Drive Movie Soundtrack Download and Review

The Drive movie soundtrack sits prominently amongst the elements of Drive that have critics buzzing. The performances of Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston and Christina Hendricks, as well as Drive’s aesthetics have been critically acclaimed. However, it is perhaps Drive’s soundtrack that makes this film so unique, or at least how the soundtrack blends with what is happening on the screen. The distinctive soundtrack can be described as ethereal electronic-pop. However, the description that immediately comes to most people’s minds is eighties-style synthesiser.

Drive is a movie that builds with almost frustratingly slow, understated and abstract scenes, and then explodes with ultra violence. The Drive soundtrack plays an integral part in building that tension and contributing to the dream-like feeling of the movie.

Most of the Drive movie soundtrack was composed by well-film composer and former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Cliff Martinez. Some of his previous work includes the scores for Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) and Traffic (2000). It was his work on Sex, Lies, and Videotape that had caught the attention of Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn.

The Drive score consists of original Cliff Martinez compositions and music from other artists. "A Real Hero" (feat. Electric Youth) by College in particular is used to great effect.

The Drive movie stars Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman, Oscar Isaac and Albert Brooks. It was directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, who was selected by Ryan Gosling, who had been a fan of his previous work. Drive was produced by Michel Litvak, John Palermo, Marc Platt, Gigi Pritzker and Adam Siegel. It has been assumed that it is a remake of 1978’s The Driver. However it is actually based on Drive by James Sallis, which was published in 2005. Hossein Amini adapted the novel into a screenplay.

Drive follows on a ‘driver with no name’, usually referred to as ‘kid’, played by Ryan Gosling. He is a stunt driver and mechanic by day and a getaway driver at night. He operates with a strict set of guidelines he has written for himself and insists his clients abide by. These include non-involvement with his clients’ crimes, not carrying a gun and not continuing any relationship with his clients following the getaway. He becomes entwined in the lives of a young mother and son who live across the hall from him. When her husband is released from prison the driver with no name soon begins making exceptions to his set of rules, with violent repercussions.

Drive has been marketed as a big budget action movie, similar to the films in the Fast and Furious franchise, which is how the movie had originally been intended. However, the movie is much more abstract, almost art house, in comparison to that. That expectation has caused some dissonance amongst movie goers who felt the movie was falsely advertised. However, the film has received almost universal praise from critics, many of who put it amongst their top ten movies of the year.

Lakeshore Records released the Drive movie soundtrack, named Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) on CD on the 27th of September, 2011 following its success as a digital download on iTunes. The Drive soundtrack begins with the film’s notable non-Martinez songs, "Nightcall" (feat. Lovefoxxx) by Kavinsky, "Under Your Spell" by Desire, "A Real Hero" (feat. Electric Youth) by College, "Oh My Love" (feat. Katyna Ranieri) by Riz Ortolani and "Tick of the Clock" by Chromatics. Then there are 14 Cliff Martinez songs starting with "Rubber Head" and "I Drive" and ending with "Bride of Deluxe". While the selection of songs on the Drive soundtrack is suitable, the soundtrack could have been more effective as a listening experience if it had mixed the singles with the Martinez tracks.

Track listing from the 2011 Drive movie soundtrack

Track 1: Nightcall (feat. Lovefoxxx) by Kavinsky (4:19)
Track 2: Under Your Spell by Desire (3:52)
Track 3: A Real Hero (feat. Electric Youth) by College (4:27)
Track 4: Oh My Love (feat. Katyna Ranieri) by Riz Ortolani (2:50)
Track 5: Tick of the Clock by Chromatics (4:48)
Track 6: Rubber Head by Cliff Martinez (3:08)
Track 7: I Drive by Cliff Martinez (2:03)
Track 8: He Had a Good Time by Cliff Martinez (1:37)
Track 9: They Broke His Pelvis by Cliff Martinez (1:58)
Track 10: Kick Your Teeth by Cliff Martinez (2:40)
Track 11: Where’s the Deluxe Version? by Cliff Martinez (5:32)
Track 12: See You in Four by Cliff Martinez (2:37)
Track 13: After the Chase by Cliff Martinez (5:25)
Track 14: Hammer by Cliff Martinez (4:44)
Track 15: Wrong Floor by Cliff Martinez (1:31)
Track 16: Skull Crushing by Cliff Martinez (5:57)
Track 17: My Name on a Car by Cliff Martinez (2:19)
Track 18: On the Beach by Cliff Martinez (5:57)
Track 19: Bride of Deluxe by Cliff Martinez (3:57)

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Drive Soundtrack Hub Table of Contents:

1. Drive Soundtrack
2. Drive Movie Trailer
3. Drive Movie
4. Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
5. Drive Soundtrack Tracklisting
6. Movie Soundtrack Links
7. Drive Movie Posters
8. Film Soundtrack Hubs
9. Drive Soundtrack Poll
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