Robert Pattinson’s latest project (sans Vampires) soundtrack was released this week. Since I’m a bit of a vampire fan and uh obviously I write this blog I thought I’d check it out. I was also privy to a screening of the film in November which had only some temp tracks and I couldn’t wait to see what they were going to use in the final cut of the movie. I knew if Alex Patsavas and Chop Shop were attached we’d end up with something pretty awesome, as if their usual M.O. And I think for the most part the soundtrack for Remember Me is no different minus a few tracks I could have left off just from personal taste alone.

Most of this music and these bands were popular in the late 90s early 00s when this movie takes place. Which made me really have to dig to find these songs on the interwebs to share, so listen to the video or open the link in a new window to listen. BUUUTTT I gotta say some of these are kinda painful to listen to because they’re so perfect for that time frame while others make me want to hug my ipod because of the memories. Ya win some, ya lose some right?

So let’s get to it, shall we?

1. Alien Lover – Luscious Jackson

The lyrics seem appropriate as they’re pretty alien to each other for a while. All I can picture when I listen to this is college dorm rooms in the late 90s which I guess is pretty much perfect for this movie.

2. Play On – Kottonmouth Kings

(Video NSFW)
Kottonmouth Kings, named the “Band of the Year” by “High Times Magazine” I’m sure you can see why after you listen. I can see this being put in the jail scene or maybe walking in the alley before the rumble/fight.

3. Kandles (iTunes link) – National Skyline
This is definitely more in my wheel house, late 90s shoe gaze, dream pop!? Yes, please! And of course this means this song is no where (legal) online that I can link to besides it’s iTunes link. This definitely fits brooding Tyler way more than that rap-rock stuff. Imagine the Tyler riding his bicycle in the rain scene.

4. Soft Shoulder – Ani Difranco

This will probably most definitely be a song for Emilie’s character, Ally. Ani Defrano was like every stereotypical English Lit/Women’s Studies major college girls music, this soundtrack wouldn’t have been complete without it, for reals. It’s too bad there’s no Ally going to Lillith Fair scene, this would have ruled.

Follow the cut, trust me it gets really good. I swear!

5. Have Mercy – Two Ton Boa
Never heard of these folks/person in my life and there’s nothing on Wiki about them. BUT I did find the official website where you can listen to the entire version of Have Mercy on their player a la blogspot.

6. Hanging With The Wrong Crowd – Ed Harcourt

Oh Ed… sing to me with your luscious locks and your luscious voice. I just want to skip down the block hand in hand with Robert Pattinson while this song plays… wait… I mean maybe Emilie will in the movie… damn, reality… oh and Ed says “moist” and that always makes me want to barf. But this is such a great inclusion.

7. Why Did We Ever Meet – The Promise Ring

NOW we’re talking! Now, I’m paying attention. I think we all know my penchant for the emo or should I say the REAL emo. This song is from one of the hallmark albums of the genre, “Nothing Feels Good.” If you don’t have it, you really should own it and appreciate it and then you can thank me!

8. You Can See Me – Supergrass

Supergrass will always remind me of my RA, Sean in 2002 with his weird dog that got sprayed by a skunk. So this is pretty much crazy hippie liberal arts college student stuff. Or maybe it’s actually Britpop from the late 90s that hippie RA’s with an old Ford Explorer listened to stuff.

9. Sea Of Teeth – Sparklehorse

This is quite sad actually since Mark (the lead singer) committed suicide this last Saturday. This song is just too beautiful for words about how everything just might be out of reach or unattainable. This should end up in a sweet love scene, maybe that shadow puppets part? I would die from swooning.

10. Andvari – Sigur Ros

We’re obviously now into the swoonable section of the soundtrack. If there’s only one band on this soundtrack that you can learn more about or buy their albums than it is most definitely Sigur Ros. So dreamy, so ethereal, so perfect for a long drive by the ocean or sitting in your backyard looking at stars. What scene will this be in? I can only imagine something super dreamy, or just a floating image of Rob’s head, ya know the stuff good movies are made out of.

11. Parasol – The Sea And Cake

Continuing on with the “sad bastard music” portion of the soundtrack we have The Sea and Cake who bring us another slow jam to be brooding and wistfully look out the window. Hmmm sounds like perfect RPattz material.

12. Soul Brother – Us3
LastFM preview
You’ll probably know them best from that old school joint “Cantaloop” (biddy biddy bop!) but this is a nice little jam to see thrown in here.

13. Open Wide – Long Hind Legs
Blip FM (just hit play next to the title)
Besides combining the song title and the artist to get something sounding totally pervy and some equally risque search results on videos for this it’s pretty good. I love this kind of throw back sound. It’s so new wave and Joy Division and other awesomeness rolled into one. I gotta add this to my list to search for the vinyl of.

14. The Sun Keeps Shining On Me – Fonda

Fonda brings the dream-like vibes with this song and fits in perfectly with Tyler’s broodiness and self loathing.

Seriously, if you love dreampop/shoegaze/indie pop than the 2nd half of this soundtrack is for you. Full of B-Sides and bands you should know minus a few near the front of this soundtrack. I almost wouldn’t buy this based on a couple of picks that were included. I get that we’re going for a soundtrack that encompasses the movie and not just the Best-Of dreampop/shoegaze/indiepop compilation that I would have drooled over but still, Luscious Jackson??

Actually this entire album plays like what you would have heard on a college radio station circa 2001. So bravo, since it’s a perfect portrait of what what Tyler and Alley probably would have heard while at NYU that year. So well played, Chop Shop, well played indeed friends. But seriously can we stop with the Kottonmouth Kings? That was just uncalled for.

Off to think about college in 2001…

Music Supervisor: Alex Patsavas, Chop Shop

And a new obsession was born. Reminiscent of my Miley Cyrus “Party In the USA” mashup fascination of winter 2010… this just may be my new obsession. Mash ups and remixes of Lil Wayne’s A Milli…

A Milli Paper Planes

with MIA’s Paper Planes

Viva La Milli

I didn’t really care for the Viva La Vida album by Coldplay but this might be my favorite mash up I found of this song thus far…

I also found a Jonas Brother Milli mashup but I’ll save you from that one this time.

Of course this was well before the hay day of this song being featured in everything from The Hills to major sporting events to Glee and it took calling Steve Perry multiple times and giving him a private screening of the film before he ok-ed the inclusion of the song. Some day if I ever get to meet Steve Perry I’ll give him a high five for not only being a big part of my high school experience (yes, while other kids were bumping rap, we were cruising the lot blasting Journey) but for being part of Journey and offering up their music to some of the best scenes in film and tv.

Charlize Theron almost unrecognizable as serial killer Aileen couples skates with Christina Ricci (Selby) to Don’t Stop Believing. My only complaint? The scene and the music didn’t last long enough.

Music Supervisor: Howard Paar

I’d hate to do this but I’d pretty much call them (led by Nate Ruess’ redonkulous vocals) the second coming of Queen. For reals.

Listen to some cuts from their album “Aim and Ignite”:

All the pretty girls

Follow the cut for even more Fun.

Benson Hedges
(prepare to have your socks knocked off)

Be Calm

Light a Roman Candle with Me

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From: Bullion’s Pet Sounds in the Key of Dee
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A mash up of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds with J Dilla’s “Slum Village”

God Only Knows…

Listen to some more Pet Sounds in the Key of Dee after the cut

Wouldn’t It Be Nice…

I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times

You Still Believe in Dee

Remixing the Beach Boys with J Dilla?! Sign me up…

No, you have not gone blind you did read the names: Avril Lavigne, 3Oh!3 and SHINEDOWN on that list. I’ve gotta say I’m quite beyond surprised. What could have been a perfect opportunity to harness some of the buzz the movie already had and artists clamoring to get on blockbuster soundtracks these days by pulling a “Twilight: New Moon” and asking amazing artists to submit exclusive work was instead squandered on what seems to be a soundtrack made for the Hot Topic crowd. But it is a Tim Burton flick after all, I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised.

I’ll be interested to hear the tracks from Wolfmother and Robert Smith, but as for the rest… only March 2nd will tell. Maybe it’s too obvious but the whole Alice storyline seems ripe for some trippy, trance-y, more computer-y based electronic music like Frankmusik or Dan Deacon or Passion Pit (hello “sleepyhead!”) to keep it playful or even go into that Radiohead sound instead of this Top 40 rock that seems to be the m.o. for “Almost Alice”

Read the rest of the depressing exclusive press release over on MySpace

Music Supervisor: ???

Looking forward to any of this? Do you know who the music sup is? Who else is as pumped as I am that Crispin Glover is in Alice?

(youtube link)

The Vampire Diaries is one of my new favorite shows this season. Besides having the obvious Vampires (of the non sparkling variety) and lots of hot bods they choose some fab music to help tell their story each week. And this scene sticks out as one of my favorite syncs from the season. What better song to accompany a teenage drug addict from the wrong side of the tracks who just wants to be loved than a cover of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence.” Though this scene uses a cover by Anberlin which isn’t nearly as dark as the original, it fits Vicki’s teenage rebellion without being too brooding or overwhelming for the scene. I mean they are dancing in their underoos after all.

Music Supervisor: Chris Mollere

Other favorite songs from The Vampire Diaries or your favorite TV shows? Share in the comments…

Check out The Temper Traps album “Conditions” if you have already…

Used on: the So You Think You Can Dance finale
Credit: IMDB is a bit iffy on this music dept folks, sorry!

Any other SYTYCD music favorites?

Besides this being my favorite. movie. ever. Almost Famous also contains one of the best syncs ever with the inclusion of Elton John’s Tiny Dancer on the tour bus the morning after Russell quits the band, crashes a midwestern house party, trips on acid and is inevitably picked up by the band the next morning. It was the perfect song and the perfect moment to bring the band and the band aids back together after a near break up. Now sing along with me… hold me closer Tony Danza…

Almost Famous
Music Supervisor: Danny Bramson

xo
nikki

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Some highlights:
Thursday, October 29th

10-10:45am                          Soundtrack Case Study: The Twilight Saga: New Moon
12:15-1:15pm                      Conversation with Director Chris Weitz and Composer Alexandre Deplat, The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Friday, October 30th

9:30-10:30 am                     Anatomy of a Film Score: Fame
10:30-11:30am                    Anatomy of Fox’s Glee with Lea Michele
12:30-1:15pm                      Collaborators: The Music from HBO’s True Blood
2:30-3:30pm                       KEYNOTE Q&A with Mary J. Blige