Garden State, the indie movie written, directed and starring Zach Braff (the star of Scrubs) has been getting good reviews for this debut effort (even here). I haven't seen the movie yet, but I have listened to the soundtrack album, and as you can see from the teaser trailer for the movie, set to the song "Let Go" by Frou Frou, the music is more than a bunch of wannabe pop hits sprinkled through the movie, but an important part.

This album is Zach Braff's mix tape which I imagine he made for Natalie Portman, and you get a feel for the movie just from the song selection. Instead of the movie serving as a promotional effort for an album, the songs support the movie. This compilation is a really good listening experience, though largely mopey singer-songwriter material, if you are in the mood for that sort of thing.

The album includes: Coldplay - Don't Panic / The Shins - Caring Is Creepy / Zero 7 - In The Waiting Line / Colin Hay - I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You / Cary Brothers - Blue Eyes / Remy Zero - Fair / Nick Drake - One Of These Things First / Thievery Corporation - Lebanese Blonde / Simon & Garfunkel - The Only Living Boy In New York / Iron and Wine - Such Great Heights / Frou Frou - Let Go / Bonnie Somerville - Winding Road

Even if you haven't seen the movie, the soundtrack compilation stands on its own as an interesting album, reminding me of the soundtracks to Rushmore and The Big Lebowski, where the music really complimented the movie and was a good playlist (really ties the room together, so to speak).

As an added bonus, Zach Braff has a blog promoting Garden State, and it is honest, funny and real, no astro-turf.