Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond

I can name a few select soundtracks that have impressed me as much as The Hunger Games has. With the exception of two songs (kid Cudi? really? was this an attempt at pandering to a tween audience?), the Hunger Games soundtrack might as well have been pulled from the most played artist list on my itunes.  It is a beautiful collection of artists like Arcade Fire, The Decembrists, The Punch Brothers, The Secret Sisters, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, and The Civil Wars who each capture so well the mood of The Hunger Games. Many songs have an Appalachian feel reflective of the coal mining district heroin, Katniss Everdeen, hails from. All have dark, melancholic undertones. Some songs make direct references to the story, while others are simply thematic. It is a beautiful, rich soundtrack and I'm impressed that the creators sought out such talented artists instead of falling back on top-40 artists for a film that was sure to be a blockbuster hit. 

Taylor Swift: Safe and Sound

I posted this video to Accidental Music's Tumblr (it's cool, check it out!) but it is far too amazing not to get an official post of its own. Seriously, I am so entirely in love with this song that features T-Swift teamed up with Grammy winning Civil Wars, which has to be one of my favorite collaborations to date. Swifts voice it at its best with this haunting melody and The Civil Wars add perfect instrumentals and accompanying harmonies. The song is part of upcoming the Hunger Games soundtrack, which promises to be outrageously amazing with its inclusion of artists like Arcade Fire, The Decembrists, The Carolina Chocolate Drops and so many other great artists.

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Accidental Playlist: Songs for Love

For all the crap that I will admit to giving Valentine's Day (I'm a single girl, it can't be helped), I can't argue too much with a holiday all about love. So in honor of this day to shower the people you love with love (thank you James Taylor), this week's playlist does just that. It features artists like John Legend, The Decembrists, Florence and the Machine, The Avett Brothers and so many more of my favorites (so obviously also Foster the People). Enjoy and may all of your days be filled with love! Happy listening!

Songs for Love

Accidental Playlist: Songs for Winter

This past week it was hard to imagine it is winter. The Austin sunshine blanketed me in warm sunshine and I wore my shorts and worked outside coffee shops while Cooper chased bugs at my feet. Even the Northeast was graced with unseasonably warm and sunny weather. Still, there is no question that the bareness of the trees and the cooler temperatures looming on the forecast are telling us that we are indeed in winter.

This week's Accidental Playlist features songs for this cold, snowy, quieter season. Artists featured include The Decemberists, Mumford and Sons, The Head and the Heart, Pretty Lights, The Avett Brothers and a number of others. Check it out on Spotify.

New Decembrists EP

Colin Meloy's distinct voice, and their timeless melodies are what make The Decembrists a band I come back to over and over. They just released a new EP, Long Live the King, which continues to explore old and mythical themes. It is a delight.