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It’s vampire versus wolf when ‘New Moon’
ascends
'New Moon' soundtrack has top names, amazing tracks
The Advocate
Let me start by saying I am not a fan of the “Twilight” saga whatsoever. And I mean whatsoever. In fact, I have long shunned the series as fodder of the myspace sect. Then I got a hold of the soundtrack for the most recent installment of the series, “New Moon.”
While it might be insane for a soundtrack to make me re-evaluate how I feel about four novels and two films, this soundtrack just might be the one to do it.
I once had a friend whose father told me these words of wisdom: “A soundtrack is like a mixtape made for you by the director.” While this might not rock your world, it certainly made me see things differently. Soundtracks shouldn’t be a compilation of songs thrown together on a CD because they happened to appear in the film. There should be more thought than a piece of the film in your iPod, on your computer, in your stereo. The songs should express musically the same thing the characters, the film and the dialogue express. Apparently, “New Moon” director Chris Weitz feels the same way I do.
Starting with the lead single by Death Cab For Cutie, “Meet Me at the Equinox,” I can immediately tell that this soundtrack would be nothing like I expected. While I had anticipated an emo-fest, Paramore-invaded, Hot Topic bestseller, I was greeted by a song that had substantive lyrics. While I would expect nothing less from Death Cab, I was pleasantly surprised all the same.
An impressive first song does not a soundtrack make. But when I heard the beautiful, slacker-tenor of Thom Yorke waxing in his beautiful, slacker-tenor way about lost love, I knew “New Moon” was heading in the right direction.
While there are big names on the soundtrack, including Editors, OK Go, Muse and the Killers, the soundtrack doesn’t reek of platinum success. The songs blend together and form a story all their own.
I have never read “New Moon,” and I haven’t seen the movie, but I can feel how much Bella must miss Edward in Anya Marina’s “Satellite Heart.” I can see how much they must love each other in “Possibility” by Lykke Li. While the first half focuses on loving and loss, it doesn’t go overboard. Songs “The Violet Hour” by Sea Wolf help pick it back up.
The soundtrack has a ebb and flow that takes you along in a way that is nothing short of impressive. When it comes to music, I can be picky, but I am never more enthused than when an album can completely shock me out of my preconceived notions. Any album that can make Muse less annoying to my ears deserved very high praise.
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