The masterfully put-together album of New Moon sets the melancholic and moody tone of the movie well with stellar songs by Muse, Thom Yorke, and more.
Not only did The Twilight Saga enrapture audiences across the globe with its vampire and werewolf-riddled romance, but also caught people’s attention with it’s soundtrack. The movies undoubtedly had one of the most well-curated albums in modern cinema, and every single one had songs by massive artists like Thom Yorke, Music, Paramore, Bon Iver, Linkin Park, and many more.
“Slow Life” By Grizzly Bear Featuring Victoria Legrand
This alternative track starts as a languid one, which blossoms into a beautiful crescendo with hints of electric guitar. It was the perfect track to play when Bella went cliff diving by herself, hoping to see Edward’s phantom in the water as she took the risky jump.
“Rosyln” By Bon Iver And St. Vincent
Bon Iver has long been a collaborator, with his most recent ones being with Taylor Swift on her songs played in movies and TV. In this indie song, he comes together with St. Vincent to create an atmospheric song that captures the nostalgia and melancholy of the movie.
“A White Demon Love Song” By The Killers
Dreamy and ethereal, The Killers wrote and performed this song, especially for New Moon. The slow rock song is a poetic ode to Edward Cullen leaving Bella and has some very evocative lyrics that match up to the story, set to soothing and fluidly produced sound.
“Shooting The Moon” By OK Go
OK Go’s playful song broke the spell of melancholia with its unusual upbeat drum work and sudden outburst into chaotic guitar riffs. This song made an appearance as Bella and Jacob spent more time together as the movie progressed, growing closer as friends.
“I Belong To You” (New Moon Remix) By Muse
Muse was a band that had long influenced Stephanie Meyer, especially when she wrote the books. They contributed to several songs through the franchise, and their music always fits seamlessly into the movies, especially this one. Cheerier than their other offerings, it had a fun jazz section in the middle fit for dancing to.
“Satellite Heart” By Anya Marina
Anya Marina’s tune was complete heartbreak in a song, and it played on the radio when Edward drove Bella back to her house after Jasper attacked her. The lyrics “outta mind and outta sight” and “such a waste of a young heart” foreshadow the pain that Bella was about to go through.
“Possibility” By Lykke Li
The most memorable sequence in New Moon took place after Edward left, when the months passed Bella stayed in her room, plagued by sadness and nightmares. Seasons changed, but she didn’t, and this Lykke Li track shines a light on her woe with raw, gloomy vocals.
“Meet Me On The Equinox” By Death Cab For Cutie
Indie rock stalwarts Death Cab For Cutie wrote this soulful rock track for the movie, and it was essentially a melodic allegory of what was happening in the movie. With Edward itching to expose himself to the world in the sun and his break up with Bella, the track covers the whole plot of the movie, especially the visit to the Volturi.
“The Violet Hour” By Sea Wolf
Perhaps the most joyful song on the New Moon soundtrack, “The Violet Hour” is a bit of a misfit, lyrically, but sonically on point for its intended purpose.
It describes an intimate relationship between a man and woman but has an upbeat, celebratory tune which was probably why it made it to the music played at Bella’s party at the Cullen house before it all went down. The title is an obvious reference to The Twilight Saga, and the song matched the rest of the album perfectly.
“Hearing Damage” By Thom Yorke
Pulsing synthetic beats create a sense of urgency in this jagged but engaging song by Thom Yorke. The words tell a story of unrequited love, but the makers use this tune in the background as the wolves and Reservation residents chased Victoria through the forests of Forks.
Victoria’s presence was always a lurking danger in the background, and this song made audiences feel that menace too. The Radiohead lead outdid himself on this track for New Moon.
