True Blood: Music from the HBO Original Series, Vol. 4

Like another popular vampire franchise, True Blood's soundtracks became increasingly star-studded with each volume. True Blood Vol. 4: Music from the Original HBO Series is no exception, kicking off with a pair of duets featuring Eric Burdon and Jenny Lewis and Iggy Pop and Bethany Cosentino, respectively, as well as tracks by venerable indie acts like My Morning Jacket and trendier names like the Naked and Famous. Despite the increased starpower, the brooding-yet-campy vibe of True Blood's music remains strong, particularly on driving tracks like Mobley's bluesy take on the Beatles' "I Wanna Be Your Man" and theatrical ones like Los Lobos' version of the chestnut "We'll Meet Again." At times, songs like these border on overdone, but then again, True Blood has never been much for subtlety. And while some of the collection's star turns work well, such as Warpaint's delicate lament "Undertow" and the Flaming Lips' "Your Face Can Tell the Future" -- which is far more winsome and bitterswe