{"id":13790,"date":"2011-12-16T00:33:46","date_gmt":"2011-12-16T00:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/?p=13790"},"modified":"2012-05-22T13:18:39","modified_gmt":"2012-05-22T12:18:39","slug":"the-best-film-music-of-2011-scores-soundtracks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/2011\/12\/16\/the-best-film-music-of-2011-scores-soundtracks\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Film Music of 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The best film music this year featured strong scores from composers like Cliff Martinez and Mychael Danna, whilst also providing us with plenty of memorable moments in the shape of individual tracks.<\/p>\n

Soundtrack releases are often treated like the ugly duckling relation to a movie – I’m still waiting for an official soundtrack for Somewhere from last year – as it can often be just another commercial tie-in to a movie or bogged down by rights issues.<\/p>\n

But when it is done right, there is something unique about music on film: it can sonically charge your emotions whilst sitting in the cinema or viscerally remind you of a film when you fire up the iPod.<\/p>\n

As always there is some overlap between the use of pre-existing songs on soundtracks and scores written especially for the film, but the picks below all stood out for how they enriched their respective movies.<\/p>\n

Given the varied nature of online music distribution these days, you’ll be able to find the albums and tracks at iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and other places online (if not just email me).<\/p>\n

* N.B. As I haven’t yet seen The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo I’ll have to reserve judgement on that score<\/a> for the time being *<\/p>\n

THE BEST SOUNDTRACK ALBUMS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Another Earth<\/a> by Fall on Your Sword<\/a><\/strong> – Blending pulsating electronic elements with quiter atmospherics, this played a major role in reflecting the startling ideas and themes of Mike Cahill’s low budget sci-fi drama. More varied than a first listen might suggest, it is worth keeping an ear out for the mix of instrumentation.<\/p>\n