I'd like to start by saying something. I LIKED Armageddon. It was a throuroughly enjoyable movie and I'm getting kinda tired of all the smarter than thou attitude that many of the movie critics are taking with it and with the public. So Movie Critics: BITE ME!!!!
With that out of my chest, I'd like to give you a review of the movie's soundtrack. (Note before we go: If you hate Aerosmith, you might want to stop now. It's for your own good).
The movie features four tracks from the second biggest bunch of troublemakers to come out of Boston. (The first were a group of British lads who decided to have some fun with tea). On top of that, they include the sequence "Animal Crackers" from the movie - yeah, the one with the gazelle. So that's five tracks with Mr. Steven Tyler. A drawback to some, but a plus to me.
The lead track, "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing," flies with all of the syrupy power given by Diane Warren (who also penned the Celine Dion hit "My Heart Will Go On" and the Trisha Yearwood/Leann Rhymes double hit "How Do I Live"). While normally I would cringe at something like this, the song is redeemed by Mr. Tyler. The other new Aero tune, "What Kind Of Love Are You On" is preferred. I just wish it just didn't end all of a sudden. As for "Come Together" and "Sweet Emotion," well, they spruce up the soundtrack with their power. (Little note: the "Sweet Emotion" in here is different from the one in Toys In The Attic. Trust me on that one.)
Other good tracks range from the ZZ Top classic, "La Grange," the beautiful cover of John Denver's "Leaving On A Jet Plane" by Chantal Kreviazuk and the original piece created by composer Trevor Rabin as the "Theme From Armageddon." (Can't wait to get the score). Other decent tracks include Shawn Colvin's "When The Rainbow Comes" to Jon Bon Jovi's "Mister Big Time."
Then there's the other side of soundtracks. They just happen to include stuff you may not like or care too much about. I usually skip the Bob Seger song, "Roll Me Away" (you try listening to all his stuff on Muzak and not growing tired with it!) and Journey's "Remember Me" - which is most notable by the presence of a new vocalist (Steve Augeri).
While soundtracks may leave you dissatisfied, at the very least Armageddon is not trying to take the high road and be more than what it should be. It falls flat on some tracks, but overall you will be pleased and left a big grin on your face - like the movie leaves you.