Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix, Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Various Artists
By reprogramming them in an unexpected setting, this superhero film refreshes some of the most deliciously familiar radio hits of all time. The gleeful fun of this Marvel blockbuster is enhanced with a soundtrack that goes from glam rock (David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream”) to power pop (Raspberries’ “Go All the Way”) and R&B (Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” The Five Stairsteps’ “O-o-h Child”). Even a well-worn riff like Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky” sounds brand-new when set against an outer-space adventure starring a talking raccoon.