Simon Rushworth
Vampire flick New Moon, the second movie in The Twilight Saga series, is upon us and for rock fans everywhere there’s enough cracking tunes to make this one soundtrack you won’t want to miss.
Throw in the music underpinning another new film, Jennifer’s Body, and it seems the days of heavyweight bands lending their tunes to Hollywood blockbusters are far from over.
In a Rock Solid special we review and rate two CDs chock full of modern day rock anthems. Enjoy.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon – Original Soundtrack (Atlantic Records)
Every good vampire flick requires an even greater soundtrack and in the case of cool new franchise The Twilight Saga it seems there’s no shortage of rock heavyweights looking to lend their skills to the visual treats on offer. Get your teeth into this little beauty and you’ll be rewarded with killer tunes (and a Killers tune) guaranteed to get your post-Halloween party started.
Whether intrigued by the indie pop rock of Death Cab For Cutie with Meet Me On The Equinox or taken by the New Moon Remix (!) of Muse’s I Belong To You, there’s enough guitar driven music to keep most fans of hot riffs and even hotter hooks interested. And with a healthy 15 tracks there’s value for money at every turn.
With killer tunes (and a tune by The Killers) appealing to the masses it’s difficult to predict whether the New Moon soundtrack will prove more popular with the Twilight Saga’s teen fans and 20-something devotees or their parents. But the quality of the songs means this soundtrack is a most useful pormotional tool when it comes to attracting new fans to the hottest vampire franchise this side of True Blood.
rushonrock rated: 7/10 Moon Rising
Jennifer’s Body – Original Soundtrack (Fueled By Ramen)
Sometimes there’s more to like about the music than the film it complements and this may just be a case in point. If you do catch this throwaway flick at least you’re getting the audio quality to match the visual treat – just don’t expect a blinding plot for good measure.
Any soundtrack featuring the combined talents of Dashboard Confessional, All Time Low, The Sword and Silversun Pickups must be pretty amazing. And it is. Maybe it does occasionally sound like you’re stuck in the middle of a touring US summer festival but then that’s a pretty decent price to pay when the cream of America’s emerging crop are jostling for position on a 15-track career showcase.
Hayley Williams’ Teenagers is as cool as it is predictable – think School’s Out for the 21st century kids – but the ‘Pickups steal the show with the mesmerising Little Lover’s So Polite. New Moon is the better film but Jennifer’s Body picks up the prize for superior soundtrack. Fact.
rushonrock rated: 8/10 Fine Body Of Work