No Rating It seemed like a weak gimmick, tapping contemporary artists to rastafy a raft of well-known '80s pop gems. But when the 50 First Dates soundtrack appeared in February 2004, its material's understated reggae hiccup turned out to be a pleasantly successful surprise. One of the strongest tracks was 311's version of the Cure's "Love Song." Old enough to have put the Disintegration classic on a few pained young love mixtapes, Nick Hexum, S.A., Tim Mahoney, P-Nut, and Chad Sexton absolutely nailed the original's detached vocal, and expertly snaked its brittle guitar tones over the familiar keyboard lead. But while 311's take was faithful, it was also very 311. The band softened the tempo, and added a quiet emphasis on the upbeat for a distinctive reggae rhythm. Aided by washes of reverb, the finished product retained the Cure's emotional blend of hope and loss, but also burbled along in 311's typically sunlit fashion. "Love Song" did well as the single from 50 First Dates, and reappeared in June 2004 as part of 311's greatest-hits package. Johnny Loftus http://www.allmusic.com