Whether you are a total twilightoholic-twihard or find the very suggestion of abstinence practicing vampires to be oxymoronic, the soundtrack for the third installment of the big box office bloodsucker series is an indie and alt-rock music lover’s fantasy – gushing with tracks that create a soundscape ethereal in its melancholy.
Produced by Alexandra Patsavas, who also supervised music for both Twilight and New Moon, the overall feel of the Eclipse Soundtrack is as goth-gloomy as the setting for the books, Forks, WA, but it definitely has more of a rock-pulse than the sonically somber musical accompaniment to New Moon, which captured Bella’s lovesick depression better than KStew’s acting.
When it comes to the movie versions of Stephanie Meyer’s teen-vamp books, they tend to disappoint this reader, but the soundtracks have always been a break in the clouds for me — cohesive song compilations that more or less capture the amorous essence of Bella’s fantastical, yet totally teenage angst filled world — the third taste is no different.
The Black Keys’ “Chop and Change” is one of the more aggressive and throbbing rock tunes on the album, and it is definitely a stand out track. The blues-rock beat is sultry and sensual and leaves me craving more after only two minutes and 25 seconds.
Befitting to the overall theme of the pop culture phenomenon, Vampire Weekend is also included in the soundtrack lineup. The New York, indie, afropop outfit contributes a 12-string, upbeat song called “Jonathan Low” that dances in its 80s power pop style. The band has been quoted as saying the song is different than anything they have done before and, in my humble opinion, it’s pretty amazing.
Another notable track and the album’s first single, "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)," comes from Meyer’s musical muse for the books and soundtracks – Muse (pun intended) – and is grandiose as a progressive rock ballad.
The complete song list is included below along with the video for the Muse track.
1. Metric — "Eclipse (All Yours)"
2. Muse — "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)"
3. The Bravery — "Ours"
4. Florence + The Machine — "Heavy In Your Arms"
5. Sia — "My Love"
6. Fanfarlo — "Atlas"
7. The Black Keys — "Chop And Change"
8. The Dead Weather — "Rolling In On A Burning Tire"
9. Beck and Bat For Lashes — "Let's Get Lost"
10. Vampire Weekend — "Jonathan Low"
11. UNKLE — "With You In My Head (featuring The Black Angels)"
12. Eastern Conference Champions — "A Million Miles An Hour"
13. Band Of Horses — "Life On Earth"
14. Cee-Lo Green — "What Part Of Forever"
15. Howard Shore — "Jacob's Theme"
This article appears in Jun 10-16, 2010.