At the 2004 Grammy Awards, all eyes were on industry heavyweight Quentin Tarantino and his “Kill Bill Vol. 2” soundtrack – but it was an unknown indie film that walked away with the trophy. In a major upset, Zach Braff’s directorial debut “Garden State” clinched the award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, besting Tarantino’s widely presumed frontrunner.
Braff, then best known as J.D. on the NBC comedy “Scrubs,” made “Garden State” for just under $3 million. Yet its eclectic soundtrack, featuring tracks from The Shins, Coldplay, and Iron & Wine, became a massive commercial success – selling over 1.3 million copies and going platinum. Still, winning against Tarantino seemed impossible according to Braff. “I certainly didn’t think there would ever be a chance where I would beat Quentin Tarantino at anything,” he admitted.
When presenters announced “Garden State” as the winner, Braff could hardly believe it. “I remember being in shock and looking over at Quentin like ‘I’m so sorry!'” he laughed. But Tarantino was nothing but gracious, pulling Braff into a big hug and joking “You stole my fucking Grammy, man!” According to Braff, the legendary director was “super sweet and supportive” despite the competitive situation.
The “Garden State” soundtrack introduced indelible indie anthems like The Shins’ “New Slang” to a massive audience. Its immense popularity even prompted one NYC record store to post a sign reading: “We do not have the ‘Garden State’ soundtrack. Please don’t ask.”
These days, Braff says he still receives daily questions about the film and its music – a true testament to the profound influence of “Garden State” on a generation nearly 20 years later. More than launching Braff’s career as a filmmaker, this unexpected Grammy win highlighted how a perfectly curated soundtrack can truly elevate a film to iconic status.
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