Win a Date with Tad Hamilton: Music from the Motion Picture

Various Artists…

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton: Music from the Motion Picture

Various Artists

Aware Records

It’s a soundtrack that’s as upbeat as the movie. The soundtrack for “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton” tries to steer clear of the melodrama that follows a love story with 15 peppy pop-rock tracks. For fans of that genre of music, there’s a little something for everyone.

United by a common theme, almost every song touches upon some aspect of the movie’s love theme. There are songs about falling in love, being in love, unrequited love, and simply breaking up. The artists that have contributed to the album range from radio station staples to those who haven’t even received an artist page on MTV’s Web site yet. The eclectic mix of artists helps this soundtrack to keep the different songs distinctive and unique.

With 15 tracks, the soundtrack has a fairly long running time. The album starts strong, with bouncy, familiar pop tracks that were used the most in the middle of the film. Toward the middle of the album, the momentum of the tracks begin to drag, with most of the rock ballads played back-to-back. While most of these slower songs are decent to listen to, a couple of tracks will probably have most people pushing the skip button on the CD player simply because the lull lasts a little too long.

Some of the better songs on the album come from the more well-known artists. Wilshire’s song “Special” is featured on the soundtrack and it’s also one of their singles. The song is enjoyable to listen to, giving the soundtrack a more unique sound. “Some Days” by Wheat keeps the pop trend strong, as does the dance club track “More Bound in California” by Soul Kid #1.

John Mayer makes an appearance in “Back to You,” a smooth ballad that takes advantage of his guitar and songwriting skills. The album ends on a surprisingly good note with newcomer Frankie Jordan’s “Once Again.” The song has a nice, flowing pop/R’B rhythm with sweet, simple lyrics that pretty much sum up the entire movie.

For something light and cheerful to listen to, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton: Music from the Motion Picture is definitely a safe bet. The old favorites and new songs on the album blend together nicely, for a mix of familiar sounds and ones that are fun to listen to for the first time. This soundtrack will keep romance in the air long after the movie has ended.