The Hunger Games - Songs from District 12 and Beyond

Produced by 12-time Grammy winner T Bone Burnett, the album features 16 brand-new and exclusive tracks by many of music's top artists who've drawn from themes embodied in The Hunger Games story to craft their songs.

In addition to the previously announced lead single “Safe & Sound,” by Big Machine recording artist Taylor Swift featuring The Civil Wars, Songs from District 12 and Beyond includes a brand new song from The Decemberists entitled “One Engine” as well as songs from a myriad of other chart-topping and critically acclaimed sensations such as Arcade Fire (whose song appears in the film itself), Kid Cudi, Miranda Lambert feat. The Pistol Annies, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, and more.

Includes an exclusive Hunger Games poster. (Cover fold out)

Mirroring the intense action and compelling drama of this epic story, this eclectic mix of songs written especially for the companion album explore topics of freedom, family, love, power, and individuality.

Review by Jim Pusey, Contact Music

“Cashing In on the film's success!” would be the knee jerk reaction of many willing to jump to a quick conclusion, but the answer is actually quite the opposite. The reason is primarily down to legendary producer T-Bone Burnett…At its heart The Hunger Games is a folk album (reflecting the nature of the poor underclass living in District 12), which in its few louder moments introduces almost tribal drumming to bring to mind the barbarity of The Hunger Games themselves. There's no sugar sweet pop here, nor warped electronic samples, instead when the more straightforward obligatory rock tracks appear (courtesy of Kid Cudi, Glen Hansard, The Decemberists, and Taylor Swift) they sit comfortably amongst their quieter counterparts…Songs From District 12 And Beyond is a standalone album that doesn't rely on the listener having seen the film of the same name, although if you have, it also manages to compliment that experience too. The songs here all sound as if they've been cherry picked by Burnett to produce a record with hidden depths that you'll return to long after the movie has left your DVD player. 9/10"