VARIOUS ARTISTS, “Higher Learning” soundtrack; Epic...

VARIOUS ARTISTS, “Higher Learning” soundtrack; Epic (* 1/2)

This soundtrack from John Singleton’s film about a college campus features a wide array of artists--from Ice Cube to Tori Amos to Me’Shell NdegeOcello to Liz Phair. The variety on this 15-track album is intended to reflect the diversity of collegiate tastes, but the result is mediocre, flat and--oddly enough--one-dimensional.

Among the uneventful R&B;, run-of-the-mill rap and weedy alternative rock, NdegeOcello’s “Soul Searchin”’ stands out as the best track. Her luxuriant, emotive voice radiates a personality and individuality missing from vocals by other “Higher Learning” contributors such as Zhane and Raphael Saadiq of Tony Toni Tone.

Brand New Heavies and Rage Against the Machine get points for shattering the album’s lethargy with some grooves and tenacity. So does Liz Phair for knocking things off balance with her odd cadence and sonic effects.

Ice Cube also delivers a good tune, but comes off as inane once again with his played-out themes. You know the drill: standard messages of unity, like racism is bad--yet women are still bitches and violence is still a great way to solve things.

Is this reflective of collegiate thinking? It’s doubtful, but welcome to Hollywood.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).