One of the truly great ironies of modern American pop culture is the evolution of Randy Newman, social critic and songwriter superb, into one of the 1990s' preeminent scorers of animated films. As in Toy Story, Newman's music for A Bug's Life forms much of the crucial human dimension of the computer-generated visuals, replete with an upbeat, if ever-so-slyly fatalistic "theme" song, "The Time of Your Life. " Newman's mastery of the orchestra sparkles here as he playfully romps from '40s-tinged big-band swing through Stalling-esque parodies and tomfoolery to mock-heroics worthy of Korngold and Waxman (or Randy's uncles-Alfred, Lionel, and Emil-for that matter). The brain trust at Pixar may have made impressive strides in forging their digital illusions of life, but they still seem eons away from replicating the musical synapses of Randy Newman's brain. If Walt's impending, much-rumored big thaw actually works out, will Newman be next in line for the Disney deep freeze? -Jerry McCulley.

From the Flashdance-like opener, "Pokémon Theme", to the closer, "You Can Do It (If You Really Try)", 2. B. A. Master is high-energy fare. This CD sports an over-the-top flavour drawn from video-game-styled electronic blips, disco danceability and the hollow tripped-out beats of theme park musicals, all of which makes this super hot stuff for the Pokémon generation. The 13 tunes here are spread between action narrative ("What Kind of Pokémon Are You?", "Together Forever"), scene-setting devices ("Viridian City") and character theme songs for our hero Ash, his Pokémon Pickachu and his pal Misty, as well as rival trainers, Team Rocket. "What Kind of Pok&eaxute;mon Are You?" features multi-tracked rapping and R&B choral refrains; the superlative "2. B. A. Master" bursts with space-age Michael Jackson-inspired speak singing and electronic riffs; and not only is the funky "PokéRap" featured in audio, but the enhanced disc contains the visual component as well. [+]

After the success of their score for The Little Mermaid, the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken returned to Disney for their second fairy-tale adaptation. Sadly, it was the duo's last completed score before Ashman's untimely death at age 41. This soundtrack contains more-conventional show music than The Little Mermaid, owing in large part to Broadway stalwart Angela Lansbury and to Jerry Orbach's Yves Montand impersonation. Most of the songs here were included in the subsequent Broadway adaptation and its cast album, but this disc is superior in its studio polish and cast, which is better suited to the score. -John Sanchez.