The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1
by Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  • Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Nov 17, 2014
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 80 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 80
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 80
  3. Negative: 8 out of 80
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  1. Wonderland28
    Jun 21, 2017
    10
    It's a tragedy they didn't include all these songs in the actual film as Lorde lay the conditions for an epic, surreal viewing experience through the sonic beauty of this album.
  2. Juniorsanctus
    Jun 7, 2017
    8
    Lorde made here a great job. the sounds of the song make the difference. My favorite is the sound of ''Dead Air''. I think that ''All My Love'' is a little bit lost here. But Major Lazer did a great job with Ariana's vocal.
  3. eagleeyeviking
    Jul 16, 2016
    4
    A fall from the success of the 'Catching Fire' album, the poorly led Mockingjay Part 1's album is an overall uneven album which doesn't reflect the mood of the movie and instead switches genres often.
  4. rebelheart123
    Apr 20, 2015
    8
    this album abstractly reflects the entire film , with a perfect performance thanks to Lord , incredible lyrics and vocals as the charli XCX great , great album
  5. jesseurbancsik
    Mar 23, 2015
    9
    Lorde does a phenomenal job at curating and songs like "All My Love", "Yellow Flicker Beat" and "Meltdown" make the album one of the best soundtracks released in 2014.
  6. samukahn
    Dec 5, 2014
    10
    Lorde kills it again. Just like Love Club EP and Pure Heroine, I put this in the machine and keep it on spin. Bravo.
    P.S. I like the "Animal" pitchfork be damned
  7. vikesh2206
    Nov 25, 2014
    4
    A fall from the success of the 'Catching Fire' album, the poorly led Mockingjay Part 1's album is an overall uneven album which doesn't reflect the mood of the movie and instead switches genres often.
  8. nerding
    Nov 20, 2014
    10
    great soundtracks, really powerful songs from varied genres of music. this is a great mix and depicts the mockingjay's story very well. as a curator, good job lorde
  9. asjklasjklas
    Nov 19, 2014
    7
    The soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. I—curated by Ella Yelich-O'Connor AKA Lorde or more appropriately, Kiwi's "Queen of Alternative"—departs from the more melancholy, rock oriented environment of its predecessors by equally appealing to the District's dancefloors and to the District's Pitchfork publication—if it has one—with its ray of EDM influences and ray of criticallyThe soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. I—curated by Ella Yelich-O'Connor AKA Lorde or more appropriately, Kiwi's "Queen of Alternative"—departs from the more melancholy, rock oriented environment of its predecessors by equally appealing to the District's dancefloors and to the District's Pitchfork publication—if it has one—with its ray of EDM influences and ray of critically acclaimed acts such as CHVRCHES, Charli XCX, Bat For Lashes, Pusha T, Miguel, and of course, Lorde herself. Needless to say, it's an impressive line-up.

    The disappointments aren't out of sight—Major Lazer and Ariana Grande's collaboration on "All My Love" could've sounded created on paper, but unfortunately, it results in one of Major Lazer's safest and most commerce-hungry productions to date—however, its highlights can be equally as effective. The bubbly, 'call-to-arms' chorus on CHVRCHES' "Dead Air", Charli XCX's whimsical collaboration with Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon and Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij, and lead single "Yellow Flicker Beat"'s musical makeover by Yeezus himself, decorating Lorde's signature smoky vocals in dark harmonies and minimal electronic 808s.    … Expand
  10. OpinionatedGuy
    Nov 19, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was really disappointed when I listened to the Catching Fire soundtrack. But when the news came that Lorde will be choosing the songs for the Mockingjay soundtrack, I had some renewed faith that the soundtrack will remain faithful to the trilogy since Lorde herself is a fan of The Hunger Games trilogy. Well, the soundtrack didn't meet up some of my expectations but it's easily better than the Catching Fire soundtrack.

    Let me start by pointing out the same problem I had with the Catching Fire soundtrack which was the inappropriate upbeat music. The upbeat music somehow do not fit with the tone of the trilogy, especially that Mockingjay will be a much more darker story.

    However to appreciate the soundtrack, you have to listen closely to the lyrics as they're important to make sure the lyrics are relevant to the movie.

    There were a few songs in the soundtrack that I feel like they're fillers since they have little or no connection to the trilogy (All My Love by Major Lazer feat. Ariana Grande, Original Beast by Grace Jones) There were many songs in the soundtrack that while not entirely related to the trilogy, there is a significant connection to the trilogy like Lost Souls by Raury, The Leap by Tinashe etc. And there were a few songs in the soundtrack that is really connected to the trilogy very well.

    This soundtrack is mostly told from Katniss's perspective. Scream My Name by Tove Lo fits Katniss' depression and her curiosity if she will be remembered if she was dead. Kingdom by Charli XCX featuring Simon Le Bon is one of the highlights of the soundtrack as it fits Katniss' loneliness without Peeta.

    And lastly, the lead single for the soundtrack Yellow Flicker Beat by Lorde is obviously about Katniss' tough ambition as the Mockingjay for everyone in Panem and making sure nobody stands in the way to get what she wants and that includes killing President Snow herself for everything he did that tried to damaged her entirely as a person. Kanye West's remix of the song did the original song justice in a much more darker way, especially that it fits with the dark themes of Mockingjay.

    Even though this soundtrack is mostly told from Katniss' perspective, there were two songs in the soundtrack that focuses on different people from the trilogy which was nice to hear. The opening track which was the five way collaboration from French singer Stromae, Lorde, Pusha T, Q-Tip and HAIM which was Meltdown is told from the point of view from the Capitol rebels in which they can't enjoy the privileges that Capitol gave them as they know that the Capitol is corrupted and they feel guilty that the rest of Panem can't enjoy the same freedom as they have so they decided to take a stand against the Capitol hoping to grant everyone in Panem freedom. And the penultimate track This is Not a Game by The Chemical Brothers feat. Miguel feels like it's told from one of the characters from the movie which was about Boggs' perspective to Katniss as he takes responsibility as a leader of their group for the revelation. The dark electronic music as well as the obvious lyrics to the movie fits right to the tone of both parts of the Mockingjay movies, especially on the second part of the movie.

    Despite its inappropriate upbeat music at times, Lorde managed to get the right notes for most of the relevant songs she selected for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 Soundtrack.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Rolling Stone
    Dec 18, 2014
    70
    What ties it all together is a brooding intensity that fits perfectly with The Hunger Games' dystopic mood.
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  2. AllMusic
    Dec 8, 2014
    70
    Standouts are plentiful, with Lorde herself contributing both the propulsive centerpiece "Yellow Flicker Beat" and a cover of Bright Eyes' "Ladder Song." "Yellow Flicker Beat" also gets the remix treatment from Kanye West, his more minimal reworking of the song credited as "Flicker."
    Read full review
  3. The 405
    Dec 4, 2014
    80
    [A] lovingly crafted, adventurous soundtrack that easily stands on its own merits.
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