Various Artists:
Baby Driver [OST]
Columbia Records
It’s a fun film and a big part of that fun is in the soundtrack. Baby Driver is one of those don’t-think-too-hard films filled with car chases and rock’n’roll and soul and its soundtrack album works well as both a character (of sorts) in the film and as a compilation album that could play to an audience unaware of the movie’s plot or mostly positive reviews.
From garage rockers and classic hits staples to funk and soul nuggets it’s one of the best “Music Nerd” soundtracks since, well, I guess, something like High Fidelity – where it’s a permanent reflection of the film and just a tidy-af compilation of great, great tracks.
Better still – it’s a double. And not many double-album movie soundtracks fully stand-up. This could have been a triple – the music comes thick and fast in the film and the best tracks here are just wonderful kick-ass pieces of music: Bob and Earl’s original of Harlem Shuffle, the Kashmere Stage Band, The Beach Boys’ Let’s Go Away For A While, The Modern Lovers’ Egyptian Reggae, David McCallum’s The Edge (which you know from Dr. Dre’s sample use, no doubt) and staples from Barry White, Martha Reeves, T-Rex, The Commodores and Sam & Dave.
Add Simon & Garfunkel, the Incredible bongo Band, The Damned, Carla Thomas and Brenda Holloway and you can see how this is just a music-nerd geek-out.
It flows well too – from the perfect album/film opener, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s Bellbottoms through to Sky Ferreira’s cover of the Commodores’ Easy and Simon & Garfunkel’s title track via Alexis Kroner’s Blues Incorporated and Queen’s spectacularly OTT Bright Rock. Chuck in Young MC, Blur and Golden Earring. Chuck in Dave Brucbeck’s wonderful Unsquare Dance and a good ole shot of Tequila. Wash it all down with Beck’s best ode to Prince, Debra or The Detroit Emeralds. Take your pick. Which is exactly what you get to do. Play it through in the order here, or shuffle the deck – either way this is a fun reminder of a great film and a brilliant playlist of terrific music.
