While Wade MacNeil is busy again with Alexisonfire, the Hamilton musician has also recently been trying his hand at film scoring. In fact, his debut effort as soundtrack composer has just arrived, and you can stream the complete soundtrack to The Ranger now.
MacNeil contributed several works to the soundtrack alongside Andrew Gordon MacPherson. In addition, there are a pair of songs by MacNeil's Black Lungs project, as well as a pile of punk rippers by the likes of the Avengers, Rotten UK, Dayglo Abortions, FANG and more.
The Ranger is directed by Jenn Wexler and stars Chloë Levine, Jeremy Holm, Granit Lahu, Jeremy Pope, Bubba Weiler and Amanda Grace Benitez. It originally debut as SXSW in 2018, but it can be streamed on various platforms now, including Shudder.
Following a group of young punks on the run from the cops, The Ranger tells the story of "an unhinged park ranger with an axe to grind."
The soundtrack was just released digitally, and you can check it out below. It's also available to order as a double-LP vinyl set via Creep Records. The OST is available on both black and coloured pink vinyl.
Providing much more insight on the soundtrack, The Ranger music supervisor Middagh Goodwin shared the following statement:
In many ways, the Ranger like its soundtrack is forty years in the making. Jenn Wexler and Giaco Furino story set in 1980 dreamland draw inspiration from classic horror movies from the '80s and '90s. The songs used in the Ranger, span four decades from the Authorities 1979 to The Polyester Wags 2018. The music was curated to act as a supporting cast member, helping to drive the pacing and momentum of the film. The songs chosen were not because they were hits or by well-known artists, instead picked because they fit the mood and pacing of the scene.
In true DIY fashion, a call was put out to see which bands wanted to let us use their "babies" to be part of an Indie Slasher Film with the next great American Punk Rock Soundtrack in the vein of Repo-Man or Return of the Living Dead. The response was amazing and soon we had more songs then we could ever hope to use. There were a few bands that Wexler really wanted, so I wrote to them some I was friends which made it easier others we had to court to finalize using their music. Two such bands were The Avengers and Fang. There were others that unfortunately due to time constraints or issues with who owned syncing and publishing rights we were not able to acquire. Maybe we will see them on the Return of the Ranger.
The Bud Perry and Ronnie Masters songs almost didn't make it onto this release. Wexler licensed the rights to use in the film but not elsewhere. It took some time, and several rabbit holes were gone down to track down and receive the consent to use those tracks. Unfortunately, Bud Perry had passed away. By digging, I was able to get in touch with his grandson Chris Perry who was able to put me in touch with Bud's manager and Co-Writer of the song. Harry Eckert and the Perry estate were more than thrilled to sign off. Next, I had to find not just Ron Masters but Roy Ownbey who wrote and owned the publishing. I tracked Ron down through a family member on Facebook, and he had two emails for Roy, one of which was current. Both Roy and Ron were more than happy to sign off and give these songs a new lease on life.
It was very critical to all of us involved that the OST release was complete. We know the value that these songs have and the importance to share them all with you. On this release, you have 20 songs performed by 15 artists spanning 40 years. We encourage you to go out and pick up the records by all these great acts some you might have to dig deep just like us to find, but in the end, we are sure you will be thrilled you did.
Along with the 20 songs, there are 12 tracks for the score along with the 2 Black Lungs songs, written and recorded by Wade McNeil and Andrew Macpherson specifically for the movie. That is a ridiculous amount of music to be used in any film let alone an independent.
Thanks to the Avengers, The Authorities, Dayglo Abortions, FANG, The GRIM, The Atom Age, Rotten UK, Black Lungs, The NERV, Bud Perry, Ronnie Masters, The Lobstrosities, The Polyester Wags, Shayfer James, Charlie Rich and all the other bands that were behind us on this project.
The Ranger (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack):
1. "The Most Beautiful Girl" – Charlie Rich
2. "Animal Sacrifice" – Rotten UK
3. "Long Kiss Goodbye" – Rotten UK
4. "Siouxsie Sioux" – Rotten UK
5. "Dark Times" – Rotten UK
6. "Two Dollars and a Dime" – Shayfer James
7. "Blood Blood Blood" – Black Lungs
8. "Cop Killer" – The Grim
9. "Teenage Rebel" – The Avengers
10. "The Days Never End (And the Nights Keep Coming Too Soon)" – Ronnie Masters
11. "Stockton (Full of Gold)" – The Polyester Wags
12. "It's a Mess" – The Atom Age
13. "We Die Alone" – FANG
14. "Shot in the Head" -The Authorities
15. "Truth Be Told" – The Nerv
16. "Walkin on My Grave" – Black Lungs
17. "I Used to Be in Love" – Dayglo Abortions
18. "Gasher" – The Lobstrosities
19. "Alone Again" – Bud Perry
20. "The Good the Bad and the Kowalskis" – The Avengers
21. "Pigs Is Pigs" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
22. "Summer of Hate" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
23. "Lake Eerie" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
24. "Germs Burn" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
25. "Chaos Is a Ladder" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
26. "World Turned Upside Down" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
27. "Blood in the Dirt" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
28. "Rusted Shut" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
29. "Jerk Store" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
30. "Autopsy of the American Dream" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
31. "A Darker Place" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
32. "Little Wolf Attacks" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
MacNeil contributed several works to the soundtrack alongside Andrew Gordon MacPherson. In addition, there are a pair of songs by MacNeil's Black Lungs project, as well as a pile of punk rippers by the likes of the Avengers, Rotten UK, Dayglo Abortions, FANG and more.
The Ranger is directed by Jenn Wexler and stars Chloë Levine, Jeremy Holm, Granit Lahu, Jeremy Pope, Bubba Weiler and Amanda Grace Benitez. It originally debut as SXSW in 2018, but it can be streamed on various platforms now, including Shudder.
Following a group of young punks on the run from the cops, The Ranger tells the story of "an unhinged park ranger with an axe to grind."
The soundtrack was just released digitally, and you can check it out below. It's also available to order as a double-LP vinyl set via Creep Records. The OST is available on both black and coloured pink vinyl.
Providing much more insight on the soundtrack, The Ranger music supervisor Middagh Goodwin shared the following statement:
In many ways, the Ranger like its soundtrack is forty years in the making. Jenn Wexler and Giaco Furino story set in 1980 dreamland draw inspiration from classic horror movies from the '80s and '90s. The songs used in the Ranger, span four decades from the Authorities 1979 to The Polyester Wags 2018. The music was curated to act as a supporting cast member, helping to drive the pacing and momentum of the film. The songs chosen were not because they were hits or by well-known artists, instead picked because they fit the mood and pacing of the scene.
In true DIY fashion, a call was put out to see which bands wanted to let us use their "babies" to be part of an Indie Slasher Film with the next great American Punk Rock Soundtrack in the vein of Repo-Man or Return of the Living Dead. The response was amazing and soon we had more songs then we could ever hope to use. There were a few bands that Wexler really wanted, so I wrote to them some I was friends which made it easier others we had to court to finalize using their music. Two such bands were The Avengers and Fang. There were others that unfortunately due to time constraints or issues with who owned syncing and publishing rights we were not able to acquire. Maybe we will see them on the Return of the Ranger.
The Bud Perry and Ronnie Masters songs almost didn't make it onto this release. Wexler licensed the rights to use in the film but not elsewhere. It took some time, and several rabbit holes were gone down to track down and receive the consent to use those tracks. Unfortunately, Bud Perry had passed away. By digging, I was able to get in touch with his grandson Chris Perry who was able to put me in touch with Bud's manager and Co-Writer of the song. Harry Eckert and the Perry estate were more than thrilled to sign off. Next, I had to find not just Ron Masters but Roy Ownbey who wrote and owned the publishing. I tracked Ron down through a family member on Facebook, and he had two emails for Roy, one of which was current. Both Roy and Ron were more than happy to sign off and give these songs a new lease on life.
It was very critical to all of us involved that the OST release was complete. We know the value that these songs have and the importance to share them all with you. On this release, you have 20 songs performed by 15 artists spanning 40 years. We encourage you to go out and pick up the records by all these great acts some you might have to dig deep just like us to find, but in the end, we are sure you will be thrilled you did.
Along with the 20 songs, there are 12 tracks for the score along with the 2 Black Lungs songs, written and recorded by Wade McNeil and Andrew Macpherson specifically for the movie. That is a ridiculous amount of music to be used in any film let alone an independent.
Thanks to the Avengers, The Authorities, Dayglo Abortions, FANG, The GRIM, The Atom Age, Rotten UK, Black Lungs, The NERV, Bud Perry, Ronnie Masters, The Lobstrosities, The Polyester Wags, Shayfer James, Charlie Rich and all the other bands that were behind us on this project.
The Ranger (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack):
1. "The Most Beautiful Girl" – Charlie Rich
2. "Animal Sacrifice" – Rotten UK
3. "Long Kiss Goodbye" – Rotten UK
4. "Siouxsie Sioux" – Rotten UK
5. "Dark Times" – Rotten UK
6. "Two Dollars and a Dime" – Shayfer James
7. "Blood Blood Blood" – Black Lungs
8. "Cop Killer" – The Grim
9. "Teenage Rebel" – The Avengers
10. "The Days Never End (And the Nights Keep Coming Too Soon)" – Ronnie Masters
11. "Stockton (Full of Gold)" – The Polyester Wags
12. "It's a Mess" – The Atom Age
13. "We Die Alone" – FANG
14. "Shot in the Head" -The Authorities
15. "Truth Be Told" – The Nerv
16. "Walkin on My Grave" – Black Lungs
17. "I Used to Be in Love" – Dayglo Abortions
18. "Gasher" – The Lobstrosities
19. "Alone Again" – Bud Perry
20. "The Good the Bad and the Kowalskis" – The Avengers
21. "Pigs Is Pigs" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
22. "Summer of Hate" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
23. "Lake Eerie" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
24. "Germs Burn" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
25. "Chaos Is a Ladder" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
26. "World Turned Upside Down" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
27. "Blood in the Dirt" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
28. "Rusted Shut" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
29. "Jerk Store" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
30. "Autopsy of the American Dream" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
31. "A Darker Place" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
32. "Little Wolf Attacks" – Wade MacNeil & Andrew Gordon MacPherson
