Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

(Fox/Atlantic)
by Jen Beatty

When I list off movies like Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Reality Bites, Singles, Flashdance, Footloose, and Dirty Dancing, do you recall first a scene from the movie or a song from the film? I thought so. Soundtracks are a major selling point for movies. Hence, Lollipop received four this month for review.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Fox/Atlantic) – This soundtrack opens sounding very much like ’80s metal, thanks to the Power Rangers Orchestra (yeah, right). Producers Happy Walters and Pilar McCurry dug up other ’80s metal, dance, and fuck tunes (“Dreams” by Van Halen, Snap‘s “The Power,” and “Higher Ground” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers). Edgar Winter Group’s 1978 hit “Free Ride” gets a face lift, as does Carl Douglas’ “Kung Fu Fighting.” This soundtrack doesn’t add any memorable new material, but the recycled oldies will sound like fresh tracks to the young ‘uns.