 Meet me on the Equinox/Meet me half way/When the sun is perched at it's highest peek/In the middle of the day/Let me give my love to you/Let me take your hand/As we walk in the dimming light/Or darling understand/That everything, everything ends…" sang Benjamin Gibbard, the front band of the indie rock act, Death Cab For Cutie on 'Meet Me on The Equinox', the lead single off the original soundtrack (OST) of New Moon. The tune is roaring on the charts despite the fact that the film has received mixed reviews. At it's heart, the OST of New Moon is a conceptual album that delves into the teenage romance of Edward and Bella but it's done with craft and style. Under the supervision of Alexandra Patsavas, who plays music supervisor to the project, all 14 tracks are original, done specifically for this film, which has become a global phenomenon now, inspiring the comeback of vampires, werewolves as influences on television (True Blood) and in music (Timbaland, Shakira, The Bella Cullen Project and Midnight Sun to name a few). But this isn't about the juggernaut of Twilight and its lead stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, not too much anyway.
Their teenage romance within the film - a vampire falls in love with a girl and all hell breaks loose - is at the core of this album. But it's not the 'My Heart Will Go On' brand of romance. This one is complex, it has layers of darkness and temptations, as those too are undertones within the film. And it is here when the connection between the film comes across as an overall, coherent and ultimately brilliant theme to this album.
For all Twilight naysayers, one would say that New Moon OST easily surpasses its predecessor. In comparison, this one has an air of mystery and soft gloom with a more mature outlook. And this fact gives more credibility to the record as an OST of a film where teenage love and its pure dilemma make for a storyboard. Because it's a soundtrack, the mood exists, but almost all the bands are solid and experimental enough to not churn out cheesy, pop-rockish bland tunes. It's all done intelligently but it's not mechanical.
Death Cab for Cutie, who are no longer strangers to fame but hail from the ingenious world of indie rock deliver the poetic 'Meet Me on the Equinox'. The official video, with interspersed shots of the band performing and clips from the film, has an impact. The raw emotions of the two actors mixed with crushing riffs, beautiful words, defiant yet mellow and at times defeatist vocal work of Ben makes it one of the best songs of this year.
For Ben Gibbard, the song is more personal than Edward and Bella's romance.
"The song at its core is just about meeting another halfway, because life is very short, because there's only a brief period of time to really connect with people, and that it's important to recognize that. I just wanted something that kind of tonally matched the story and the scenes within the film, so they could kind of be put alongside but not be telling a narrative you're watching on the screen."
Death Cab for Cutie, one of the main stars of the indie world of music are now making it towards mainstream. In 2010, this will be one act to watch out for. With a Grammy nod for their EP The Open Door, in the Best Alternative Music Album category this year; the band is looking hot in the coming year.
And that's the thing about this soundtrack. Not every name is familiar. But music supervisor Alexandra has mixed it all up.
The heavyweights such as Thom Yorke (Radiohead), The Killers, Death Cab for Cutie and the British punk favourite Muse may pull in the chart-topping numbers (and they deserve to for their individual talents on this record) but with time, the stars of the indie/alternative world of music such as Band of Skulls, Bon Iver, Sea Wolf, Grizzly Bear, Editors, Lykke Li, Ok Go and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - shine too. They deliver tunes that give this record that well-rounded edge.
Thom Yorke's 'Hearing Damage' is eerie as it opens on strange static noises and soon Thom Yorke sings in haunting, chilly tones, "A tear in my brain/Allows the voices in/They wanna push you off the path/With their frequency wires And you can do no wrong/In my eyes." It's classic Yorke with a magnificent drum-like beat, and a static that refuses to shut off but fades away slowly. It's studio effects kept to the minimal and in a way only Thom Yorke can pull.
The guys from Nevada, The Killers haven't lost their touch. On 'A White Demon Love Song', Brandon Flowers channels less aggression and opens on gloomier notes, "White demon, where's your selfish kiss?/White demon sorrow will arrange/Let's not forget about the fear/Black invitation to this place that cannot change".
While the sound swells between wrenching pianos and crunchy yet timely riffs, the mood expands. Brandon brings his anguish on the floor emotively, "White demon, widen your heart's scope/ White demon, who let your friends go?" - It's The Killers going more epic in character and that's a good thing.
Forget their weak second record that almost made us write them off, the band redeemed itself with Sawdust and the groovy, eccentric and somewhat moody Day & Age. This single is another up for The Killers.
Indie favourites Ok Go, famous for their incredibly energetic videos of 'A Million Ways' and 'Here It Goes Again' go subtle with 'Shooting the Moon'. With psychedelic keyboard effects and slow acoustic strings right up till the end where their signature rock 'n roll streak comes in slyly, Ok Go continue their experiments uniquely.
Lykke Li's 'Possibility' has a soft gospel feel to it and is drenched in desperation, dilemma and heartache.
In the long run, this record pushes many acts in a much bigger limelight - we're talking about the soundtrack of The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
Irrespective of the mighty name of the Twilight film franchise attached to it, the soundtrack with it's varied texture is sweeping and works as a record on its own. Music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, the woman behind the soundtracks of telly series The OC, Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl has delivered a fabulous record under her watchful eyes. Kudos. Forget the film, just go for this record; to discover new names, rekindle romance with old ones and let the sound take over. Even Twilight loathers should be stunned.
*****Get it NOW!
****Just get it
***Maybe maybe not
**Just download
the best song
*Forget that this was mad |
