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Zach Braff is a musical genius! Or at least I think so…He has managed to put together another stellar soundtrack for his most recent motion picture, “The Last Kiss.”  Though I’ve previously dubbed the soundtrack from “Garden State” as a stand-alone project, this compilation rivals its superiority.  Including bands and artists such as Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Fionna Apple and Imogen Heap, this album could easily sell with a small amount of name-dropping. However, the real treasure is waiting to be discovered in the unknown.

A small venue called Hotel Café exists in the heart of California’s music scene. Nested between the bright lights of Sunset and Hollywood boulevards, it does not scream to be noticed. Nor does it need to. To say that a treasure trove of talent exists there would be an understatement.  

Zach Braff has obviously discovered this diamond in the rough since several artists who call Hotel Café their home can be heard on this exceptional soundtrack. Joshua Radin is featured twice on the collection. “Star Mile,” showcases the beautiful simplicity of Radin’s voice, coaxing listeners to sway with the melody.  His second song, “Paperweight,” is a duet with fellow Hotel Café regular, Schuyler Fisk. The combined effect of their lyrics and vocals feels more like a lover’s confession than a song to be openly shared.  

Cary Brothers’ song, “Ride,” offers an alluring invitation to leave life behind, while Rachael Yamagata’s “Reasons Why” tells the sad story of moving on after love is lost. Ray LaMontagne’s contribution, “Hold You In My Arms,” exemplifies his innate ability to convey deep emotion in a 5-minute song. The yearning in his voice is almost tangible as he begs for his love to “place your hands on my face, close my eyes and say, love is a poor man's food.” 

Amos Lee’s sweet ballad about feeling at home in the arms of a woman offers yet another  emotionally raw performance.  

For those of you eager to hear more about the better-known artists, do not fear. This is not one of those deceptively promising soundtracks where the already popular artists contribute their weakest songs. Coldplay’s “Warning Sign” is actually one of my favorite songs off of one of their older albums, “A Rush Of Blood To The Head.”  Likewise, Imogen Heaps’s selection, “Hide and Seek,” is currently her most downloaded song on iTunes.

There is simply no weak link on this album. The transparency of these artists invites listeners to feel what they are feeling. In my opinion, insignificant as it may be, I strongly recommend anything Zach Braff has a hand in. After two skillfully designed compilations, he has earned my respect as a music lover.  Perhaps it is Braff’s genuine admiration of the artists he includes that makes them so willing to participate in projects with which he is involved. On the album sleeve Braff humbly acknowledges the talent he masterfully acquired: “I just want to thank all the artists who generously loaned us their beautiful music for this compilation. These are all songs we listened to while we were shooting the movie in Montreal. It is an honor to be able to associate them with ‘The Last Kiss.’”