Let's face it. There isn't too much of hype around the soundtrack of Woodstock Villa, a Sanjay Gupta (White Feather) film which will launch the man with the mane, Sikander Kher, who has clearly picked up hair genes from Mommy Kher. Given that the expectations aren't even baseline, the album is below average - but rather disappointing considering that you have musical veteran, Anu Malik, at the wheel.

Dhoka is composed with a sense of urgency and despair, with rising minor chords and sporadic string and brass interludes. Aanchal, heard last on the soundtrack of Dus Kahaaniyan, delivers power in her vocals, but the amateurish composition is her undoing. The remix version picks up energy because of its musical interludes, but still fails to deliver.

Deceit makes a comeback with track 2, Dhoka Dega, with music and vocals by Shibani Kashyap. Dhoka Dega has an alternative streak with a catchy hook line, but features a weak and, at times off-key, rendition by Shibani, especially in lower registers. Looking back, her strongest performances have either had significant vocal modulation (Sajna Aa Bhi Jaa from Waisa Bhi Hota Hai) or shriek-level scales (Zinda Hoon Main from Zinda).

The opening line of Koi Chala Jaa Raha Hai by virtuoso Rahat Fateh Ali Khan definitely raises one's expectations by several notches. Unfortunately, the "alaap" writes a cheque that the rest of the song just can't cash, even though the track is in the same school of intense, emotional tracks that one has come to expect from Rahat. Although sung rather well, especially with his classical movements in the verse, the weak chorus and melody line do not support or adequately justify Rahat's singing prowess.

The "Blast-from-the-past" Aryans make a questionable comeback onto the scene with Kyun, a rock song so straightforward that it hurts. The badly-devised song has the personality of a brick, with no appeal whatsoever, leaving the listener expectedly going, "Kyun? Aakhir kyun?"

Shibani returns to the controls with the well-wishing track, Raakh Ho Jaa Tu. The song seems to be the first one to hit the nail on the head in terms of a loungey and mysterious aura, which the film invites.

If you thought that you'd gotten over your worst repressed memories, think again. The 1999 Mika Singh wildcard and wildfire hit, Saawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag is given an extreme Bollywood makeover by Anu, who graciously lends his voice to a rap sequence (which sounds eerily like the "C'mon c'mon now everybody" sequence in Ganpat from Shootout at Lokhandwala). Although to give the devil his due, Mika's definitely matured a little as a singer, as his vocals sound less nasal this time around.

The album closes weakly on Yeh Pyaar Hai, sung by Aanchal and Shaan - a stereotypical love song that you would expect from a first-time composer. With Anu Malik, one does realise that the theory of "hit-and-miss" is in effect, but with so many misses, you wonder if saw the dart board at all.

Balance Sheet: Woodstock Villa is a fussy ride, to an unknown destination. One doesn't seem to get where the album is going half the time, and that's what makes it lose appeal, very quickly. As is expected of a mystery/suspense thriller soundtrack, the album features elements of intrigue and mystique, similar to the music of another Anu Malik disappointment, Aks. But, at least Aks had a point - it was arrogantly alternative. WV is pervaded by stereotypes, but yet wants to be "hat ke". Sorry, Woodstock Villa. No vacancy.