The Decemberists' Colin Meloy is clearly more of a Middlemarch kind of guy than a young-adult sci-fi fan. But he also loves a literary challenge, and his contribution to the T Bone Burnett-produced Hunger Games soundtrack not only nails the book's dystopic-frenzy/teen-torment vibe, it also invents a new genre: chase-scene indie rock. Over a heated folk gallop and some Edge-does-Shaft guitar peels, Meloy sings about breaking away from dark forces trying to "run you aground," something every state- sanctioned, murder-oriented game- show contestant – and American teenager – can keenly relate to.

Listen to The Decemberists' "One Engine":

Related
• Photos: Random Notes

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.