I love music almost as much as I love movies. Here are some the movies that either shaped the way I love music or just flat are great uses of music in movies and one just totally awesome flick.

Eddie and The Cruisers: “Words and music” A lesson that has stayed with me to this very day. I can sit and listen to the music from this movie any time. On the Darkside was one of those songs you know as soon as you hear the first few notes.

This is Spinal Tap: Every band ever has a Spinal Tap Story. I own and bought it with pride. I even dig the music. Spinal Tap is one of those flicks that any time you see it’s on you will finish watching it even if it’s half over.

Rocky Horror Picture Show: I love this movie. Tim Curry makes men everywhere question their sexuality. Then you have everything that goes with properly viewing this movie in a theater and you understand why so few theaters will ever agree to show the flick.

Across the Universe: I love The Beatles and I love the time period. This is 2 requirements to enjoy this movie. I own it and I watch it about once every 2 weeks or so.  I never get tired of it.  I know so many of you that disagree.

Xanadu: I love Electric Light Orchestra. E.L.O. wrote some great music for this movie. Then they had to go and fuck it up and use Olivia Newton John. I am also a sucker for anything with Gene Kelly.  Blame my mom for that.  I grew up watching old movies with her on the weekends which gave me quite the education in the old song and dance flicks.

Grease: Shut it. I don’t care. I will sit and watch this flick any time it’s on just because it is such a part of my childhood and this is my list.

A Mighty Wind: So the guys from Spinal Tap are up to their old tricks again. This time with Folk music.  Eugene Levy made this movie great. That man has never and probably will never get the credit he is due as a comedic actor. I dug the musical number sin this flick. They made it a lot of fun to watch.

Crossroads: I love the blues. This movie was my first introduction to the blues as a kid. Forget who’s in it and just sit back and watch it for the guitar work. There is a scene where Steve Vai plays some amazing stuff and then makes a mistake. If you look at the sheet music, the exact mistake is written into the music. Now that’s good.

The Wall: Pink Floyd rules all except one.

American Pop: If you love music then watch this fucking movie now. It follows the progression of popular music from the 20’s to the 80’s through one family of repeatedly failed musicians. They failed not because they were not good but because of the personal demons faced by each generation. This movie is an experience in music that is second to none. I forgot to mention it’s an animated flick. Same type of animation as Heavy Metal. Heavy Metal is another one you have to see at least once.

Honorable mentions on this one include, Rock and Rule, Metalocalypse (Cartoon on cartoon network), Almost Famous, Tommy, The Return of Spinal Tap, Eddie and the Cruisers 2, and Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny, Little shop of Horrors, The Glenn Miller Story and The Commitments. I am sure their are others that I missed so help me out with finishing this list off and leave some comments. Have fun kids.