‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack,’ Various Original Artists, Warner Music

Listening to this album is like sinking your teeth into a meal of melancholy music sprinkled with doom and gloom.

The strange story about a love triangle between a vampire, a human and a werewolf naturally calls for a soundtrack that is equal parts of different musical genres namely alternative rock, emo and gothic. And here, dinner is served.

Many of the songs in this OST are best appreciated in the context of the film. These include Lykke Li’s droning “Possibility,” Anya Marina’s whispery “Satellite Heart,” Bon Iver & St. Vincent’s ambient “Roslyn,” Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s menacing “Done All Wrong” and the Editor’s cheerless “No Sound But The Wind,” all of which give aural oomph to the scenes (mostly showing a wan-faced Bella contemplating life without the perpetually morose teen vampire Edward Cullen) they were used for.

Other hot spots in the “New Moon” CD: Muse’s lyrically fit-for-the-movie “I Belong To You,” (“I can’t find the words to say, they’re overdue, I’ve traveled half the world to say ‘I belong to you’”), Ok Go’s bare bones rendering of “Shooting The Moon,” Hurricane Bells’ hurdy-gurdy “Monsters,” and Sea Wolf’s head-bobbing “Violent Hour.”

If the “New Moon” soundtrack is a glimpse of things to come in the next “Twilight” movie and album, then by all means, Edward, BITE BELLA, QUICK!

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‘Hot Mess,’ Cobra Starship, Warner Music

It’s easy to dismiss this group as a one-dimensional, Leighton Meester-flaunting, pop and dance act if the impression is based on their first hit song, “Good Girls Gone Bad.”

Further listen to “Hot Mess,” however, refutes this. Sure, their songs are synth-heavy and some remind one a tad much of cringe-inducing ’80s pop, but there’s no denying that they craft songs that are just all too darn catchy. “The Scene Is Dead, Long Live The Scene,” “Living In The Sky With Diamonds” and the title track attest to this.

That said, the band proves itself a brave-enough bunch in that they don't allow themselves to be tied to one dimension. Cobra Starship experiments, production-wise.

They have a bit of rock going in “You’re Not In On The Joke” featuring Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump. In another, its hip-hop namely “The World Will Never Do” with rapper B.O.B laying down verses.

“Messy” for some, but “hot” for most, Cobra Starship’s winning formula makes for a truly interesting affair with or without Leighton.

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