Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack Review

Hey,

Ready for the next installment in my throwback series? Today, I'm reviewing the soundtrack to Twilight Saga: New Moon. Yes, I realize that it is from 2009 and it sounds totally random, but Twi-hard or not, you have to admit the music on the soundtracks was amazing. So, without further ado...

1. Meet Me On the Equinox by Death Cab for Cutie- A smart move by the execs to get Death Cab on the soundtrack; these guys have a massive fanbase. And, Death Cab never disappoints. Leading in with that recognizable riff and Ben's strong vocals carrying the song, it's not hard to understand why Death Cab is so popular. They are some of the best musicans of our generation.

2. Friends by Band of Skulls- Love Band of Skulls! Between their hard rock edge and throwback vocals, I'm sold. The song has a very dangerous, rebellious edge that reflects Bella's (the constantly whining main character, not me...I'm as different from that Bella as can be) frame of mind in the book/movie.

3. Hearing Damage by Thom Yorke- The lead singer of Radiohead was another good pick; Radiohead's "15 Step" was played in the end credits of Twilight even though it was not featured on the CD. I'm not a big Thom Yorke fan, though I like this song. I love the electronica-like intro, sick drum beats, and the overall disoriented feeling.

4. Possibility by Lykke Le- Easily the most depressing song on the soundtrack song, Lykke Li's song is full of distortion, beyond sad lyrics, and her fantastic voice.Good pick.

5.  A White Demon Love Song by The Killers- Oh, The Killers. Another amazing band. The keyboard lines, guitar arrangements, and Brandon's lilting voice make this one of the best songs on here.

6. Satellite Heart by Anya Marina- Anya Marina gained some notority for her cover of T.I's song "Whatver You Like," which was featured on Gossip Girl, and she has a stunning voice. It sounds like she's partially singing and partially whispering, and, for some reason, it works.

7. I Belong To You by Muse- Gotta love Muse. They really cannot do anything wrong. Matthew's voice is so unique and paired with the instrumentation (that piano line makes me melt!), this song really stands out.

8. Roslyn by Bon Iver & St. Vincent- The first time I heard this song, I thought somehow the Gregorian choir had gotten put on the album by accident, but nope, it's just some super moany vocals. It's pretty, if you can get past the fact that it sounds like something you'd hear at a funeral.

9. Done All Wrong by The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club- Good moody song. The lead singer sounds as depressed as Bella does in the movie, so it fits perfectly. Love that guitar in the backgroud too!

10. Monsters by Hurricane Bells- I like this song in the movie, but outside of the movie, it's just a little too weird for me.  The lead singer's voice rubs me the wrong way.

11. The Violet Hour by Sea Wolf- One of my other favorites on here. The song is fantastic because of the poetic lyrics, the lead singer's crazy good vocals, and the guitars that allow the gorgeous melody to come out.

12. Shooting the Moon by OK Go- Like Thom Yorke, I'm not a bad fan of Ok Go (though I do love their music videos) but I LOVE this song. The lyrics detail faking the moon landing, which sounds like something OK Go would do, and that percussion won me over the first time I heard it. :)

13. Slow Life by Grizzly Bear- I love how this song climaxes, the voices meld, and the dark/light themes that constantly battle each other. Super good.

14. No Sound But the Wind by The Editors- I usually skip over this track, but I like it a lot more than I thought I did. The lead singer's voice is SOOOO deep; I was a bit taken aback. Like, whoa! Where did that come from? Crazy voice aside, the keyboard line and minimal instrumentation is what makes this track stand out. and makes me feel bad for skipping. :)

Alright, that's it for this week! Comment, Follow me on Twitter, and send me an e-mail with your thoughts!

Until then,
Bella

Twilight Soundtrack Review

Hey,

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I am a devout Twi-Hard. I have been ever since the first movie came out when I was in 7^th grade and my parents finally relented and let me see it. The last movie just came out and it got me thinking. Even though Twilight can be a rather dividing issue (whether it’s Team Jacob vs. Team Edward or Twi-Hards versus Harry Potter/ Hunger Games fans or people who just flat out hate Twilight). I’m not here to argue my point, but the one thing fans and non-fans have been able to agree on is that the soundtracks have been amazing. So, in celebration, or mourning, depending on your opinion, of Breaking Dawn Part Two, I am going to, for the next several weeks, review all of the movie soundtracks.

                Tonight, I will start with the first soundtrack to The Twilight Saga: Twilight.

                1. Supermassive Black Hole by Muse- Oh, Muse. One of my favorite bands of all time! I love the heavy rock guitars at the beginning which give way to Matthew’s ridiculously perfect falsetto and creepy lyrics. It fits so perfectly with the movie, as well as the baseball scene it’s featured in. Amazing.

2. Decode by Paramore- I usually do not like most female vocalists, but Hayley Williams is one of the exceptions. Her voice has so much power and emotion that it’s honestly hard not to like it. My favorite thing about the song is the way it builds. It does not just stay at one tempo or one level; it constantly crescendos until it reaches its very beautiful climax at the chorus. All of the instrumentation melds together nicely and the chorus describes Edward and Bella’s relationship, though someone is probably going to kill me for pointing that out. J

3. Full Moon by The Black Ghosts- that acoustic guitar truly is captivating; I’m a big fan of that. The drum line is simple, yet complex and the soft violins in the background speak volumes, while allowing the haunting vocals to remain front and center.

4. Leave Out All the Rest by Linkin Park- Chester Bennington may be one of the best lead singers ever. I am not a big Linkin Park fan, but I think Chester’s voice carries so much emotion, switching effortlessly from subdued to angry and so forth. The song itself is mediocre at best, but I like Chester. J

5. Spotlight by Mutemath- Ah, Mutemath. If it weren’t for Twilight, I never would have found this amazing band. Wow. Kind of deep if you don’t think about it. Anyways, I’ve reviewed this song before, but I love Darren’s drumming and Paul’s gorgeous, soaring vocals that many try but fail to replicate. Best song on the album.

6. Go All the way Into the Twilight by Perry Farrell- One of the most random songs on the album. I hate it and love it at the same time. I have no idea what he is talking about—though I think it has something to do with sex—and the female vocals in the background feel unnecessary and childish, yet it’s one of my favorite songs on the CD. It was played during the prom scene, so I guess I will always associate it with that. Maybe that’s why I like it. Regardless, it’s a good song. J

7. Tremble For My Beloved by Collective Soul- Only the instrumental portion was played in the movie, but the rest of the song is pretty good too. I like the steady drumming, very vintage guitar section and the fact that it’s Collective Soul. J

8. I Caught Myself by Paramore- Song numero dos from Paramore, and arguably 10 times better than Decode. Don’t get me wrong; Decode was amazing, but the introduction to this song and the infectious chorus really sold me. Very pretty, which is something I rarely say about Paramore. J

9. Eyes on Fire by Blue foundation- Creepy, creepy, creepy. I think the song is about torturing something but I can’t be sure. The song fits in with the movie, to an extent, but it’s good on its own. Kind of a weird one, but sometimes weird is good. J

10. Never Think by Robert Pattinson- Yes, the dude who played Edward is singing this song. Crazy, right? If I didn’t know it was him, I never would have guessed. Well, it’s certainly different. I’ll give him that much. My guess is he recorded this song while under the influence of something; he has a good voice, but he spends most of the song muttering the lyrics. The guitar part is pretty and when he actually sings, it’s a nice track. Not Mutemath, but not bad.

11. Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron and Wine- Yes, the Twilight saga introduced me to the musical mastermind known as Iron and Wine. I do have to credit them for this one too. J I love the tambourine—they’re magical instruments—the accordion, and Sam’s gentle vocals. It could almost be a lullaby, if it weren’t for the second verse when the guitar and other instruments kick in. Almost as amazing as Mute Math’s track, but still a gem.

12. Let Me Sign by Robert Pattinson- Yes, it’s him again. I like this song, but I have to be honest. The first time I head it, I thought it was some sort of tribal birthing song. Then, I realized he was speaking in English and it was Robert. Oops. I love how organic it is but wish he would sing instead of this moaning and groaning thing. Seriously.

13. Bella’s Lullaby by Carter Burwell- One of my favorite tracks (it’s my namesake; how can I not like it?) and easily one of the most memorable. Carter has a true knack for taking a simple theme and creating something unexpected. Stunning.

Well, that’s it for this week. Next week, it’s New Moon time.

Until then,

Bella (Cullen…) J