What comes to mind when you think of vampires?

Well, of course blood comes immediately to mind. Running down the list, you think of pale skin, fangs, darkness, coffins and so on.

Now that “Twilight” has come into the picture, eternal love might be the very first thing you think of.

Although there has always been that aspect of forbidden, everlasting love to stories like “Dracula,” “Twilight” has made it the domineering element in the vampire world.

Then comes the question, “How do you soundtrack the brooding, dark story of vampires and eternal love?”

I’m betting that Grizzly Bear didn’t immediately come to mind.

The soundtrack listing for the latest installment of “Twilight,” “New Moon,” was released earlier this week on Myspace and though rumors had been swirling about who was and wasn’t going to be involved for months, this brought an end to all the speculation. The result, well, is a little unexpected.

Not only is the soundtrack stacked with some incredible bands, but also nearly all the songs are original tracks exclusive to the “New Moon” soundtrack. Death Cab for Cutie, Thom Yorke, Lykke Li, The Killers, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Editors and OK Go.

Even more exciting are the two sets of duets: “Roslyn” by Bon Iver with St. Vincent and “Slow Life” by Grizzly Bear and Victoria Legrand of Beach House.

In comparison to the previous soundtrack, the mood is decidedly more indie.

“Twilight’s” soundtrack featured bands with a bit more hard rock edge, including Paramore and Linkin Park, as well as Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiciton), Collective Soul and MuteMath.

Many thought Paramore would be contributing to each soundtrack from here on out, but the lone holdover from Twilight to New Moon is Muse, who has been stated as Stephenie Meyers inspiration for the whole series.

I’m sure everyone seems to be a little surprised by the switch in atmosphere from “Twilight” to “New Moon,” and I can’t help but wonder what the motive for the switch was.

Alex Patsavas, the musical supervisor for the movie, has been claiming that there is big change in mood from “Twilight” to “New Moon,” and that the drearier, indie-heavy soundtrack was simply more appropriate than the more fast-paced, harder one for “Twilight.”

I can’t argue with that logic. From what I am aware of, “New Moon” is far more gloomy and full of lovelorn than its predecessor with the departure of Edward and blooming relationship with Jacob. Suddenly, Grizzly Bear doesn’t seem so out-of-left-field.

The conspiracist in me can’t help but think there is a hidden motive though.

Maybe producers are trying to win over the hipster crowd with promises of exclusive Thom Yorke releases. Perhaps they are hoping to buoy up soundtrack sales by adding the indie crowd consumers (though the 2.2 million sold of the original soundtrack is nothing to scoff at).

This may be counterproductive though. Scanning through the comments left by readers of the official soundtrack release on MySpace, many were disappointed that Paramore wasn’t contributing and that there weren’t any songs by Robert Pattinson. Others simply stated that they didn’t know any of the bands involved other than Death Cab for Cutie and The Killers.

Maybe they just wanted to entice a formerly unreachable demographic into going to see the movie with one of the best soundtrack compilations of the decade.

I couldn’t really fault them for that though, and truthfully speaking, I am ecstatic about it all.

I love that some kid somewhere will hear Lykke Li and fall in love, and that another will google Thom Yorke and discover a whole new realm of musical possibilities.

So whether or not you are a fan of the movies/books (admit it, “Twilight” was a fun movie), I think the New Moon soundtrack is nothing but a good thing for everyone.

It offers either new releases from your favorite artists, or opens the possibility of finding your new favorite band.

And whatever the motive was, the intrigue behind the New Moon soundtrack seems to be working in the movie’s favor.

I mean, I am writing an article about it.

Touché “Twilight…touché.