Description
Original Soundtrack – Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol3 (Awesome Mix Vol3) – Double Purple and Blue Vinyl Records
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), released in May 2023, is the third curated mixtape soundtrack accompanying James Gunn’s Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Like its predecessors, it functions not merely as background music but as an emotional engine for the story—this time with a noticeably more reflective, mature tone. While the first two “Awesome Mix” albums leaned heavily into ‘70s AM radio nostalgia, Vol. 3 expands its scope into the late ’70s, ’80s, and ‘90s, mirroring the characters’ emotional evolution and the darker thematic undercurrents of the film.
By this point in the trilogy, the mixtape concept—initially a gift from Peter Quill’s mother—has become a symbolic tether to Earth, memory, and identity. The third installment’s selections feel less whimsical and more introspective, often reflecting grief, longing, and reconciliation. The soundtrack opens memorably with Radiohead’s “Creep (Acoustic)”, immediately signaling a tonal shift. Where earlier films kicked off with danceable swagger, Vol. 3 begins in vulnerability and self-doubt. That choice sets the emotional temperature for a story centered on trauma—particularly Rocket’s origin story.
Other key inclusions highlight the eclectic, genre-spanning nature of the compilation. Heart’s “Crazy on You” delivers arena-rock firepower and urgency, while Florence + The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” provides one of the film’s most cathartic moments—an explosive release after emotional heaviness. The presence of ‘90s alternative acts like The Flaming Lips (“Do You Realize??”), Beastie Boys (“No Sleep Till Brooklyn”), and Faith No More (“We Care a Lot”) broadens the series’ musical palette, bringing edgier textures and ironic bite into the mix.
One of the soundtrack’s most poignant moments comes with The Replacements’ “I Will Dare” and Alice Cooper’s “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” which deepen the themes of resilience and fragile hope. Meanwhile, Bruce Springsteen’s “Badlands” closes the film with an anthemic lift—an ode to perseverance that feels fitting for a trilogy finale. The choice of Springsteen, a songwriter known for blue-collar introspection and endurance, subtly mirrors the Guardians themselves: misfits surviving against overwhelming odds.
What distinguishes Awesome Mix Vol. 3 from its predecessors is how tightly the music aligns with the characters’ psychological arcs. In earlier films, the soundtrack often played as ironic counterpoint—upbeat tunes underscoring chaos. In Vol. 3, the songs are more emotionally synchronized. They don’t just accompany action; they process pain. There’s less winking nostalgia and more earned sentiment.
From a cultural standpoint, the Guardians trilogy helped redefine how mainstream blockbusters use legacy pop music. Rather than generic orchestral scoring, James Gunn curated playlists that shaped character identity and reintroduced classic songs to new generations. Like the first two albums, Awesome Mix Vol. 3 charted successfully and drove renewed streaming interest in decades-old tracks—proof of the series’ cross-generational impact.
The soundtrack spans glam rock, alternative, new wave, hip-hop, and indie pop, yet it feels cohesive because of its thematic throughline: memory and survival. If Awesome Mix Vol. 1 was about rediscovering joy and Vol. 2 about family and reconciliation, Vol. 3 is about healing and release.
As a listening experience separate from the film, the album functions like a thoughtfully curated road-trip playlist—eclectic but emotionally intentional. But within the cinematic context, it becomes something more: a final mixtape that says goodbye, not with bombast, but with heart.
Target Exclusive
limited edition
exclusive
2-lp purple and blue vinyl
plus exclusive poster
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Radiohead – Creep (Acoustic Version)
Heart – Crazy On You
Rainbow – Since You Been Gone
Spacehog – In The Meantime
Earth, Wind & Fire – Reasons
The Flaming Lips – Do You Realize??
Faith No More – We Care A Lot
EHAMIC – Koinu No Carnival (From “Minute Waltz”)
Alice Cooper – I’m Always Chasing Rainbows
The Mowgli’s – San Francisco
X – Poor Girl
The The – This Is The Day
Beastie Boys – No Sleep Till Brooklyn
Florence + The Machine – Dog Days Are Over
Bruce Springstee – Badlands
The Replacements – I Will Dare
Redbone – Come And Get Your Love
