Artist:  Various

Melancholy music is the order of the day on New Moon soundtrack.

Considering that many of the Twi-hards (a.k.a. those who can't get enough of Robert Pattinson and proudly sport the requisite "Team Edward" T-shirts) are also the people who heart the Jo Bros and Miley Cyrus, too, one might expect the highly anticipated New Moon soundtrack to take a few cues from its teeny-bopper fan base. Namely, less alt rock, more teen pop.

But since Twilight series author Stephenie Meyer has proudly proclaimed her love for under-the-radar rockers like Paramore and Muse (who have both catapulted to mass success as a result), it's probably best to stick with what worked the first time around. And that's precisely what the film's musical directors have done with New Moon's official soundtrack, but with even better results.

Far more cohesive than the Twilight Saga's first soundtrack, the set list for New Moon definitely earns cool points for featuring a stellar lineup of musical talent. Instead of letting Robert Pattinson warble his way through two more ho-hum tracks, they wisely leave the musical duties to the pros including Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers, Radiohead's Thom Yorke plus fantastic up-and-comers Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear and Sea Wolfe.

Effectively matching the angst-y mood of the story, (for the unacquainted, most of New Moon chronicles the inevitable demise of Bella's relationship with her beloved vampire love, Edward), there's a feeling of heartbreak that permeates all of these tracks. Imagine for a moment if all of David's "Psalms" were solely alt-rock laments of losing the love of his life, and you get the idea.

Not only are many of the songs including Band of Skulls' "Friends" and Anya Marina's "Satellite Heart" in a more somber key, but even the way the vocalists deliver the lyrics helps communicate the overarching feelings of despair. Anyone who's been through a breakup before knows exactly how it feels, and the music captures each and every frayed emotion so authentically.

Thankfully, listening in is not the equivalent of Chinese water torture, though. With smart sequencing and the moody, but decidedly peppier tracks from Death Cab for Cutie and The Killers sandwiched in between, The Twilight Saga—New Moon: The Official Soundtrack is a superb collection of songs that will probably help broaden the musical horizons of its target fan base.

And for music fans who aren't necessarily invested in Edward and Bella's story, but want something intriguing to listen to, well, the soundtrack proves there are still inspired moments in mainstream pop culture worth checking out.