Blade: Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture
TheBladesoundtrack matches up with expectations for the film pretty well: there are a few artists who have done some consistently good work, most of whom seem to be slumming it here (KRS-One, Gang Starr); there are a couple trying to change their image and prove that they can be relevant in another context (New Order); there's a completely unexpected appearance by someone you'd completely forgotten about (Mantronik); and there are plenty of forgettable turns by wannabes, could-bes, and should-bes (Mystikal, Kasino, P.A.). The album finally picks up toward the end, with Mantronik's club-hopping EPMD remix, New Order's techno turn, Expansion Union's dance track, and DJ Krush's lounge vibe.--Randy Silver