Cool World is a weird movie. Honestly, it’s one of the weirdest artifacts of the early nineties. Critics absolutely trashed it when it came out in 1992, and if you watch it today, the plot is still a messy, chaotic blur of half-finished ideas. But if you ignore the weird animation-human hybrid logic for a second and just listen? The songs from the Cool World soundtrack are actually incredible. It’s one of those rare cases where the music completely outclasses the movie it was written for.
Think about the context. In 1992, electronic music was just starting to claw its way into the American mainstream. Grunge was the king of the hill, but underground rave culture and industrial rock were bubbling underneath. The Cool World soundtrack managed to capture that specific, grimy, neon-soaked transition better than almost any other piece of media. It wasn't just a collection of pop songs; it was a curated exhibition of the cutting edge.
You’ve got David Bowie, Brian Eno, Moby, and Ministry all on the same tracklist. That doesn’t happen by accident.
The Sound of a Darker Cartoon Universe
Music supervisor Seth Kaplan and director Ralph Bakshi clearly wanted something that felt dangerous. The "Cool World" itself was supposed to be a gritty, noir-inspired toon dimension, and the music needed to reflect that "wrongness." It's why the album opens with "Real Cool World" by David Bowie.
This wasn't Ziggy Stardust Bowie. This was the Bowie who was experimenting with Nile Rodgers again, leaning into a slick, electronic-heavy sound that would eventually lead him toward the industrial vibes of 1. Outside. It’s a groovy, bass-heavy track that sets a high bar. People often forget this song even exists because it wasn't on a major Bowie studio album at the time, but it peaked at number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. It's a gem.
Then you have the electronic pioneers.
🔗 Read more: A Simple Favor Blake Lively: Why Emily Nelson Is Still the Ultimate Screen Mystery
Moby was barely a household name yet. His contribution, "Ah-Ah," is frantic. It’s 1992 techno in its purest form—stabbing synths, high BPMs, and a sense of relentless energy. When you compare that to the grunge-heavy soundtracks of the same year, like Singles, you realize how forward-thinking these songs from the Cool World really were. The producers weren't chasing the current Seattle trend. They were looking at what was happening in the clubs of Berlin and London.
Industrial Grit Meets Pop Sensibility
One of the most jarring—but brilliant—parts of the soundtrack is the inclusion of "The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste" era industrial music. Ministry’s "Next Close Depeche" (often listed as a remix or variation of their harder stuff) brings a level of aggression that feels totally at odds with a "cartoon" movie. But that was Bakshi’s whole vibe. He didn't make movies for kids. He made movies for adults who wanted to see the world burn a little bit.
The tracklist is a chaotic mix.
- "The Naked and the Dead" by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult.
- "Sex on Wheelz" (the Glam Girls Mix) also by Thrill Kill Kult.
- "Her Sassy Kiss" by The Cult.
- "Under" by Brian Eno.
Brian Eno’s involvement is probably the biggest stamp of "cool" you could get in 1992. His track "Under" is atmospheric and moody. It provides a necessary breather from the high-octane dance tracks. It’s the kind of music that makes you feel like you’re walking through a rainy, fictional city where the gravity doesn't quite work right.
Why These Songs Still Matter in 2026
We live in an era of nostalgia, but most people gravitate toward the obvious stuff. They want the hits from The Bodyguard or Wayne's World. The songs from the Cool World occupy a different space. They represent the "alt" 90s. This was the era of Cyberpunk. It was the era of the Mortal Kombat soundtrack and The Crow.
💡 You might also like: The A Wrinkle in Time Cast: Why This Massive Star Power Didn't Save the Movie
If you listen to the soundtrack now, it feels surprisingly modern. The heavy use of breakbeats and distorted vocals has come back in style with the resurgence of jungle and hyperpop. Young producers are digging for these exact types of sounds. Honestly, if you played some of the My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult tracks at a warehouse party today, nobody would realize they were thirty-four years old. They’d just think it was some underground industrial revival.
The legacy of the soundtrack is also tied to its production quality. It wasn't a "budget" release. It was released through Warner Bros. Records and had the financial backing to get top-tier remixes. Take "Industry and Seduction" by Tom Bailey (of Thompson Twins fame). It’s a sophisticated piece of electronic pop that holds up remarkably well.
The Tricky Business of Finding the Music
Funny enough, despite how good it is, the Cool World soundtrack can be a pain to find on certain streaming services depending on your region. Licensing for soundtracks is notoriously a nightmare. You have ten different artists on ten different labels, and when the movie isn't a "classic" in the eyes of the studio, the digital rights often lapse.
However, for vinyl collectors, the original pressing is a bit of a holy grail. It’s not necessarily "rare" in the sense that it’s worth thousands of dollars, but it’s highly sought after by DJs who want those specific 1992 remixes. The artwork on the sleeve—featuring Holli Would—is also iconic 90s memorabilia.
There’s a nuance here that gets lost: the difference between the Score and the Soundtrack. Mark Isham did the score. Isham is a legend. He’s the guy behind the music for A River Runs Through It and The Mist. His score for Cool World is jazz-influenced, dark, and traditional. It’s great. But when people talk about the "Cool World music," they are almost always talking about the "Various Artists" compilation.
📖 Related: Cuba Gooding Jr OJ: Why the Performance Everyone Hated Was Actually Genius
Actionable Steps for Music Fans
If you want to experience the best of this era, don't just stop at the main album. The 90s were the golden age of the "CD Single," and many of the artists on this soundtrack released extended mixes that are even better than the movie versions.
1. Hunt for the "Real Cool World" 12-inch. The Bowie track has several remixes that lean even harder into the electronic dance vibe. If you’re a fan of his Black Tie White Noise era, these are essential listening.
2. Explore the Thrill Kill Kult discography. If "Sex on Wheelz" is the only song you know by them, you’re missing out. They were the kings of "sleaze-industrial." Their albums Confessions of a Knife and Sexplosion! are the logical next steps for anyone who liked their contribution to the film.
3. Check out the "Future Sound of London" Remixes. While not on the primary soundtrack, the era was defined by these types of collaborations. FSOL was at their peak during this time, and their atmospheric, ambient-techno style is the perfect companion to the Cool World aesthetic.
4. Watch the "Real Cool World" Music Video. It features a mix of live-action Bowie and Bakshi’s animation. It’s a trip. It’s also one of the few ways to see the visual intent of the movie matched perfectly with the sonic intent of the music.
The movie might be a fever dream that doesn't always make sense, but the music is a masterclass in early 90s genre-bending. It’s dark, it’s sexy, and it’s unapologetically loud. In a world of safe, sterilized movie music, we could use a little more of that chaotic energy. Digging through the songs from the Cool World isn't just a nostalgia trip; it's a reminder of a time when movie soundtracks actually took risks.
Go find a copy of the CD at a thrift store or dig through a YouTube playlist. It’s worth the twenty minutes of your life just to hear Bowie try to navigate a cartoon wasteland. You won't regret it.