Life: Music Inspired By The Motion Picture
Despite the fact that the two share top billing for the soundtrack's credits, R&B; croonerR. Kellyplays a much greater role in shaping the sound ofLifethan does the Fugees'Wyclef Jean. Kelly's slow and languid style of soul gets slathered all over the album--often with mediocre results (Mya's "Why Should I Believe You?,"Trisha Yearwood's "Follow the Rain"), though he does manage a gem or two (especially "Speechless," which features the incredible falsetto voice ofRonald Isley). As for Wyclef, he's up to most of his old tricks, including a simply banal (and wholly unnecessary) remix ofMinnie Riperton's maudlin "Lovin' You," but he partially redeems himself with the surprisingly good "25 to Life" (featuringXzibit,Juvenile, Nature, Ja Rule, and Reptile) as well as his own "New Day," which cameos the syrupy-sweet sax of jazz-popsterKenny G.--Oliver Wang