"Drinking Buddies" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Music from Drinking Buddies, A Film by Joe Swanberg" Soundtrack Description

Overview

What does a no-script, improvised romance sound like? Joe Swanberg’s Drinking Buddies answers with a curated indie mixtape rather than a traditional score—minimal underscore, lots of lived-in songs spinning from bar speakers, stereos, and end credits. The selections skew label-adjacent to Secretly Group/Jagjaguwar (Foxygen, Richard Swift, Here We Go Magic) and kindred indie/folk acts (Plants and Animals, Night Beds), matching the film’s naturalistic tone and brewery setting.

The commercial album—Music from Drinking Buddies—arrived digitally in late 2013, with Jagjaguwar issuing a retail edition soon after. It captures the movie’s flow: opener “Lady Luck” ushers in the Chicago vibe; bar cuts carry social beats; tender apartment spins (“In the Darkness,” “Tonight”) expose fault lines. Apple Music and Jagjaguwar list slightly different track counts (12 vs. 13), an availability wrinkle addressed below. Magnolia Pictures credits Jagjaguwar’s Chris Swanson as music supervisor—useful context for why the picks cohere.

Questions & Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album?

Yes. Music from Drinking Buddies (Various Artists) released digitally in 2013; retail on Jagjaguwar followed.

Why do some listings show 12 tracks and others 13?

Jagjaguwar’s page lists 12, while Apple Music carries a 13-track edition that adds Plants and Animals’ “The End of That.”

Who supervised the music?

Chris Swanson (Jagjaguwar), with Grant Manship and Kathleen Cook credited on the film’s music team.

What plays over the opening credits?

Richard Swift’s “Lady Luck.”

What’s the end-credits song?

Plants and Animals’ “The End of That.”

Is there a separate original score?

No separate score album; the film leans on licensed songs and a few dialogue snippets on the album.

Where can I stream it?

On Apple Music and Spotify under the album title above.

Notes & Trivia

• Music supervision sits inside the Secretly/Jagjaguwar world, which explains Foxygen/Richard Youngs/Here We Go Magic clustering.
• The album includes two short dialogue tracks (“Take a Knee,” “Malört”) that mirror the film’s slice-of-life texture.
• “The End of That” is confirmed as the credits song; some album editions include it, others don’t.
• Revolution Brewing (Chicago) is the primary location—source music often reads as diegetic bar play.
• Trusted sources referenced: Apple Music, Jagjaguwar, IMDb, Magnolia Pictures.

Genres & Themes

Indie rock & psych-folk map to work-friendship rhythms—loose, hand-played, a little hazy. Songs rise and fall like shifts on the canning line.

Bedroom folk & soft-focus singer-songwriter mark thresholds: private scenes, moving day, boundary tests. When the guitars go hushed, the film leans in.

Label-scene cohesion (Secretly/Jag orbit) gives the needle-drops one sensibility—unflashy, warm, credible—so they feel overheard rather than placed.

Tracks & Scenes

“Lady Luck” — Richard Swift
Scene: Opening credits, first sweep through Revolution Brewing (00:00). Source vibe, non-diegetic in mix.
Why it matters: Establishes everyday, unglamorous cool; a mission statement for the film’s musical modesty.

“In Decay” — Phèdre
Scene: First bar stretch; Jill arrives (00:04).
Why it matters: Introduces the couples’ cross-currents under chatter.

“Came Out of a Lady” — Rubblebucket
Scene: Pool at the bar; crew goofs around (00:05).
Why it matters: Kinetic brass → social lubricant; the film’s “hang” ethos in one song.

“Turns Around the Bottle” — Barna Howard
Scene: Luke puts on a record when Kate visits; couch moment interrupted to fetch her gift (00:09). Diegetic (stereo).
Why it matters: A near-line-crossing gets paused; the needle-drop literally sets the room’s temperature.

“Cayucos” — Cayucas
Scene: Event Kate organizes; Chris meets Luke (00:12). Likely source over PA.
Why it matters: Sun-bleached indie against subtle awkwardness.

“How Do I Know” — Here We Go Magic
Scene: As Chris talks to Jill (00:15).
Why it matters: Lyrics accidentally glare at indecision; the film stays observational.

“Dragon” — The Amazing
Scene: Lakeside swim; continues as the foursome drive back (00:37). Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Weightless guitar wash for a boundary-testing night.

“Cotton Strands” — Wolf People
Scene: First post-breakup pub scene (00:40).
Why it matters: Grainy guitars underline the weird “new normal.”

“High School Lover” — Cayucas
Scene: Second song at the bar; Luke asks Kate outside for a smoke (00:41).
Why it matters: Flirtation gets a rhythm section.

“That’s Not a Beat” — James Swanberg
Scene: Third bar cue in the same run (00:43).
Why it matters: A meta wink—Swanberg family name appears in the credits roll, too.

“San Francisco” — Foxygen
Scene: Fourth bar song; Luke offers Kate a ride (00:43).
Why it matters: Jaunty nostalgia right before things complicate.

“Borrowed Time” — Night Beds
Scene: Kate on the couch with Luke and Jill (00:54).
Why it matters: A hush falls; voices drop, guitars do the talking.

“In the Darkness” — Foxygen
Scene: Luke spins it on vinyl; massages, then sleep (01:03). Diegetic (turntable).
Why it matters: Domestic intimacy—tender but ambiguous.

“Tonight” — Sibylle Baier
Scene: Luke helps Kate clean before her move; he dozes off in her bed (01:07).
Why it matters: Softest needle-drop in the film; adulthood in minor key.

“It Soon Will Be Fire” — Richard Youngs
Scene: After a fight during the move; the drive home (01:20).
Why it matters: Title says it—embers to flame, then ash.

“The End of That” — Plants and Animals
Scene: End credits (01:27). Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: An epilogue in four minutes; some album editions include it.

Music–Story Links

Source music at the brewery codes community—songs as social glue. Once the action moves homeward, diegetic spins become tests: Luke choosing “Turns Around the Bottle” or “In the Darkness” silently declares comfort zones he won’t voice. “Tonight” and “It Soon Will Be Fire” mark the film’s hard pivot from flirtation to consequence. And the credits cue—“The End of That”—wraps with a shrugging honesty the characters only half-manage to say aloud.

How It Was Made

The film was shot with improvised dialogue and minimal coverage; music was curated, not scored. Magnolia’s notes and credits list Chris Swanson (Jagjaguwar) as music supervisor, with Grant Manship and Kathleen Cook on the music team. The retail album arrived via Jagjaguwar; the track list leans on label family and fellow travelers, explaining its tight sonic identity. No separate score album has been issued.

Reception & Quotes

Critics focused on the film’s naturalism; several pieces implicitly credit the lived-in soundtrack for that feel.

“An extraordinary current of pain runs through Joe Swanberg’s new romantic comedy.” The New Yorker

“Semi-squiffy drama of potential lovers… comes in and out of focus.” The Guardian

“Moves on from mumblecore with an excellent study of beer and relationships.” The Guardian

Album availability and credits are corroborated by Apple Music and Jagjaguwar.

Additional Info

• Album editions: Jagjaguwar lists 12 tracks; Apple Music lists 13 including “The End of That.”
• Dialogue cuts: “Take a Knee” and “Malört” appear on the album as short interstitials.
• Supervision: Chris Swanson (music supervisor); Grant Manship (supervision counsel); Kathleen Cook (music coordinator).
• Premiere/release: SXSW 2013 premiere; Magnolia handled U.S. distribution.
• Diegetic bias: Many cues are “in-world” (bar PA, home turntable), matching the film’s vérité approach.

Technical Info

• Title: Music from Drinking Buddies, A Film by Joe Swanberg
• Year: 2013 (digital); 2014 retail issue
• Type: Various-artists compilation (no separate score album)
• Music supervision: Chris Swanson (with Grant Manship, Kathleen Cook)
• Label: Jagjaguwar
• Selected placements: “Lady Luck” (opening), “Turns Around the Bottle” (Luke’s stereo), “In the Darkness” (turntable night), “The End of That” (credits)
• Film context: Set at Revolution Brewing (Chicago); improvised dialogue; Magnolia Pictures release
• Availability: Apple Music/Spotify; track count differs by edition

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Apple Music; Jagjaguwar; Magnolia Pictures; IMDb; Wikipedia; WhatSong.

November, 09th 2025