Whiplash (2014)

Whiplash

• This is legitimately one of the greatest soundtracks of all time. I would easily put it in my top 10 of greatest soundtrack recorded, as well as one of my personal favorites. Justin Hurwitz put together such an awesome, bouncy score. The overall jazz sound is super authentic, as well as contributed a huge amount to the actual movie. When I first watched Whiplash, I knew the presence of jazz would definitely draw me in. But sitting down and hearing the score was a whole nother experience. You can hear each and every instrument constantly. The drums are also a huge factor in the music, and if you’ve seen the movie, then you’ll know what I’m talking about. This is one where you have to listen to it for yourself to fully understand the sound it has, so I’ll keep this review shorter than usual. But I will point out a few of my favorite songs. “Overture” is fantastic, and the first time I heard it, I fell in love. It has the classic tap-your-foot sound, which is exactly what I like. “Too Hip to Retire” and “Fletcher’s Song In Club” also have the same sound, though they are both unique in their own ways. “Whiplash” is also phenomenal, and maybe my favorite song on the soundtrack. And the soundtrack is so great because of how much the movie relies on it. Like I say, “the music makes the movie”, and in this case, the movie doesn’t exist without this immaculate score. Justin Hurwitz just kills it, and he really blew my mind in every way with the easy going beauty of the music. Even if you’ve never seen Whiplash, anyone can still enjoy this album. I would HIGHLY recommend it to all jazz lovers. Even if you don’t like jazz, it’s still special, and can be enjoyed by anyone who loves a constant, upbeat tune. I really appreciate the musicians, as they put a lot of work and effort into this soundtrack. This soundtrack is officially Berry Approved, so go listen to it now!