What matters more when ranking a soundtrack: songs or how it's used in film?

[Benjamin23]

I’m trying to put together my personal ranking of the best movie soundtracks of the 90s, but I keep getting stuck on whether to judge them purely on how good the songs are as a collection, or if the way they’re used in the film should be the deciding factor. For instance, where does that leave a soundtrack that’s iconic and full of great tracks, but they feel more like a compilation than something woven into the story?

[GregoryOC]

I did this by making two lists: one for the songs as standalone hits, and one for how they work in scenes. The second one usually changed my ranking more. The soundtrack part of my ranking usually changed my mind more.

[Chloe.H]

Honestly, sometimes the best tracks are the ones I barely notice in the moment, and the mood they set sticks with me longer than a killer hook.

[Mia.G]

I re-watched a few 90s movies with a notebook: cue timing, tempo shifts, and whether a song forced a mood or simply marked a cut. Result: some strong compilations felt out of place, others were surprisingly integrated.

[Brian_L]

Is the real problem that you care more about compilation quality than how the film uses it?