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
Suicide Squad: The Album 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,
Suicide Squad: The Album 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, and
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.
