twilights Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2
Though I would never suggest anyone sit through the final two-and-a-half hours of The Twilight Saga, I can admit to spinning the soundtrack pretty heavily back in November. Each film in the series has provided new music from some of indie and alternative rock’s biggest names, and this entry is no different. In terms of accompanying the actual film the album falls surprisingly short, but the collection of tracks does make for a great mixtape, and that’s better than most soundtracks can claim.
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