Reality Bites has been billed as "a comedy about love in the '90s." A quick look at the songs on the soundtrack, however, might make listeners think "a movie about being depressed about love in the '90s" would be a better description.

From the beginning, The Knack's "My Sharona," ("When you gonna give it to me/give it to me/is it just a matter of time Sharona") to the end, Big Mountain's cover of Peter Frampton's "Baby I Love Your Way," the whole album is essentially about not getting any.

But though 14 songs about other people's problems may not seem like an exciting time, the fact is, this album isn't really that bad. With a wide variety of styles and plenty of established stars, the album is actually fun from time to time.

Probably the best number on the album is Me Phi Me's "Revival!" The tune plays like a old-time gospel song that has been hyped up to hip-hop standards. The addition of a harmonica and a crowd chanting "revival" gives it a country-church sound that feels right. This is one of the few songs that doesn't cry about losing a woman.

Another quality tune, Squeeze's "Tempted (94)," sounds almost exactly like the original -- which is fine, because the original is a classic song that I personally like, as does almost everyone who picks up the album.

The surprise comes from The Indians with "Bed of Roses." The song is the best of the too many love-lost songs that fill the album. The laid-back folky sound, along with lyrics ("It's so easy to make an empty heart your home") that most lovelorn could identify with make this song worthwhile.

But for each good song, a bad song appears to average it out.

Lenny Kravitz's "Spinning Around Over You," other than missing the driving beat that has helped sell most of his albums, is sunk by dipping into French to find something to rhyme with ". . . in love with you." ("Tu es mon petit chou chou" -- it's almost nauseating.)

Also bad is "I'm Nuthin' " by the film's co-star Ethan Hawke. The fact that the first song ever released by Hawke is on the soundtrack for a film he is in should tell you something before you even hear it. The song itself brings to mind Beck's "Loser." Hawke, however, lacks the nerve to ask, "Why don't you kill me?" and simply whines, "Cause me, you see, I'm nuthin'."

In the end, it all comes down to one point -- the album is a soundtrack, and soundtracks aren't expected to sell very well. In an effort to sell a few more copies, every song is about a subject we can (or want to) relate to -- love. See the movie; if you really like the music, buy the album. Otherwise, forget about it.