Various – The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (Original Soundtrack) (2xLP)

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (Original Soundtrack) is a richly eclectic collection that mirrors Wes Anderson’s singular cinematic world. Featuring score excerpts by Mark Mothersbaugh and Sven Libaek alongside classic rock and surprise covers, the soundtrack moves effortlessly between whimsical, mournful, and rousing. Highlights include Seu Jorge’s intimate Portuguese covers of David Bowie songs, which bring a new emotional depth to familiar material, and instrumentals like “Shark Attack Theme” and “Open Sea Theme,” which conjure underwater horizons and narrative tension. What makes this soundtrack stand out is its ability to transcend just being “music from a movie.” The juxtaposition of playful score, folk-inflected covers, and bold rock cuts gives it a narrative arc of its own. It’s not simply background — it’s a companion to the film’s mood and imagery, one that rewards repeated listening beyond the screen.

Reviews

“The Life Aquatic splits its time between excerpts from the score that are almost too cute, and old rock songs that sound even better than you remembered.” – Pitchfork

“The soundtrack is more exotic and divisive than even The Royal Tenenbaums … the prince of Bowie songs here is the Portuguese singer-actor Seu Jorge, whose versions strike like gentle fragments of cinematic poetry.” – Electronicsound

“Seu Jorge’s contributions are the only reason this soundtrack truly deserves attention — his stripped Bowie covers are intimate and quietly astonishing.” – Stylus Magazine