Argo – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Alexandre Desplat · 2012
58 min · 17 tracks
A tense blend of orchestral swells and electronic textures captures the urgency and intrigue of a political thriller.
Top tracks — play these first
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Argo — The title track encapsulates the score's thematic essence, combining suspenseful motifs that mirror the film's tension during the rescue mission.
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A Spy in Tehran — This track features a haunting melody that evokes a sense of danger and intrigue, perfectly paralleling the espionage elements of the narrative.
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Cleared Iranian Airspace — With its climactic build-up and resolution, this piece conveys the relief and triumph felt at a pivotal moment in the film, showcasing Desplat’s ability to enhance emotional stakes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe score effectively blends orchestral and electronic sounds to create a tense atmosphere fitting for a political thriller.
What we noticed
- Several tracks utilize minimalist motifs that repeat and evolve, enhancing the sense of urgency.
- The album includes both quiet, introspective pieces and climactic moments, with dynamic shifts in intensity across its runtime.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady tension throughout listening
- immersive cinematic atmosphere
- background score for focus
- narrative-driven listening experience
- subtle emotional undercurrents
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat dance tracks
- prefer standalone catchy songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- When Alexandre Desplat composed the score for Argo, he was already an established film composer, following his Academy Award nomination for The King's Speech in 2011. This soundtrack marked his continued collaboration with director Ben Affleck after their work on The Town, further solidifying Desplat's reputation in Hollywood.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Hans Zimmer· John Williams· Thomas Newman
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Argo 3:38
- 2 A Spy in Tehran 4:18
- 3 Scent of Death 3:25
- 4 The Mission 2:07
- 5 Hotel Messages 2:03
- 6 Held Up by Guards 5:31
- 7 The Business Card 2:55
- 8 Breaking Through the Gates 3:50
- 9 Tony Grills the Six 3:30
- 10 The Six Are Missing 3:21
- 11 Sweatshop 1:31
- 12 Drive to the Airport 3:45
- 13 Missing Home 3:00
- 14 Istanbul and the Blue Mosque 2:18
- 15 Bazaar 3:45
- 16 Cleared Iranian Airspace 6:01
- 17 Hace Tuto Guagua 3:39
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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