Rating: NNN
Taylor Swift recently characterized The Hunger Games soundtrack as “Appalachian music 300 years from now – what Americana and bluegrass music would sound like in the future.” That’s an apt description from the young country-pop star who has two tracks on the album.
Though it features recognizable names (Maroon 5, Miranda Lambert) and critical favourites (Neko Case, the Decemberists), the T-Bone Burnett-produced album admirably employs a nuanced approach and a consistent tone rather than using the opportunity to cash in on the film’s young core audience.
Arcade Fire nails the future-from-the-past vibe, while many of the purely Americana acts drag the album into plodding sameness – odd when so many artists have participated. One of the few snarling, fist-in-the-air moments comes from Glen Hansard, a singer/songwriter usually in the striving folk-rock vein. You’d expect to hear more of that on the soundtrack for a film about forced sacrificial teen violence.
Top track: Abraham’s Daughter, by Arcade Fire
