Feature Review

The Crow: Salvation

Motion Picture Soundtrack

***

This May, the third movie in The Crow franchise will be coming to theatres--but you probably haven't heard about it yet; the hype engine is still sitting in neutral. The suits at Miramax are afraid that the "too much too soon" approach will lead to the disappointment that marked the second film for many hard-core fans. But the shameless promotion has to begin eventually and on March 28 the soundtrack will be released with the musical score to follow the next day.

Salvation's soundtrack is a mixed bag: many of the big name bands on the record fall flat on their faces; many of the remixes are a bit paler than their worthy originals (as vocals have been muted in favor of sonic bells and whistles); and most of the electronica is general audience safe and uninspired at best. But surprisingly enough, Salvation is saved by one thing--good old-fashioned rock & roll.

Kicking off the soundtrack is Filter's short and sweet version of "The Best Things," a fangless pop song that's catchy enough and will soon be featured in the first music video for Salvation. Rob Zombie offers a so-so retread of "Living Dead Girl," and the actress Juliette Lewis is nothing special in her appearance with The Infidels. Kid Rock waxes poetic, and boring, in a new track, "Warm Winter," while Hole makes a mockery of themselves--as usual. Crystal Method presents a standard "millennium" edition of their beat, "Now is the Time"--and with the preponderance of Y2K allusions within the titles and lyrics of Salvation's tracks, one must really wonder by how far the film missed its targeted release date.

Monster Magnet and Days of the New are up to their old tricks--business as usual. If you enjoy their unwavering formula, you won't encounter any surprises here. Stabbing Westward use over-production to their advantage this time out, forgoing their usual streams of unnecessary lyrics to concentrating on their powerful hooks and haunting synth-pop. Tricky hasn't learned how to do any new ones, but does manage to do a take on Blondie of all things. Static X picks up the pace, featuring Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory to produce some much appreciated decibels on Salvation with their track "Burning Inside." New American Shame presents an enjoyable Carrie-esque prom fantasy with "Rusted Wings." Pitchshifter takes the album with their dissonant but riveting "Everything Sucks (Again)" that's sure to be a longtime favorite of many.

Soundtracks to The Crow series are an institution, and like most institutions, some believe in them, and many do not. While Salvation is a noble effort in its own right, its purpose is muddled as electronic forms of music are closing in on mainstream, and compilations featuring techno no longer need more traditional artists on them to sell records. In this way, Salvation is a throwback to an earlier time, with cautious and ineffectual beats on the drum machines, and classic-rock waiting in the wings to steal the show.

by Richard Leader