What you see on screen isn't the only meaningful part of the movie experience. Sometimes, it's not even the most meaningful.

The songs that accompany a film also play a significant role in the assemblage of a quality film. After all, it's quite possible that you'll hear a movie's soundtrack more times than you'll actually see the film.

Sometimes, a soundtrack can be the movie's only saving grace. Honestly, what besides it's soundtrack — featuring tunes from My Chemical Romance, Deftones and Joy Division — was redeemable about the horror flick “House of Wax?” OK, aside from seeing Paris Hilton brutally disposed of on screen.

Other times, a quality soundtrack simply enhances an already quality movie. Take the Zach Braff-directed “Garden State.” Already one of 2004's best films, the movie was elevated by a comparable soundtrack, one that featured songs from Coldplay and Nick Drake.

With that in mind, here are some other great movie soundtracks:

 ‘8 MILE'
Year: 2002
Sound: Rap
Top artists: Eminem, Jay-Z, 50 Cent
Best song: “Lose Yourself,” Eminem
The 210 take: Eminem won an Oscar in the original song category with “Lose Yourself,” but did not show up to accept his award. Instead, he sent a member of his crew, who showed up wearing a throwback jersey. Couldn't he at least have worn one of those tuxedo T-shirts?

‘GARDEN STATE'
Year: 2004
Sound: Indie and folk rock
Top artists: Coldplay, The Shins, Simon & Garfunkel
Best song: “Winding Road,” Bonnie Somerville
The 210 take: Zach Braff won a Grammy for soundtrack compilation, and though we love this album, the fact that “soundtrack compilation” is a Grammy category pretty much sums up our point. Every person, at some point in their life, will more than likely win a Grammy.

‘O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?'
Year: 2000
Sound: Mix of country, blues and gospel
Top artists: Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris
Best song: “Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby,” Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris
The 210 take: This soundtrack was named Album of the Year at the 2001 Grammys and helped revive mainstream interest in bluegrass music. Wait one minute. Wasn't bluegrass always the “in” thing?

‘SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER AND UNCUT'
Year: 1999
Sound: Mostly, cartoon characters singing profanely
Top artists (non-cartoon characters): Kid Rock, Nappy Roots, Trick Daddy
Best song: “Blame Canada,” South Park cast
The 210 take: Foul-mouthed cartoon characters, some of which are children, sing songs with catchy titles like “Uncle F**ka,” “Kyle's Mom's a Bitch,” and the aforementioned “Blame Canada.” We do blame Canada — for Nickelback.

‘SCHOOL OF ROCK'
Year: 2003
Sound: Old-school rock
Top artists: Led Zeppelin, Cream, The Doors
Best song: “My Brain is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg),” The Ramones
The 210 take: The movie, featuring Jack Black, was overrated. The soundtrack, featuring a lot less Jack Black, was underrated. Seeing a connection?

‘SINGLES'
Year: 1992
Sound: Grunge rock
Top artists: Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins
Best song: “Seasons,” Chris Cornell
The 210 take: “Singles” might as well have been called “An Ode to Grunge.” In addition to being set in Seattle, Matt Dillon's fictional band, Citizen Dick, featured three real-life members of Pearl Jam. Ahh, 1992, back when Pearl Jam was still, you know, relevant.

‘PULP FICTION'
Year: 1994
Sound: Surfer with a little bit of soul
Top artists: Al Green, The Statler Brothers, Dusty Springfield
Best song: “Misirlou,” Dick Dale & His Del-Tones
The 210 take: The soundtrack was as solid as the movie.

Clint Hale | 210SA