Enterprise
Gene Roddenberry'sStar Trekfranchise now encompasses five television series, a cartoon show, 10 feature films, an IMAX presentation, and an interactive Las Vegas spectacular--not bad for a much-mocked '60s TV show its network discarded after barely three seasons. WithEnterprise, the prequel that follows the first starshipEnterpriseon her original missions, composer and previousSTseries vet Dennis McCarthy takes the saga's musical reins, instantly imbuing it with a familiar, if more dignified and restrained, sense of discovery and adventure with his pastoral "New Enterprise" and "New Horizons" themes. If his "Archer's Theme" briefly strays into overwrought rock heroics, the composer's edgy, rhythmic Klingon cues add a sense of almost palpable danger to the soundtrack. Tense, unusually brooding, and marvelously atmospheric, McCarthy's scoring here harks back to the best of Goldsmith'sSTfilm work. "The Rescue" even recalls the powerfully dramatic brass writing of Herrmann in his prime. Another sure sign of the show's pop culture stature: it now has its own bona fide Diane Warren overwrought pop ballad theme, "Where My Heart Will Take Me" (in both its TV version and an extended album mix here) by Russell Watson. Expanded PC media features include a mockEnterprisecomputer interface containing a performance video of Watson's song and cast and character bios/profiles.--Jerry McCulley