Soul – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack cover

Soul – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Jon Batiste · 2020

67 min · 43 tracks · jazz

A vibrant jazz-infused score that blends soulful melodies with playful arrangements, capturing the essence of life and passion.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    The Great Beyond — This track captures the film's essence of exploration and self-discovery, using a blend of orchestral richness and jazz elements that echo throughout the narrative.
  • →
    Epiphany — Incorporating poignant piano lines with evocative harmonies, this piece encapsulates a pivotal moment of realization, marrying emotional depth with sonic beauty.
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    Let Your Soul Glow — A playful yet profound track that embodies the film's central themes of joy and authenticity, making it a memorable highlight within the soundtrack.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
64 /100
Treeline
Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

A vibrant score with playful arrangements and strong thematic continuity, showcasing Batiste's compositional skill.

What we noticed

  • The album features a diverse range of instrumental textures, with tracks varying from solo piano to full ensemble arrangements.
  • Several tracks incorporate playful rhythmic shifts, such as 'Collard Greens and Cornbread Strut', which juxtaposes traditional jazz elements with modern influences.
  • The sequencing includes interludes like 'Born to Play Reprise' that create thematic continuity while allowing for dynamic shifts in mood and tempo.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic emotional journeys
  • short, immersive listening sessions
  • contemplative reflective moods
  • varied pacing and textures
  • uplifting and introspective moments

Where this album fits

Career context
Released on December 18, 2020, Jon Batiste's 'Soul – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' marked a significant milestone in his career, following his Grammy-nominated album 'Hollywood Africans.' This work showcased not only his musical versatility but also his role as a prominent cultural figure, as he served as the bandleader for 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' further elevating his profile in the music industry.
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Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • It's All Right

    The uplifting refrain shifts from contemplative verses to an affirming chorus that celebrates resilience and positivity amidst life's challenges.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Born to Play 2:00
  • 2 Born to Play Reprise 0:50
  • 3 Bigger Than Us 1:51
  • 4 Collard Greens and Cornbread Strut 0:36
  • 5 The Great Beyond 2:45
  • 6 Falling 0:41
  • 7 The Great Before / U Seminar 3:19
  • 8 Jump to Earth 0:52
  • 9 Rappin Ced 0:37
  • 10 Joe’s Lowdown Blues 0:36
  • 11 Terry Time 1:14
  • 12 Joe’s Life 0:40
  • 13 Portal / The Hall of Everything 2:18
  • 14 Run / Astral Plane 1:44
  • 15 Lost Soul 0:29
  • 16 Meditation / Return to Earth 1:40
  • 17 22’s Getaway 0:58
  • 18 Apex Wedge 0:49
  • 19 Let Your Soul Glow 0:20
  • 20 Terry Time Too 3:00
  • 21 Feel Soul Good 0:27
  • 22 Parting Ways 2:20
  • 23 Looking at Life 1:31
  • 24 Fruit of the Vine 0:43
  • 25 22 Is Ready 1:25
  • 26 Pursuit / Terry’s World 1:42
  • 27 Betrayal 2:28
  • 28 Space Maker 1:17
  • 29 Cristo Redentor 2:21
  • 30 The Epic Conversationalist / Born to Play 1:26
  • 31 Celestial Spaces in Blue 0:52
  • 32 Spiritual Connection 1:13
  • 33 Lost 1:09
  • 34 Epiphany 3:48
  • 35 Ship Chase 1:40
  • 36 Escape / Inside 22 2:32
  • 37 Flashback 1:33
  • 38 Earthbound 1:27
  • 39 Thank You 0:42
  • 40 Enjoy Every Minute 0:48
  • 41 It’s All Right 2:50
  • 42 Just Us 2:42
  • 43 It's All Right 2:49

What to play next

Meditations
Listen next

Meditations

2020
Hollywood Africans
Go back to

Hollywood Africans

2018
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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata