Were you among those who clutched the William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet to your chest because you loved Leo DiCaprio AND Garbage so much? Did you wish it were Rex Manning Day? Did you adore Cameron Crowe before he became a “golden god”? Then this list is for you: the essential ’90s rock movie soundtracks.
Before Liv Tyler was defending Middle Earth from evil, and before Renee Zellweger went mobster in Chicago, the ladies were clerks at the world’s greatest record store. And what a lucky bunch they and their friends were to be able to listen to the Gin Blossoms, the Cranberries and Better Than Ezra all day! Empire Records was the ultimate homage to a now bygone era of building communities at the music emporium.Buy from Amazon »
Certainly, the most memorable scene in this modernization of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew was when Heath Ledger serenaded Julia Stiles with Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” But the soundtrack was chock full of ’90s grrrl power. Letters to Cleo, Save Ferris and the Cardigans all contributed memorable tracks, and the former two made cameos in the classic teen flick.Buy from Amazon »
The protagonist in this 1995 movie was an outcast, but he sure had good company in Green Day, Weezer and Goo Goo Dolls. The high-octane track listing was an ideal accompaniment to those awkward teenage years. In particular, the Muffs’ “Funny Face” spoke to Angus’ struggle to fit in as an overweight adolescent. And Ash’s “Kung Fu” was a call to arms to kick butt in his own unique way.Buy from Amazon »
Ash and the Cardigans sure got around when it came to 1990s soundtracks. Here they were again, scoring scenes between the decade’s hip poster boy Ewan McGregor and the charming Cameron Diaz. The oddball love story also featured groovy songs from Beck, R.E.M. and the Prodigy. Good tunes seem to follow McGregor everywhere— the film that made him a star, Trainspotting, is another beloved soundtrack of that time.Buy from Amazon »
David Lynch has always made music an integral part of his films. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails curated the soundtrack to this 1997 head-trip, enlisting David Bowie, the Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson to offer up nightmarish numbers. The Pumpkins’ “Eye,” which was more electronically oriented than their other hits, still registers significant radio airplay today.Buy from Amazon »
Considered by many to be the Holy Grail of grunge, the Singles soundtrack collected works by all the genre’s greats: Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden all made an appearance. (And nearly all of those bands had walk-on roles in the Cameron Crowe film.) It was rumored that this 1992 landmark movie was tentatively titled Come As You Are, after Nirvana’s anthemic song. Though that idea was scrapped, Singles was still wrapped in a nice flannel bow.Buy from Amazon »
So the movie version of Jamie Hewlett’s comic books might not have been high art (dig Ice-T as a kangaroo alien), but the soundtrack was genius. Courtney Love was entrusted with the track listing, and she did a phenomenal job. Everyone from Bjork to Bush and other notable ’90s rockers contributed, making up somewhat for the hilariously bad flick.Buy from Amazon »
Ali Larter’s whipped cream bikini likely overshadowed the tunes from this football film also starring James Van Der Beek. But the soundtrack is worth another listen. Heavyweights such as the Foo Fighters and Collective Soul made the team, and decidedly ’90s acts such as Fastball and Third Eye Blind scored as well.Buy from Amazon »
The Bard was one of the original rock stars, so it makes sense that his plays lent themselves to rock music. Baz Luhrmann’s re-imagining of the timeless tragedy infused the best of the alternation nation into iambic pentameter. Garbage, Radiohead, Everclear and the Cardigans ushered Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes into their star-crossed destinies.Buy from Amazon »
Not technically a ’90s release, the soundtrack to this 2011 Charlize Theron film is an ace starter kit for those just beginning to explore alt rock. Favorites from 4 Non Blondes, Veruca Salt and the Lemonheads are included, as are cheeky Muzak covers of Faith No More, Soundgarden and others.Buy from Amazon »
Empire Records
Before Liv Tyler was defending Middle Earth from evil, and before Renee Zellweger went mobster in Chicago, the ladies were clerks at the world’s greatest record store. And what a lucky bunch they and their friends were to be able to listen to the Gin Blossoms, the Cranberries and Better Than Ezra all day! Empire Records was the ultimate homage to a now bygone era of building communities at the music emporium.Buy from Amazon »
10 Things I Hate About You
Certainly, the most memorable scene in this modernization of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew was when Heath Ledger serenaded Julia Stiles with Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” But the soundtrack was chock full of ’90s grrrl power. Letters to Cleo, Save Ferris and the Cardigans all contributed memorable tracks, and the former two made cameos in the classic teen flick.Buy from Amazon »
Angus
The protagonist in this 1995 movie was an outcast, but he sure had good company in Green Day, Weezer and Goo Goo Dolls. The high-octane track listing was an ideal accompaniment to those awkward teenage years. In particular, the Muffs’ “Funny Face” spoke to Angus’ struggle to fit in as an overweight adolescent. And Ash’s “Kung Fu” was a call to arms to kick butt in his own unique way.Buy from Amazon »
A Life Less Ordinary
Ash and the Cardigans sure got around when it came to 1990s soundtracks. Here they were again, scoring scenes between the decade’s hip poster boy Ewan McGregor and the charming Cameron Diaz. The oddball love story also featured groovy songs from Beck, R.E.M. and the Prodigy. Good tunes seem to follow McGregor everywhere— the film that made him a star, Trainspotting, is another beloved soundtrack of that time.Buy from Amazon »
Lost Highway
David Lynch has always made music an integral part of his films. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails curated the soundtrack to this 1997 head-trip, enlisting David Bowie, the Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson to offer up nightmarish numbers. The Pumpkins’ “Eye,” which was more electronically oriented than their other hits, still registers significant radio airplay today.Buy from Amazon »
Singles
Considered by many to be the Holy Grail of grunge, the Singles soundtrack collected works by all the genre’s greats: Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden all made an appearance. (And nearly all of those bands had walk-on roles in the Cameron Crowe film.) It was rumored that this 1992 landmark movie was tentatively titled Come As You Are, after Nirvana’s anthemic song. Though that idea was scrapped, Singles was still wrapped in a nice flannel bow.Buy from Amazon »
Tank Girl
So the movie version of Jamie Hewlett’s comic books might not have been high art (dig Ice-T as a kangaroo alien), but the soundtrack was genius. Courtney Love was entrusted with the track listing, and she did a phenomenal job. Everyone from Bjork to Bush and other notable ’90s rockers contributed, making up somewhat for the hilariously bad flick.Buy from Amazon »
Varsity Blues
Ali Larter’s whipped cream bikini likely overshadowed the tunes from this football film also starring James Van Der Beek. But the soundtrack is worth another listen. Heavyweights such as the Foo Fighters and Collective Soul made the team, and decidedly ’90s acts such as Fastball and Third Eye Blind scored as well.Buy from Amazon »
William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
The Bard was one of the original rock stars, so it makes sense that his plays lent themselves to rock music. Baz Luhrmann’s re-imagining of the timeless tragedy infused the best of the alternation nation into iambic pentameter. Garbage, Radiohead, Everclear and the Cardigans ushered Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes into their star-crossed destinies.Buy from Amazon »
Young Adult
Not technically a ’90s release, the soundtrack to this 2011 Charlize Theron film is an ace starter kit for those just beginning to explore alt rock. Favorites from 4 Non Blondes, Veruca Salt and the Lemonheads are included, as are cheeky Muzak covers of Faith No More, Soundgarden and others.Buy from Amazon »