Good for a soundtrack album. As a matter of fact, the soundtrack is pretty much the only thing worth watching the 1980 version of Flash Gordon for. The music suits the film’s themes and art direction perfectly, those being that of a mediocre, humorously camp ’80s sci-fi flick. In that sense, it’s a total triumph for a movie soundtrack.

But, they put it out as a studio album, didn’t they? So people may have expected something a bit more traditional, rather than this instrumental array of blaring electric guitars and synthesizers, that actually still sound more natural together on this album than other Queen efforts such as 1982’s Hot Space, the studio album follow-up to Flash Gordon.

Some instrumentals are actually good enough to play on their own. The rocking and energetic “Football Fight” being the stand-out among all these. Speaking of stand-outs, the two non-instrumental tracks on the album “Flash’s Theme” and “The Hero” stand out as two of Queen’s best songs ever. “Flash’s Theme” is the more commonly known song, being issued as a single, but “The Hero” sadly goes unrecognized. Which is ironic, because it’s essentially a heavier-rocking superior version of “Flash’s Theme” with Freddie Mercury delivering his trademark dynamic vocal performance. It’s an explosion of ’80s cliches, but it’s done perfectly and hits hard. Without a doubt one of Queen’s most underrated songs in their large discography.

And that’s what this album sounds like: a cliche. Or to be nicer, it sounds like an artifact of its time, the exact soundtrack you’d expect to play in a low-quality ’80s movie. But who could handle that job better than Queen? Their sense of humor always manages to make Flash Gordon a humorous, if not engaging, listen.

However, even hardcore fans of Queen aren’t missing much by skipping this album. Grab “Flash’s Theme,” “Football Fight,” and (especially) “The Hero.” That’s about the extent of the enjoyment you’d normally get out of casually listening to the entire Flash Gordon soundtrack.