Latest releases reviewed.

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Garden State Epic
**

Still another quirky black comedy about angst-ridden young adults; another muted, thoughtful soundtrack filled with - as one of the film's taglines says - songs that will change your life. Not content with writing, directing and starring in what's been hailed as this year's Donnie Darko, Zach Braff also compiled the tracklisting, going for bands which, in America, could be considered leftfield, but just come across as comfortingly numb. There's a lot of soul-searching here, but not quite enough soul. Opening with Coldplay's Don't Panic pretty much sets the muted tone, and The Shins, Zero 7, Remy Zero, Iron & Wine and Thievery Corporation keep that chilled-out-but-close-to-the-edge atmosphere. Ex-Men at Work singer Colin Hay does a lonesome troubador turn, and there's the obligatory Nick Drake track just in case you haven't got the earnest message. At least there's no Gary Jules type doing an Eighties cover, but oddly, there's also nothing by Bright Eyes or Dashboard Confessional - they'd fit right in here. www.foxsearchlight.com - Kevin Courtney

RAY CHARLES
Ray Warners
*****

When Ray Charles died in June this year, filming was already underway on the biopic of his life. He OK'd the choice of Jamie Foxx to play him after a two-hour jam session when he put the actor through the mill. But though Foxx is an accomplished musician, none of his interpretations feature on this soundtrack. Instead, we're treated to some of Ray Charles's best live and studio moments running from his key 1950s recordings with Atlantic Records founder/ producer Ahmet Ertegun - when they set the template for soul music - through to 1962's Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Charles's last great album. Hearing songs such as Hallelujah I Love Her, Drown in My Own Tears and Born to Lose can still stop you dead in your tracks. It's down to simple arrangements and Charles's incredible voice - up there with Elvis and Aretha as one of the most influential and identifiable in modern music. And though there are many compilations out there, this is worth owning if only for a live version of Georgia On My Mind that will give you shivers you'll take hours to shake. www.raymovie.com - Paul McNamee