Original Soundtrack - Stealth / O.S.T. (CD)

All Music Guide

Stealth's claim to fame is three brand new songs from Incubus. The Californians have continually matured over the years (one listen to 2004's ambitious Crow Left of the Murder proves that), and the Stealth material continues that trajectory. "Make a Move" rails like an athletic, vibrant version of vintage Soundgarden, "Admiration" doesn't overdo it on the strings and melodrama, and "Neither of Us Can See" is an audaciously arranged, mildly psychedelic foottapper that features duet vocals between Brandon Boyd and Chrissie Hynde. It's a little weird that Sony chose to debut these songs on the soundtrack for an iffy latesummer actioner about a robot bomber gone rogue. But they're strong entries regardless, and help Stealth's quality climb higher than, say, the set for Fantastic Four. There's filler here, of course. Trading Yesterday is a tooclean amalgam of CCM and the Calling, and Acceptance offers the twinkling emo plead of "Different." But Stealth also opts for a number of collaborativ...e tracks. They don't all work, but they're still more interesting than the average summer movie soundtrack fare. For example, Chili Peppers Chad Smith and John Frusciante (his guitar tone is unmistakable) join Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, occasional Black Sabbath vocalist) for a reverent take on "Nights in White Satin." Hughes absolutely wails at the end. David Bowie's meetup with BT isn't as successful. "[She Can] Do That" has a punchy electronic bounce, but it could be Bowie or anybody on the choppedup vocal. Likewise, will.i.am selfishly recuts the Sly the Family Stone classic "Dance to the Music" as a platform for his "I'm the best dancer ever" proclamations. Elsewhere there's "BulletProof Skin" from Institute, the new project of grunge survivor Gavin Rossdale. Here's he's paired with Photek, but the producer's trademark electronic manipulation isn't apparent in the forgettable song, which sounds remarkably like the year 1994 refashioned for a new century. - Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide Read more Less