Rushmore: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

Various Artists - Soundtracks - 1998, Mark Mothersbaugh

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 2, 1999)
• Original Release Date: February 2, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Fontana London
• ASIN: B00000HZPY
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,923 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Rushmore soundtrack manages to pleasantly skirt the line between sentiment and sentimentality with a nuanced, eminently listenable combo of score and song. The songs mostly blend raw, adolescent urges and insecurity with an awkward grace. Though composed primarily of popular music from the 1960s, none of the selections is a hit of the expected Big Chill variety. In fact, compiler Randall Poster proves himself a '60s pop connoisseur, including little-known gems such as Cat Stevens's buoyant, hummable "Here Comes My Baby" (covered by Yo La Tengo on Fakebook) and the Who 's revved-up, intentionally silly proto-opera "A Quick One While He's Away." The bossa nova folk-pop of Unit 4+2's "Concrete & Clay" is lovingly contrasted by the Creation's blistering, feedback-enhanced hit-that-never-was "Making Time." Devo founder Mark Mothersbaugh's incidental music is nothing short of delightful, but the Rugrats composer clearly comes by whimsy easily. The intriguing thing about Mothersbaugh's score--seven snippets from which are sprinkled throughout the disc--is that it complements the archival tunes while combining Beethoven-lite flourishes and jazzy instrumentation with percolating mod keyboards. Like the film itself, this soundtrack is an inspired, left-field effort, and it's difficult to plot out its many charms. --Mike McGonigal

Entertainment Weekly

For anyone who left the theater singing along to the Faces' "Ooh La La," it's an essential soundtrack.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Missing Songs Found!!!, January 29, 2005

By	D. J. Dobiecki (Livermore, Ca) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love this album passionately, so let me start off by saying that.
Anyway, the only missing songs (and probably some of the best) on the album are "I am Waiting" by the Rolling Stones, and "Jersey Thursday" by Donovan. "I am Waiting" was playing when the 3 main characters (Max, Mrs. Cross, and Mr. Blume) were all sitting down to their own dinner. "Jersey Thursday" was playing when Max was burning the leaves on the lawn at Rushmore. Just thought I'd add that in.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "You are forgiven" = "A Quick One While He's Away", January 21, 2005

By	Henry VanLoon - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I would just like to reply to Antigraphy's review. The Who track to which you refer ("You Are Forgiven") is actually the very last section of the track provided on this disc, "A Quick One While He's Away." This song is a long, multisectional piece which ends in the cascading chorus of "you are forgiven" that was heard in the film.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Most Diverse and Pleasing Soundtracks Ever, November 11, 2004

By	K. Brown "El Rudo Lucky Pierre!" (Walnut, Ca USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

First off, the first track on this album, "Hardest Geometry Problem in the World" is what turned me on to the awesome musical talent of former Devo member Mark Mothersbaugh. It's a short but beautiful instrumental piece that introduces the film. Call me crazy, but the brief instrumentals by Mothersbaugh by themselves are worth the price of this CD. But in case you aren't into Mark Mothersbaugh, the rest of this CD is top notch, no filler!

This is a diverse collection of songs ranging from mellow to mid-energizing, ranging from folk-pop artists like Chad & Jeremy and Cat Stevens to classic British rock The Who & The Kinks. I could probably best describe this as a great rainy day album. This collection is simultaneously relaxing and stirring. Tracks like "Concrete and Clay" pick up the relaxed pace, but never go into a Ramones-paced overdrive (though Ramones are great for when you want to jumpstart your senses!)

Lastly, if you have never seen the movie "Rushmore," it is a must see!