Regardless of the strengths and failings of the Twilight Saga movies, their soundtracks captured the mood of each book perfectly. Breaking Dawn was split into two films, so the movie of the book’s first half is more or less a celebration of Bella and Edward’s love, and a chance for fans to see the wedding they’ve been anticipating for years. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Pt. 1 follows suit, delivering more than a few love songs that are surprisingly angst-free compared to the previous soundtracks. Imperial Mammoth's “Requiem on Water” could inspire the first dance at a wedding reception, while Angus Julia Stone's “Love Will Take You”’s cheery folk beams with the satisfaction of finding a soulmate. The Features' “From Now On” turns that happiness into energetic pop, and Cider Sky's “Northern Lights” takes it in a sparkly electronic direction akin to Owl City. Even more somber tracks like Aqualung and Lucy Schwartz's “Cold” and Mia Maestro's “Llovera” make it clear that dedication is unquestioned. A handful of more aggressive tracks crash this party: the Joy Formidable's “Endtapes,” the Belle Brigade's “I Didn’t Mean It,” and the Noisettes' “Sister Rosetta [2011 Version]” sound all the feistier next to the gauzy romance of most of these songs, while Bruno Mars returns to the oddly violent side of his songwriting (à la “Grenade”) for “It Will Rain,” the only truly troubled-sounding song here. Still, the most notable thing about The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Pt. 1 is its unabashed romanticism, and the album more than serves its purpose as a Twilight-branded wedding playlist. Heather Phares, Rovi
- Genre: Soundtrack, Rock
- Subgenre: Film Music, Pop/Rock
- Category Indie Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Soundtracks, Alternative Pop/Rock
- Release Date: November 8, 2011
- Artist: Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1
- Additional Artist: Mia Maestro (Vocals), Theophilus London (Vocals), Angus Stone (Vocals), Julia Stone (Vocals)