If we're talking scores, there's a ton that I love. My top three have always been Tangerine Dream's
Legend, Goblin's
Susperia and Danny Elfman's
Edward Scissorhands. Or rather, those are the three that made me want to make film music...I think Elfman has surpassed that a few times (the Big Fish was amazing). Kamen's
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is another favorite (and the first album I bought with my own money!) James Newton Howard's
Signs doesn't get enough cred though his
Hunger Games scores have been amazing too. And, of course, Howard Shore's Tolkien work is inspiring, and Williams'
Star Wars and
Indiana Jones were pretty much the music of my childhood. Vangelis'
Blade Runner...I could go on forever!
As far as collections of songs used in the movie,
The Crow takes the cake for me (
Hideaway was another good choice for 90s goth/industrial). Can't go wrong with
Grosse Point Blank or
Donnie Darko for throwbacks (or
The Breakfast Club for being a part of the era). I also have a soft spot for most Kevin Smith soundtracks (
Mallrats features one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands - Belly's "Broken") and going a bit more old-school,
The Wicker Man soundtrack really got me interested in traditional folk music. Once again, I could go on and on....
Not so much a composer thing, but
Sucker Punch had a soundtrack filled with covers of great songs. Even if you think the movie blows (which it doesn't
), the album itself is awesome.
You and I agree on that film, though I accept that many people don't.