Suicide Squad, the DC property where the bad guys are the actual heroes, cries out for an appropriately aggressive accompanying soundtrack, which is precisely what
Suicide Squad: The Album
delivers. Sometimes the tempo slows and at times the murk lifts for a bit of lightness -- by the time
War
's "Slippin' into Darkness," one of two oldies here, arrives it's a blessed, breezy relief -- but the overall feel of
is one of dank industrial gloom: this music is meant to live in the shadows. Often, the music celebrates darkness.
Lil Wayne
,
Wiz Khalifa
, and
Imagine Dragons
admit they're a "Sucker for Pain,"
Kehlani
lusts for a "Gangsta," and the whole shebang starts with
Skrillex
&
Rick Ross
creating an unholy racket in "Purple Lamborghini." Despite the presence of
Twenty One Pilots
, possibly the most popular rock band in 2016,
feels like a throwback, a salute to Y2K rap-rock and
Todd McFarlane
figures anchored by
Eminem
's "Without Me." It's an odd bit of cognitive dissonance that isn't without its moments:
Dan Auerbach
Mark Ronson
Action Bronson
conjure some spooky soul and there's an elegance underpinning
Grace
's "You Don't Own Me" that recalls vintage
Portishead
. All the same, the record's heart is in manicured chaos, served up with gloss and volume. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine