The Milk Crate staff’s favorite tracks of the week, presented with blurbs worthy of a promotional sticker on a jewel case. Tune in Sundays from 5-7 EST to the Staff Pix radio show.

Nia Tucker

Succession (Main Title Theme) – Nicholas Britell (Succession)

If you haven’t watched HBO original Succession yet this is your sign to start. It’s an expert satire on capitalism, corporation and the control of a family patriarch. From the first discordant notes that strike over the opening credits of the show, you get a sense that this is a family that is harmonious in their chaos and sharky behavior. Nicholas Britell is a master at painting an entire story just with a few notes, as seen in his other scores for Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, also known for their emotional strife and intimate family portraits. Aside from the astuteness of the short opening track, it’s also just groovy above all. It has become a cult fan favorite, appearing in a few of my friends top songs of 2020—it’s clear that even outside of the context of the show, Britell knows how to make music that intrigues people and has a moving feel to it. 

Nat Szczepanski

Perfect Day – Hoku (Legally Blonde)

This song perfectly encapsulates that early 2000s feel in my opinion: a rebellious nature mixed with a sort of sickenly sweet optimism. “Perfect Day” also serves as the intro song to the classic movie Legally Blonde (2001). There’s an ungodly amount of pink and and college frat culture on display but isn’t that just was going on at the time? We get a feel for what exactly the movie will entail, as it seeks to define its main character Elle Woods in this nostalgia-driven establishing shot. The song also surprisingly makes use of some distorted guitar and classic pop riffs, while having a steady rhythm section. It sits perfectly in that sweet spot of Pop Rock songs. In my opinion, the only way to listen to this song would be to drive down a sunny road with your top down in some bright red Volkswagen beetle. 

Annie Wojnarowski

Life’s a Bitch – Nas (Fish Tank)

A song used in one of the best fight scenes without actual fighting, the legendary Nas narrates a voiceless dance between mother and daughter in Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank. Line dancing to the music from one end of the room to the other, staring at each other as Nas raps: “Life’s a bitch and then you die”, the film’s conclusion showcases a greatly earned mutual understanding that succeeds without anyone saying a word. One of the best movies of all time, at least to me, Fish Tank takes the prize for one of the best needle drops put to film.

Sarah Fournell

Space Jam – Quad City DJs (Space Jam)

One of my favorite Saturday morning activities is going to yard sales. A few years ago, while I was scouring the streets for sales, I stumbled upon the house of a record collector. His driveway was covered from top to bottom in crates. I was there for about two hours, looking through each crate to find records to add to my collection. In one of the last few crates I struck gold. I found the Space Jam soundtrack on vinyl. I love Space Jam, I think it is so bad and so good at the same time. However, when I flipped the vinyl over, I realized that it was not the soundtrack, but six different edits of the title song “Space Jam.” Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of this becoming my most prized possession, and it was only 50 cents. “Space Jam” by the Quad City DJ’s is the ultimate pump up song.

Kyle Woolery

Everytime – Britney Spears (Spring Breakers)

Spring Breakers contains one of the most memorable and unexpected needle drops in modern cinema. Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine—all wielding rifles and wearing matching hot pink balaclavas, tiger print monokinis, and sweatpants with “DTF” printed on the back—stand around a piano. “Play something inspiring,” they instruct a tattoo-covered, grill-wearing James Franco. He begins playing the opening notes of Britney’s quintessential ballad, “Everytime.” The girls sing along and dance around as the sun sets in the background. What begins as a beautiful, heartfelt serenade quickly transitions into a disturbing montage of senseless violence. Scenes of armed robbery and aggravated assault flash before the audience’s eyes as Britney’s angelic voice continues singing. This juxtaposition is just as peculiar as it is powerful, and it perfectly captures the essence of Spring Breakers.