CD REVIEW - Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby


Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Music by Alex Wurman
Promo (U.S.)
14 Tracks 13:31 mins

This short promotional disc presents the best of Alex Wurman's score for the Will Ferrell comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, which sees him team up with John C. Reilly as a legendary NASCAR stock car racing team, and reunites him with director Adam McKay, for whom he starred in the hit comedy Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
The film doesn't actually open until 4th August but, thanks to Costa Communications, I've had this opportunity to sample the score which, though most tracks are very brief, is still an entertaining effort, anchored by Wurman's versatile "Ricky Bobby Theme," which is first heard in guitar-lead, South-of-the-Border style, but receives subsequent swampy, sensitive and downright heroic treatments throughout subsequent tracks.
There's plenty of variety to the score, which features an 80-piece orchestra, as well as solo performances from piano, slide guitar, harmonica, and even a boy soprano. As befits the subject matter, there is plenty of movement to the score, along with tension and conflict, all culminating in the heroic "Mustering Up the Courage!" and triumphant "Victory Lane."
Whether there is more to the score than is presented here I do not know, but suspect songs will likely play a big part. Whatever, I'm sure the film will provide its fair share of laughs.