John Lurie - Stranger Than Paradise OST, Down By Law OST (1984, 1986)

Inspired request from Curry, who claims he can't live without (albeit temporarily flint). We know only too well what he means. Can't count how many times I've seen these films, let alone listened to their soundtracks. I bought both as soon as I they hit the racks (of Round Records in Rogers Park as I recall), and I managed to hold onto them for 25 years. Both are inspired pieces of music that stand well enough alone -- even without the flickering screen to support them -- but Stranger Than Paradise, especially, is a master-fucking-piece-of-work. As I recall, Lurie composed on piano while watching the film, then scored his pieces for a chamber quartet, that was recorded at a church in NYC. This record was a critical soundtrack throughout our college years (for those times when we were actually studying). And even today, when it's dull and white outside, Stranger is the perfect dose of austere cold comfort.
This, for me, is quite simply, the elegant, elegiac essence of sonic melancholia.

Hear Stranger Than Paradise

Hear Down By Law