Soundtrack Shows Surprising Strength

*** VARIOUS ARTISTS

“Godzilla” soundtrack

Epic Music Soundtrax

It would have been easy enough for the producers of “Godzilla” to cobble together a soundtrack album by licensing various existing songs and then slapping a “music inspired by the film” disclaimer on the jewel box--why buck the prevailing trend?

Instead, we get a strong album of original material that has loose thematic ties to the film, but actually stands on its own merits. The album’s first single, a version of David Bowie’s “Heroes” performed by the Wallflowers, is actually one of the weakest efforts--rather than attempt something daring, Jakob Dylan and company turn in a rote interpretation, with little new spin or flavor.

Things take a wonderfully wacky turn on the second track, however, which pairs Puff Daddy with erstwhile Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page on a reworking of the majestic Zep classic “Kashmir” called “Come With Me.” As Page stamps out the song’s ascending modal riff over a full orchestra, Puff balefully spits out the most passionate rap he’s committed to record thus far. “Come With Me” is his best rock-rap synthesis to date.

There are some other gems here as well: Jamiroquai’s “Deeper Underground” is a quasi-Funkadelic workout; Rage Against the Machine’s “No Shelter” is a strong offering from the militant rockers, as is Ben Folds Five’s “Air.” Ancillary marketing tool? Sure, but the “Godzilla” soundtrack is also a coherent and enjoyable album.