Top 5: Scores Of 2021
With each new year’s wave of films comes an array of new cinematic soundscapes, and even though this year has been a dumpster fire, it’s given us no shortage of new sounds. Whether it marries perfectly with the visuals or can be cranked up on its own, a film’s score is integral to its atmosphere and overall aesthetic. At its very best, it enriches the film’s power by providing a layer of aural information that can inform the viewer on its characters and plot just as much as a the visuals.
2021 brought along a slew of fantastic scores and soundtracks, and while many captured our ear and heart, only a handful are held dear. Here’s our picks for the best film scores from last year!
5: Mica Levi, Zola
The whimsical, dreamlike score from Mica Levi creates a wonderful harmony with Zola'‘s tone and lush visuals. It’s like a hypnotic lullaby, playful and cutesy, but it’s also bubbles with an ominous energy that underscores the feverish nightmare. Levi’s array of harps, organ, music box, strings and synth cast quite the spell on the viewer. Just give the opening plucks of “Wanna Hear a Story?,” and you’ll see precisely what we mean.
4: Robert Levon Been, The Card Counter
Just as his father did in Light Sleeper, Robert Levon Been creates a moody, atmospheric score for Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter. He captures the ominous pulse and purgatorial swagger of the film perfectly from its title sequence all the way through to its incredible end credits track. Been doubly delivers here, creating an album of film score and one of original songs. The film’s final track, “Mercy of Man,” is our absolute favorite though. Combined with the film’s final image, Been’s track makes for a powerfully touching finale.
3: Hans Zimmer, Dune
Zimmer really outdid himself on his score for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. His arrangements are the backbone of the film, and much of the film’s 2.5-hour runtime is underscored by Zimmer’s compositions. They become a character and give epic scope of Villeneuve’s vision an operatic touch. Mixing elements of World with the otherworldly, Zimmer creates a fresh sound that sets a proper mood, amplifies the film’s lyrically hypnotic qualities, and thunders through the speakers.
2: Jonny Greenwood, The Power Of The Dog // Spencer
We love to bend the rules when we can, so we’re stuffing in both of Jonny Greenwood’s film scores into one slot. Like always, Greenwood manages to capture a feeling that goes well beyond mood; he gives viewers and aural gateway that glimpses right into the psyches of its central characters. His range as a musician continues to astound us. Since he first came into film score with Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood, he’s never really let us down, and that continues to be the case. Spencer and The Power Of The Dog are perfect examples of his continued success.
Here’s a several others that we loved that wound up on the cutting room floor:
In The Earth
C’mon C’’mon
Without further delay, our favorite score of 2021 is…
1: Bo Burnham, INSIDE
From bangers about Jeff Bezos to sexting, and White women’s Instagram to FaceTiming with you mom, the tracks on Bo Burnham’s INSIDE will make you want to get your fucking hands up. An hour-long double album, INSIDE is more than just a comedy album; it’s catchy, electronic-heavy pop that you’ll want to spin for more than a laugh. There’s not really a bad song in the bunch, too. They land with varying degrees of success, but it’s consistent in what it delivers. “All Eyes On Me,” “FaceTiming with my Mom,” and “That Funny Feeling” are a few of our favorites.
What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!