The Killing Them Softly soundtrack includes slow-paced oldies to cite a more innocent time in the United States. Thematically, Andrew Dominik's 2012 crime thriller suggests that America is a "business" and not a "community," and uses the 2008 financial crisis/presidential election as a narrative backdrop to deconstruct the characters' collective decisions. The featured music in Killing Them Softly - currently streaming on Netflix - stylizes the most brutal moments.
In Killing Them Softly, hitman Jackie Coogan (Brad Pitt) attempts to clean up a mess after two low-level criminals (Scoot McNairy as Frankie and Ben Mendelsohn as Russell) rob another underworld figure (Ray Liotta as Markie Trattman). Jackie takes a no-nonsense approach when negotiating with a mobster known as Driver (Richard Jenkins), but admits that he doesn't enjoy the up-close-and-personal aspect of his job. So, Jackie prefers to "kill them softly" by keeping a comfortable distance. He also keeps a close eye on the competition.
Killing Them Softly doesn't immediately begin with familiar music, but rather establishes a specific mood through visceral realism as criminals plot against each other. When the first mainstream song arrives, it's to boost the introduction of a major American movie star. The rest of Killing Them Softly's songs underscore pivotal character moments, which usually involve at least one man losing his grip on the American Dream. Here's every featured song on the Killing Them Softly soundtrack:
"Dosruk" - Carl Stone
"The Man Comes Around" - Johnny Cash
"Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" - Jack Hylton and His Orchestra
"Heroin" - The Velvet Underground
"The Windmills of Your Mind" - Petula Clark
"Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" - Nico
"The Feeling in My Nuts" - Marc Streitenfeld
"Love Letters" - Ketty Lester
"I Think This Town Is Nervous" - The Wreckery
"It's Only a Paper Moon" - Cliff Edwards
"Money (That's What I Want)" - Barrett Strong
After Frankie and Russell rob Trattman, "The Man Comes Around" kicks in to set up Jackie's introduction. Soon after, "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" plays at the tail end of Trattman's beating, and then continues while Frankie drives in his car.
"Heroin" scores a moment when Frankie and Russell get high, with the latter revealing that there's a contract out on their lives. Moments later, "The Windmills of Your Mind" plays as Frankie panics while cruising around town. When Mickey (James Gandolfini) arrives at the airport for a contract killing, "Wrap Your Trouble in Dreams" plays to set the mood.
Once Jackie inevitably makes his murderous moves, "It's Only a Paper Moon" starts to play when he kills a key character. When the work is done, and the focal hitman wants to get paid, so "Money (That's What I Want)" serves as the exclamation point to Killing Them Softly by playing over the ending.