The Social Network soundtrack,This is a soundtrack which catches you off-guard to an extent. Opener Hand Covers Bruise is minimal to the point of Stars of the Lid-style faintness, before the aptly-named In Motion shunts in, evoking the busy rush of information back and forth along the digital highways and byways. Several of the tracks work by offsetting two elements against each other for a kind of duality, a sonic schizophrenia if you will. To wit, Intriguing Possibilities counters an enticing synth hook with shrieks of guitar that cut in about halfway through, while Carbon’s 8-bit video game theme finds itself noodled all over in dementedly off-kilter fashion. A version of Grieg’s Hall of the Mountain King is both the safest and least interesting thing here, demonstrating none of the invention of, for example, the addictive Optimistic Outcome, which reminded me another exemplary movie soundtrack cut, Delia Gonzalez and Gavin Russom’s Relevee, featured in Paolo Sorrentino’s Il Divo.
When I first heard about the film The Social Network, Trent Reznor wouldn’t be the first person I think of. Although Reznor has always been one to keep up with technology and use the internet to his advantage, I recall witnessing his obvious disdain for MySpace. As Facebook became more popular and quickly rendered MySpace obsolete, I figured that his opinion of a slightly more mature social networking site wouldn’t be much different.
The Social Network Soundtrack – Track List
1. Hand Covers Bruise – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
2. In Motion – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
3. A Familiar Taste – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
4. It Catches Up With You – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
5. Intriguing Possibilities – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
6. Painted Sun in Abstract – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
7. 3:14 Every Night – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
8. Pieces Form the Whole – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
9. Carbon Prevails – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
10. Eventually We Find Our Way – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
11. Penetration – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
12. In the Hall of the Mountain King – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
13. On We March – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
14. Magnetic – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
15. Almost Home – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
16. Hand Covers Bruise (reprise) – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
17. Complications with Optimistic Outcome – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
18. The Gentle Hum of Anxiety – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
19. Soft Trees Break the Fall – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross