Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Soundtrack Power Rankings For Writers

Some writers know this already, but the film soundtracks of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are the best music to write to. They’re synth-y, mood-y, and most importantly, NOT DISTRACTING.

When I write, I tend to listen to the whole album from first track to last. Then switch to a different soundtrack after that one is finished.

Here is my ranking of their best soundtracks to write to and the best track in each score.

1. The Social Network — “In Motion”
2. Vietnam War — “What Comes Back”
3. Gone Girl — “Procedural”
4. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo — “Please Take Your Hand Away”
5. Bird Box — “Sleep Deprivation”
6. Patriots Day — “We Forget Who We Are”
7. Mid90s — “The Start of Things”
8. Before The Flood (with Mogwai and Gustavo Santaolalla) — “One Perfect Moment”

And here is some other excellent non-Reznor/Ross music to write to, in no particular order:

• First Man soundtrack — Justin Hurwitz
• Under The Skin soundtrack — Mica Levi
• Memoryhouse — Max Richter
• The Brandenburg Concerto — Johann Sebastian Bach
• Anything by Hans Zimmer, but especially Interstellar and Inception
• Final Fantasy VII soundtrack

What music do you write to?