CD REVIEW - Everyone's Hero


Everyone's Hero
Music by John Debney & various artists
Sony Music Soundtrax 82876 88918 2 (U.S.)
12 Tracks 38:45 mins


Sadly, the soundtrack album to this animated baseball film, which was initially directed by Christopher Reeve, who sadly passed before its completion, only features two score tracks by composer John Debney, the first of which is a ragtime number with wordless, soulful vocal by Paris Bennett, ending up in full-on jazz band music. The best track is the final offering "At Bat," which finds the composer in splendid, stirring sporting Americana mode and clocks in at less than 4 minutes. I'd love to hear the rest of Debney's score someday if it is anything like this cue.
The remainder of the album features tracks by such artists as Brooks & Dunn, Tyrone Wells, Lyle Lovett (with Chris Botti), Jon Randall & Jesss Alexander, Raven-Symone, Wyclef Jean & Kontrast, and Lonestar, with a version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." There is also a bonus track, Mary Chapin Carpenter singing "The Bug." It all makes for pleasant enough listening, but naturally I would rather have heard the score.