Album Review: The Hunger Games OST

The movie was so-so, but the The Hunger Games OST: Songs from District 12 and Beyond definitely fares better and comes produced with way more sophistication. Never have I heard so many songs in one sitting from an LP album, with all that acoustic strings. Songs like these used to only be associated with EPs and not 'matured enough' for mass consumption. But, the masses have hope yet, this genre is called BLUEGRASS- a modern twist on American native music and a slight dash of Country music. And which officially has become my favourite new music genre.

If anything, I was introduced to The Civil Wars, whatta awesome duo.

Yes, I'm CRA-ZY about the mostly indie artistes' tracks and their faithful combined take on both Bluegrass and The Hunger Games story. Previous OST albums which came worthily close to exciting me like this were few and far between- 1) Once 2) Twilight 3) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1. No surprise this OST album has far exceeded sales records, being the only other album to debut at number 1 on the Billboard chart, the first being Michael Jackson's This Is It.

So, do excuse me if I use the word 'awesome' (in every sense of the word) one too many times in my track-by-track review:

1) Abraham's Daughter by Arcade Fire (3.5/5) = This Celtic-like, tribal choral World Music tune is dramatic, and a going-to-epic-battle-kinda song. Perfect in capturing the essence of The Hunger Games story, of a too young female heroine.

2) Tomorrow Will be Kinder by The Secret Sisters (4/5) = Let the bluegrass begin! :D

TIMELESS lullaby, along the line of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Lush, clear vocals win me over anytime. The amalgamation of all the different types of strings (mandolin? harp? bass? ukulele?) are divine. This is what Lana Del Ray should be singing, instead of the pretentious, abstract songs she spews on radio. Check out the cover I did on my Youtube channel, or at the end of this post below!)

3) Nothing To Remember by Neko Case (3/5) = Folksy tune, nice interlude in the album.

4) Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars (4.5/5) = Mad love for the duetting instrumental guitar strings by the folks of The Civil Wars.

It really is one of the best, & memorable tracks on the album. And that's not 'cause I'm Team Taylor. Speaking of which, T-Swift doesn't sound at all like herself. Instead of a jilted princess, she sounds like a friendly forest dweller, comforting our heroine.

5) The Ruler And The Killer by Kid Cudi (3.5/5) = This semi-metal tune with the ominous semi-reggae voice warning over and over, "You don't talk, you don't say nothing ok?" just ups the cool factor.

6) Dark Days by Punch Brothers (5/5) = Omg, sucha dreamy voice + acoustic strings= dream combo to my ears.

Music production is stellar, with the mandolin, ukulele plucking, violin solo, and bagpipes even? Awesome, awesome lyrics.

7) One Engine by The Decemberists (3.5/5) = Adult contemporary tune, again, another pleasant interlude to the album. I'd expected more from The Decemberists, really. Dunno what's with the complete turn in sound.

8) Daughter's Lament by Carolina Chocolate Drops (4/5) = Brilliant, acapella ditty, with relevant lyrics weaving the other-era story.

9) Kingdom Come by The Civil Wars (5/5) = The Civil Wars again (!):

This time, with even more intricate guitar work & epic vocals singoff from themselves pleading "don't you fret my dear, it will all be over soon. I'll be waiting here for you." I'm guessing this was highly a new song made just for this OST?

10) Take The Heartland by Glen Hansard (3/5) = This indie screamo band?(not! It's actually a solo artist!) jamming with such passion just gotta be loved, especially with those fiddle sounds thrown in, lol. Not what I'd expect from Glen, honestly (for quite some time, I'd thought he was the guy behind the song number 6 above, Dark Days).

11) Come Away by Maroon 5 feat. Rozzi Crane (4.5/5) = Maroon 5 GETS music. 'Nuff said:

People wrote them off as another formulaic pop band with 'the uck singer with that girly voice', but I personally loved their craftsmanship & strongly rooted for them from the start. Can I sing this semi-duet song with them at F1? :D

12) Run Daddy Run by Miranda Lambert feat. Pistol Annies (4/5) = Girlish but don't-mess-with-us country-styled vocals "Daddy can you heaaar the devil drawing near..." Percussions, with the double mandolin accompainment are awesome. Awesome collaboration.

13) Rules by Jayme Dee (3.5/5) = Singer-songwriters are so fitting to write such awesome lyrics. At first, I was meh about this singer's sleepy Meiko voice, but her diction was clear throughout, a quality which I always respect from my favourite singers out there. :)

14) Eyes Open by Taylor Swift (3/5) = Ms T-Swift's experimental vocals makes an apperance again. However, 'tis a standard pop tune. Swift tries to sound different from her usual self but comes off sounding like she's ripping Avril Lavigne's material. Not a bad effort though (Tay can never really do wrong with any of her songs, #realtalk). And hey, who doesn't love an 'encouragement/advice-y' kind of song? XD NB: I still don't get why her song Long Live isn't featured on any OST.

15) Lover Is Childlike by The Low Anthem (3.5/5) = Ambient-soundtrack-y music, and kudos to the thoughtfully crafted musical arrangement, as are all the other songs on this album awesomely are, actually.

16) Just A Game by Birdy (4.5/5) = Emo voice in the line of Sarah McLachlan, with great piano accompainment:

Beautifully awesome mood ballad, to send us off away from this precious album.

Album Rating: 4/5


Here's a cover I did for track number 2, Tomorrow Will Be Kinder (dunno why my eyes look so small, bleh), enjoy: