Search - Various Artists, Wyclef Jean :: Love Jones: The Music (1997 Film)

... Great combination of R&B and Jazz

J. Highsmith | Mitchellville, Maryland United States | 08/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the very few soundtracks that from beginning to end you get nothing but quality music. Sometimes, in the making of a soundtrack, a label gets caught up in trying to get an all star cast of artists, then it takes away from the qulaity of music on the soundtrack and a lot of times the songs have nothing to do with the movie. It's just an effort to sell units, so to speak. The "Love Jones" soundtrack is a perfect example of what a soundtrack should be. Few soundtracks have been able to match the intensity of this soundtrack. It starts off with a spoken word, by Darius, (Larenz Tate) taking the actual excerpt from the movie. This is an excellent way to start a soundtrack. After that things only get better with one of the best songs on this collection, "Hopeless" by Dionne Farris. Although, this song may be depressing to some people, it's a brilliant example of what the movie "Love Jones" is about and the song actually relates to the two main characters, Darius and Nina. Things only get better after this song: One of the breakthrough songs of Lauryn Hill's solo career, "The Sweetest Thing" is also featured on this soundtrack. This song and "Killing Me Softly" on The Fugees' "The Score" CD had people anxiously awaiting a Lauryn Hill solo project. Other quality performances are given by Maxwell, "Sumthin' Sumthin' Mellosmoothe (Cut)", Groove Theory, "Never Enough", and by The Brand New Heavies with "I Like It". If you like good, quality r&b and jazz music, then this is the soundtrack for you. You'll also enjoy the spoken words taken from the movie."

Great Soundtrack

bordersj2 | Boston | 04/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is bringing back loads of memories for me. I remember when the movie came out and I remember the first time I heard the soundtrack some 8 years ago and being blown away by it. Ah, college dayz! The movie had a sexy vibe to it and there was definitely good chemistry with Nia Long and Larenz Tate. And hey, these were the times when Bill Bellamy was popular!



The CD starts out with a Tate's poem from the movie, lyrically 'impressing' Nia Long's character. But then it's followed up with one of my favorite songs that to me captures how you feel when despite how hard you try, you fall in love - "Hopeless". The music, the words, the arrangement is great in it's simplicity. That cut's followed up with Lauryn Hill's "Sweetest Thing", which is nostalgic to me because it was before her wildly popular solo debut album would come out in 1998. Remember Xscape? Well they feature here with "In the Rain", a decent enough track but not the strongest of highlights for the album. Other than "Hopeless", that title is reserved for "Inside My Love" and "You Move Me". "Inside My Love" is redone off of the old Minnie Ripperton version from the mid seventies, and IMO Trina Broussard did a very good job with it. But still Minnie's version sends chills up and down my spine. Meanwhile Cassandra Wilson's "You Move Me" features her rich, deep voice with a soulful smooth and slow snap. The CD winds out with a poem recited by Nia Long from the movie, but that is preceeded by one of Coltrane's best "In a Sentimental Mood", which fits the full atmosphere of the film.



I definitely recommend this CD. 8 years later it's stood the test of time. It shows how beautiful music can come together if the general sense of a soundtrack and compilation fit. The vibe of the album is a bit darker, but also very sensual and romantic and it's music that you can feel. Being that a theme of the movie was expression and deepness in words, no doubt that was transferred into this very deep cd. I wouldn't put this in if you're looking to snap out of a bad mood or being down. But... it's perfect for those times when you are on the cusp of either euphoria or heart-ache."

Wild Hare Club

A. Williams | 06/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The song playing during the Wild Hare Club scene is Charles Cameron's "I will never stop loving you." Google him to purchase."