Godzilla

Godzilla's return to the big screen mixes old and new; this monster of a flick infuses '90s special effects into the classic tale of a lizard gone awry. In effect, the movie's soundtrack embraces a similar resurrection: established artists either breathing new life into well-worn tunes or showcasing exclusive tracks and new lineups. And, like the movie, the soundtrack only succeeds on certain levels. The Wallflowers' recording of David Bowie's "Heroes" (the album's single) is hardly groundbreaking, and the predictable Puffdaddy treatment to Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" drags on. The Foo Fighters, here in their first recording to feature new guitarist Franz Stahl, take a mellow pop tromp. Ben Folds Five's "Air" and Green Day's "Brain Stew," the latter remixed especially for Godzilla, are the album highlights. As the saying goes, sometimes bigger isn't better. --Jason Verlinde