Suicide Squad: The Album (Atlantic)

Suicide Squad has been branded one of the most underwhelming movies of the summer. That’s nothing compared to its soundtrack.

Able to combine a range of styles, film compilations have the potential to make unique song selections. Instead, Suicide Squad: The Album is both tired and bland, stuffed with uninspiring rap tracks from supposed tough guys Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and Wiz Khalifa. The highlights of the record come from the final three songs—War’s funk classic “Slippin’ Into Darkness”, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s rocking “Fortunate Son”, and the orchestrally scored “I Started a Joke” by ConfidentialMX and Becky Hanson—whose placement confirms their addition as an afterthought.

In keeping with the directorial decision to transform an R-rated movie into a PG-13 flick, the album’s push toward grittiness repeatedly falls flat. Action Bronson’s explicit raps on “Standing in the Rain” are ruined by the song’s flaccid chorus, and Kehlani’s “Gangsta” is anything but mobbed up and threatening. Standout track “Heathens” by Twenty One Pilots punctuates the drivel, but isn’t enough to rescue the disappointing compilation.

What’s the one thing worse than seeing the movie? Buying the album.