19 Kickin' Modern Movie Soundtracks You'll Love
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One of my favorite ways to discover new music is through — surprise, surprise — movie soundtracks. The most recent one that I'm loving is Paper Towns, which features a collection of fresh, fun, and sometimes weepy tracks. (Hint: it's very similar to the soundtrack from that other John Green movie, The Fault in Our Stars.) If you haven't checked it out yet, I definitely recommend it for its hip, handpicked tracks and artists you might not be familiar with yet. If you've already played it on loop endlessly, here are some alternative soundtracks that might be a good change of pace. Take a look through to see which ones you've already obsessed over and which you need to check out!
01
The Fault in Our Stars
- Mood: Tender
- Artists: Grouplove, Birdy, Charli XCX, M83
- Key tracks: "Let Me In" by Grouplove, "Boom Clap" by Charli XCX, "All I Want" by Kodaline
02
Magic Mike XXL
- Mood: Seductive
- Artists: Ginuwine, Backstreet Boys, D'Angelo, and more
- Key tracks: "Pony" by Ginuwine, "Heaven" by Matt Bomer, "Marry You" by Childish Gambino
03
For a Good Time, Call . . .
- Mood: Upbeat
- Artists: The Dig, Hot as Sun, Timber Timbre, Generationals
- Key tracks: "Back and Forth" by Operator Please, "Black Water" by The Dig
04
Drinking Buddies
- Mood: Vintage
- Artists: Rubblebucket, Phèdre, Foxygen, Here We Go Magic
- Key tracks: "Came Out of a Lady" by Rubblebucket, "In Decay" by Phèdre, "In the Darkness" by Foxygen
05
Pitch Perfect 2
- Mood: Girl's night out
- Artists: The Barden Bellas, Das Sound Machine, Jessie J, and more
- Key tracks: "Flashlight" by Jessie J, "Crazy Youngsters" by Ester Dean
06
Celeste & Jesse Forever
- Mood: Romantic
- Artists: Lily Allen, Vetiver, Keepaway, William Bell
- Key tracks: "A Little Bit of Love" by Brenda Russell, "Open Your Eyes" by Bobby Caldwell
07
Adventureland
- Mood: Retro
- Artists: Lou Reed, David Bowie, The Cure, Big Star
- Key tracks: "Satellite of Love" by Lou Reed, "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House
08
Fifty Shades of Grey
- Mood: Sensual
- Artists: Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, Sia, and more
- Key tracks: "Earned It" by The Weeknd, "Love Me Like You Do" by Ellie Goulding
09
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
- Mood: Energetic
- Artists: T. Rex, Metric, The Rolling Stones, Beck
- Key tracks: "We Are Sex Bob-Omb" by Sex Bob-Omb, "Teenage Dream" by T. Rex, "Black Sheep" by Metric
10
Into the Wild
- Mood: Contemplative
- Artists: Eddie Vedder
- Key tracks: "Hard Sun" and "Rise" by Eddie Vedder
11
Crazy Heart
- Mood: Rustic
- Artists: Jeff Bridges, Waylon Jennings, Ryan Bingham, Colin Farrell
- Key tracks: "The Weary Kind" by Ryan Bingham, "Hold on You" by Jeff Bridges
12
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
- Mood: Youthful
- Artists: Death Cab For Cutie, The Killers, Muse, OK Go
- Key tracks: "A White Demon Love Song" by The Killers, "Monsters" by Hurricane Bells
13
Once
- Mood: Homemade
- Artists: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová
- Key tracks: "Falling Slowly" and "If You Want Me" by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
14
Juno
- Mood: Too cool for school
- Artists: Cat Power, The Kinks, Belle & Sebastian, The Velvet Underground
- Key tracks: "Piazza, New York Catcher" by Belle & Sebastian, "All the Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople, "Sea of Love" by Cat Power
15
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
- Mood: Trendy
- Artists: Bishop Allen, Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses, Shout Out Louds
- Key tracks: "Ottoman" by Vampire Weekend, "Our Swords" by Band of Horses
16
(500) Days of Summer
- Mood: Optimistic
- Artists: Regina Spektor, The Smiths, The Temper Trap, Feist
- Key tracks: "Us" by Regina Spektor, "Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap
17
Garden State
- Mood: Melancholy
- Artists: Coldplay, The Shins, Nick Drake, Iron and Wine
- Key tracks: "Caring Is Creepy" by The Shins, "The Only Living Boy in New York" by Simon & Garfunkel
18
Drive
- Mood: Mysterious
- Artists: Cliff Martinez, Desire, Electric Youth
- Key tracks: "Under Your Spell" by Desire, "A Real Hero" by College featuring Electric Youth, "Nightcall" by Kavinsky and Lovefoxx
19
Paper Towns
- Mood: Indie
- Artists: Vampire Weekend, Haim, Grouplove, and more
- Key tracks: "Drama Queen" by Grouplove, "Radio" by Sanitgold, "Search Party" by Sam Bruno