Entertainment
'Inside Llewyn Davis' Album Tops 2013's Best Soundtracks
Nearly a month before the movie is to be released in theaters, the soundtrack to Inside Llewyn Davis , the Coen brothers' new film about a folk musician (Oscar Isaac) trying to make it in '60s New York, has become available to stream online. With 14 incredible songs, from the gorgeous "Fare Thee Well" to the sweet, sad "The Death of Queen Jane" to the never-before-heard studio version of Bob Dylan's "Farewell," the album is nothing short of a musical masterpiece. Each song showcases the melancholy tone of the movie, as well as the impressive vocal talents of its cast, which includes Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, and Adam Driver (seriously, is there anything the Girls actor can't do?).
Without a doubt, the Inside Llewyn Davis album tops Bustle's list of the best movie soundtracks released so far in 2013. If the movie is even half as good as the music that accompanies it, audiences will be in for a truly amazing experience come Dec. 6.
Luckily for us, Llewyn Davis is just one of the many wonderful movie soundtracks released this year. With the Coen brothers' movie leading the pack at number one, read on for the rest of our top picks.
Image: CBS Films
2. 'The Great Gatsby'
Baz Luhrmann's movie version on the classic novel may not have gone over too well with critics, but the soundtrack he helped cultivate received nothing but praise. It's a perfect fusion of hip-hop and jazz, with club-ready contributions from Fergie, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé, along with haunting tracks from Lana Del Ray, the xx, and Florence and the Machine. Add in songs from Sia, Gotye, Andre 3000, and more, and you've got yourself one eclectic, genius mix of music that fits perfectly with Gatsby's themes of power and extravagance. For those of you who still can't stop listening to "Young and Beautiful" six months after the movie's release, The Hollywood Reporter has a great track-by-track analysis of the soundtrack, complete with insight from Anton Monsted, Gatsby's music supervisor.
Image: Warner Bros.
3. 'The Bling Ring'
Like Gatsby, The Bling Ring didn't quite live up to its hype, but the soundtrack to Sofia Coppola's movie about teenage burglars was more than enough to satisfy audiences. With tracks from Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Phoenix, and Sleigh Bells, the album perfectly evoked the attitude of the movie, which could be summed up as "get rich, have fun, and don't give a crap about the consequences." You can listen to the soundtrack here.
Image: A24
4. 'Warm Bodies'
Like the movie that inspired it, the Warm Bodies soundtrack is surprisingly good, an enjoyable mix of new and old. With classics like Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" and Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart" intertwined with recent songs like Bon Iver's "Hinnom, TX" and Feist's "The Bad in Each Other," Warm Bodies: The Soundtrack is a must-listen.
Image: Summit/Lionsgate
5. 'Sound City'
Not many people saw Sound City, Dave Grohl's directorial debut about the history of Los Angeles' Sound City recording studio, but those who did knew they'd just experienced something special. The documentary received unanimous praise upon release, much of which was directed at its instant-classic soundtrack. With songs by Stevie Nicks, Paul McCartney, Rick Springfield, and Grohl himself, Sound City: Real to Reel proved itself to be one of the best movie soundtracks in recent memory. It's no wonder it quickly skyrocketed to #1 on the Billboard Top Soundtracks chart. You can buy it here.
Image: Variance Films
6. 'This is the End'
Everything about the soundtrack to the bromantic apocalyptic comedy This is the End is perfect, from the first track — "Take Yo Panties Off," by Snoop Dogg and cast member Craig Robinson — to the final one, Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," which fans of the movie will recall was used to hilarious effect in a key scene. The soundtrack is upbeat and hugely fun, and, of course, contains the Best Finale Song of All Time, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by the Backstreet Boys. It's available to buy on iTunes.
Image: Columbia
7. 'The Host'
The movie may have been panned by critics, but the soundtrack to The Host, Stephenie Meyer's film adaptation of her paranormal romance novel, was declared nothing but a success. It contains songs from popular artists like Imagine Dragons, Ellie Goulding, and Skylar Gray, and much like the soundtracks to the movies in the Twilight series, it introduces listeners to several little-known, talented indie artists. Give it a listen.
Image: Open Road/Universal
