Bad Company  (Audio CD) 
by Various Artists

There's a distinct flavor of mystery and intrigue woven through the hip-hop and rap found on the Bad Company soundtrack. Tricky's charcoal-hued rasp intones menace over a kaleidoscope of piano, background vocals, and factory-like noises, while the Dub Pistols' song contains a melancholy guitar riff snaking through its moody textures, like the gloomier moments from Moby's Play filtered through street-weary lyrics. Gorillaz, D12, and ex-Specials' member Terry Hall creep and stomp in a haunted house of beats and samples, while trip-hopping of the sinister (Jahei featuring Duganz) and longingly crooning (Rama Duke) varieties continue the emotive atmospheres. Save for Next's classic slice of soul singing, songs that deviate from the ominous ambience fare worse--Pretty Willie's repetitive "Na Na" and Jagged Edge's watery remake of Air Supply's "All Out of Love" especially misstep, marring an otherwise excellent soundtrack. --Annie Zaleski