Best Soundtracks of 2011: 'Drive,' 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,' 'The Muppets' and More

Honestly, this album should have made the top 11. However, it's hard to consider the 'Gnomeo and Juliet' record a soundtrack when it essentially doubles as Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume 1. It would be too easy. So, let's just say this thing gets the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award for Soundtracks

Yes, an album with a Britney Spears song is on the list. No matter what your opinion is of Brit-Brit, it's hard to deny the sheer amount of talent on the 'Bridesmaids' soundtrack: Fiona Apple, Blondie, Wanda Jackson, Ryan Adams, Smokey Robinson, Kate Nash and -- of course -- Wilson Phillips all make appearances. This album is the perfect background music for watching a bunch of ladies hilariously (and sloppily) celebrate someone's wedding. 

Track Listing
1. Hold On (Wilson Philips)
2. Rip Her to Shreds (Blondie)
3. Blister In The Sun (Nouvelle Vague)
4. Paper Bag (Fiona Apple)
5. Do Wah Doo (Kate Nash)
6. I've Just Begun (Having My Fun) (Britney Spears)
7. My Love Is Your Love (Smokey Robinson)
8. It's Raining (Inara George)
9. Violet (Hole)
10. Answering Bell (Ryan Adams)
11. Boogaloo Annie (Michael Andrews)
12. Shakin' All Over (Wanda Jackson)

This Ron Howard-directed film was only a modest box office success (seriously, Vince Vaughn? Another buddy comedy?), but that doesn't mean the soundtrack for 'The Dilemma' was a snoozer. Featuring a boatload of ass-kicking rock songs from bands both old (KISS, The Band) and new (The Black Keys, Wolfmother), 'The Dilemma' soundtrack was a lot more interesting that its movie.

Probably the only top 10 list 'Sucker Punch' will be making this year (excluding 'Worst Films'), the soundtrack for the Zack Snyder-directed movie was, to put it mildly, bizarre -- in a good way, that is: Actress Emily Browning covering the Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' and the Pixies' 'Where Is My Mind,' Alison Mosshart singing the Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows,' a song by Bjork remixed by Bjork. Yes, it was odd, but, somehow, it worked.

You probably have not heard of this movie. It received awful reviews and made nothing at the box office. But that doesn't matter for this list! The soundtrack for 'The Art of Getting By' had a collection of pleasant indie covers -- Mates of State doing Belle and Sebastian's 'Sleep the Clock Around,' and The Shins covering the Postal Service's 'We Will Become Silhouettes' -- and even threw in Leonard Cohen's 'Winter Lady,' just for the hell of it. It was a win-win all around (except for the movie -- that was actually the opposite of a win).

Cameron Crowe decided to switch things up for his latest film, opting for one rock star with new songs instead of a variety of rock stars with old ones. Enlisting the help of Jonsi from the band Sigur Ros, the director ended up with 15 cohesive, haunting originals from the Icelandic frontman. For a Cameron Crowe movie, you'd expect nothing less than a stellar soundtrack, and that's exactly what viewers got.

If the trailer for 'Like Crazy' didn't make you openly weep, this soundtrack will, which has plenty of lovelorn tracks from Paul Simon, M83, Stars and Asobi Seksu. Bonus points go to Dustin O'Harlloran, for his subtle compositions interspersed throughout the album.

Most of this soundtrack would likely be considered a score, especially since the only official "song from the motion picture" on it is a cover of Led Zeppelin's 'Immigrant Song' by Karen O and Trent Reznor. However, it's hard to ignore Reznor's composition -- his second for Fincher, the first being 'The Social Network,' which he won an Oscar for -- whose dissonent tones and light piano strikes fit in perfectly with the movie's freezing Swedish countryside setting. As for 'Immigrant Song'? Reznor and Karen deserve a list of their own for (almost) reinventing a rock staple.

This year's 'Green Album' -- a record of Muppet cover songs by groups like Weezer and the All-American Rejects -- was terrific. But the official 'Muppets' soundtrack was what really stole the show. The album includes the insanely catchy opening tune, 'Life's a Happy Song,' as well as a rendition of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' by the Muppets Barbershop Quartet. And don't forget everyone's favorite: 'Rainbow Connection,' a song that will make even the toughest person curl up into a ball and cry. 

Before it blew up on the 'Drive' soundtrack, the song 'Nightcall' by Kavinsky and Lovefoxxx was used in 'The Lincoln Lawyer,' starring Matthew McConaughey (the two films also shared a composer in Cliff Martinez; perhaps he suggested using 'Nightcall' to 'Drive' director Nicolas Winding Refn?). The eclectic soundtrack for this film also features a variety of soul, hip-hop, contemporary R&B and rock tracks, such as 'Ain't No Love In the Heart of the City' by Bobby 'Blue' Bland, 'Moment of Truth' by Gang Starr and '107 Degrees' by Citizen Cope.

Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody's look at a middle-aged train wreck trying to date her now-married high school sweetheart featured the best soundtrack of alt-rock covers … well, ever. In addition to songs from Teenage Fanclub ('The Concept' factors heavily in 'Young Adult'), The Replacements, Lemonheads, Veruca Salt (remember them?) and 4 Non Blondes, composer Mateo Messinar recorded several loungey instrumental takes on classic '90s tracks such as Pearl Jam's 'Evenflow,' Beck's 'Where It's At' and Soundgarden's 'Black Hole Sun.'

There were complaints (and lawsuits) about the lack of action and explosive car chases in 'Drive,' but the one thing people seemed to agree on was the film's music. (And, hey, when's the last time you actually wanted to buy the soundtrack to a movie?) While 'A Real Hero' by College and the Chromatics' 'Tick of the Clock' were just a few of the highlights, it all came back to the song used during the film's opening scene: Kavinsky & Lovefoxx's 'Nightcall.' As the track blasted through the speakers, Ryan Gosling quietly drove around Los Angeles at night in his Chevelle. It was musical movie bliss, and the perfect example of how a good soundtrack can make or break your movie.