When you see the words "Music from and inspired by" on a soundtrack, it's
usually bad news. Basically, it's an admission that there weren't enough
songs in the movie to fill out a soundtrack, and the producer went out and
felt free to raid the "pop" charts for songs to fill out the album. That's
definitely the case with the "Mission: Impossible 2" soundtrack. Maybe it's
because I saw the movie a while ago, but I really don't recall too many of
the songs on this disc from the flick.
Despite that, sometimes the producers get away with the subterfuge by
picking a good selection of scab songs to stand beside the actual movie
songs and end up with a solid line-up. Sadly, that isn't anywhere near the
case with the "M:I-2" soundtrack. While the highly energetic song list does
capture the mood of a John Woo movie, the choice of tracks just doesn't work.
"Metallica" weighs in with "I Disappear," the first song they've ever
written expressly for a soundtrack. Unfortunately, it's as limp and
uninspired as their recent output. (Naturally it's on ridiculously heavy
rotation on local rock stations, and I suspect, around the country.) "Rob
Zombie's" usual hyper-kinetic style produces the usual, boring results on
"Scum Of The Earth." "Godsmack" persists with its bad "Alice In Chains"
impression on "Going Down," while "Uncle Kracker" (produced by Kid Rock!)
rescues a refugee from "Devil Without A Cause" in performing "What U
Looking At?" There are also a number of unknown bands on the soundtrack,
apparently chosen for their ability to sound a lot like bands that are
currently popular.
With 16 tracks, however, there are a few individual highlights. "Limp
Bizkit" starts the disc off with a surprisingly subtle reworking of the
Mission: Impossible theme originally written by Lazlo Schifren. The low-key
verses, with Fred Durst in his almost conversational rap mode, set up the
hard-hitting (but tastefully brief) choruses. Each succeeding verse also
slyly builds up toward the final explosion, adding an element (more
prominent bassline, extra percussion) each time.
The "Butthole Surfers" also score with the slightly electronically tinged
groove of "They Came In," as do the "Foo Fighters" and "Brain May" with
their remake of "Pink Floyd's" "Have A Cigar." Once you get over the
feeling of sacrilege, their version sounds pretty good.
Having put the listener through a wringer, the disc does manage to come to
a good end, saving the best for last. "Powderfinger" doesn't escape the
rap of being on the soundtrack for sounding like an established band, but
at least they had the good sense to take after "U2" (and a few others). As
a result, "My Kinda Scene" has a positively grin-inducing quality. "Tori
Amos" follows that track with the ethereal "Carnival." Her slightly
filtered vocals, combined with the swirling keyboard atmospherics, just
suck the listener into the song.
Composer Hans Zimmer employs "Heitar Pareira" for the closing track, a
smoking, Spanish-styled acoustic guitar instrumental that's more in line
with the music featured in the movie. Apparently the folks at Hollywood
Records felt compelled to release two soundtracks, the one reviewed here,
and a second disc focusing on Hans Zimmer's film score. Rather than loading
up the rock soundtrack with all that filler, they would have been better
off mixing the 'classical' stuff with the modern, to come up with a true
memento of "Mission: Impossible 2."
