Label Review: My Love Affair with Lakeshore Records

By: Lee H | in: Movies, Music |

Lakeshore

I’ll start off by saying that I’ve never been a big fan of movie soundtracks. This is mainly because they’re usually just a reason for record labels to shove their lesser known artist down your throat. A lot of the time they don’t have anything to do with the movie and they are usually 90% filler with one or two good songs. The only saving grace for me has been Lakeshore Records, the independent music division of the production company Lakeshore Entertainment. Not only do they put out great movies (Napoleon Dynamite, Little Miss Sunshine, Nacho Libre) they also put out great soundtracks to accompany them.

napoleon dynamite

The critics might have loved Half Nelson but I thought they could have gone deeper with the story. Nevertheless the soundtrack is one of the most eclectic blends of credible hip-hop and rock that I’ve heard in a while. I could say the same thing for the Smokin’ Aces Soundtrack. Ditto for The Last Kiss. Even a movie that might be good but I probably won’t see like Disturbia(obvious “Rear Window” rip off) has great songs by Nada Surf, Guster and Buckcherry.

Disturbia

It’s obvious that they go out of their way to create something worthwhile rather than slap a bunch of songs together. The perfect example is the soundtrack for the upcoming movie Superbad. The movie itself is a coming-of-age tale about two socially inept teenage boys about to graduate high school and their last hurrah before they go off to separate colleges. If that sounds kind of lame keep in mind that this is a Judd Apatow film (40- Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and some of the best TV shows to ever get canceled) and it stars Jonah Hill (Knocked up) and Michael Cera who played George Michael Bluth in Arrested Development (speaking of great shows that got canceled.) Seeing as the movie is about two socially challenged white kids trying to be cool, what better music to use than… Funk. But not just any generic Funk that you’d hear at ammeter night at your local bar. How about Funk provided by some of the originators of the genera? The one and only Bootsy Collins along with other former members of James Brown’s back up band the JB’s make the score an exciting listen.

Superbad Movie

Lakeshore records also has an iTunes video podcast that features interviews with composers from movies like Reign Over Me (another great soundtrack) Underworld(surprisingly good soundtrack) and Year of the Dog as well as music videos from artist like Imogen Heap and Rhymfest.

Sure the label does have its own collection of artists like Nicolai Dunger and Grandaddy but for the most part it’s all about the soundtracks. At least it is for me.

Till the End of Time by DeVotchka from the Little Miss Sunshine Soundtrack

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Posted on July 14, 2007

Comments

4 Responses to “Label Review: My Love Affair with Lakeshore Records”

Rustycat on July 14th, 2007 5:03 am

Great post Lee!
I think people should get to know labels more often. We usually become fans of specific artists rather than companies or labels, but I think a lot of people will discover that following a label’s work is more rewarding - content wise.

Ipodwheels @Auto Parts For Brains on July 14th, 2007 8:18 am

I think that it runs both ways. I feel safe on following artists though, because to generalize sometimes runs the risk of misjudging something just because it is carried on a label that has been proven to provide really good stuff. To know which labels are awesome kinda works as well, like knowing where to look for the next cool hit. saves time and manages expectations is what it does.

By the way guys, I have to say that this new look for the site is awesome. I think I will miss the bulb that usually greets me, though. I have learned to know that header, you know, like familiar territory, like a home. This is great. And like what I have said before, I like that you guys do graphics in panoramic crops. It is just freakin cool. I have actually used that a few times on my blog.

Keep on growing and rockin and makin me smile.