It’s not a soundtrack in the strictest sense, no. Basically, the album recently released that is full of folksyindustrialtwangywhatnot is an official fanmix. Instead of fanmixes in the sense like I make them, where you take a bunch of songs that already exist and pile them together, the producers of this particular soundtrack took a bunch of artists that have some aesthetic similarities and then said “hey, create songs that are vaguely relevant to this theme!!”
I’m not arguing this particular point. Obviously, I am an advocate of the fanmix, and I am an advocate of many of the involved artists. Neko Case, the Civil Wars, the Decemberists, Glen Hansard. All of whom make me go yes.
I am arguing the involvement of the songs in the movie, or rather the lack of involvement. When you’re fighting battles in the woods, what would you rather: generic action movie music, or instrumentalized segments of twangy industrial tunes? Me personally, I’d rather that. Folksy anything is better to me basically always. And especially here: I mean, the generic action music was relevant to the Capitol, it sounded appropriate there, but in District 12 or in the Arena, it was more folksytwang time. They’re working in the mines, they’re fighting in the woods, they’re taking care of business.
This is a fairly short post, I suppose. But this is my plea to the producers of the movies: next time, actually twang it up a little. Some of those battle/camping montages could have been even better with some badass Decemberists tunes or something. And in the plaintive moments, I kept thinking they’d pipe in strains of “Safe and Sound” or something. Just a hint. Lyrics not even necessary. Twang is just more effective, all right?
–your fangirl heroine.
