Geppetto (2000 TV Soundtrack)

No matter whether Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Drew Carey can actually carry a tune (or the folks at Disney waved a magic wand to extract such confident, energetic performances), the soundtrack to Geppetto sparkles with theatrical grandeur and a swirly, twinkly, spring-in-your-step sound. Disney so reliably generates such energy that its insatiable audience has come to casually count on it, and Geppetto meets its mark. It's a musical retelling of the classic "Pinocchio"--as told from the point of view of the wooden one's father. Each number on the Stephen Schwartz score conveys the gist of this touching tale of pained parenthood through well-polished lyrics. In addition to the novelty of two of U.S. TV's funniest actors singing, this CD also presents an opportunity to get familiar with Sonya Isaacs (an up and comer on the country scene discovered by Vince Gill), who tenderly and convincingly delivers the last cut, "Since I Gave My Heart Away." Also not to be missed is the operatic, cleverly penned "Bravo Stromboli," powerfully sung by golden-piped, top-shelf talent Brent Spiner (also known as Star Trek: The Next Generation's Data). --Tammy La Gorce