Agent Cody Banks (Promo)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Finger snapping, kazoos and a spy feel. You think it would be Chicken Run revisited but the difference or even the intriguing fact is, John Powell wrote this for a Bond outing for kids, with agent Cody Banks doing all action and none dating, something guys will find easier the other way around. Anyway, for the movie, Powell went back again to his most original form and proves once more he is the most entertaining composer on this earth now. Only he can write such entertaining stuff when you just want to hear original music with energy and comedy combined. Paycheck was a case in point were he wrote music with depth and finesse and other efforts as Chicken Run and Evolution proved Powell doing just entertaining moves all around. But also Paycheck proved the voice of a Bond composer and Agent Cody Banks reaffirms that fate in a less serious effort but equally spy flavor. More then that, the score is unreleased to the general public and a true shame it is because soundtracks as amusing as these are too few in numbers to be really counting them. In my eyes, John Powell wrote great scores and some aren't heard, and so Agent Cody Banks tops that list with many people because of the quality of the music they heard during the film. I heard it only on disc and its riveting to hear this for Jr. Bond alone. What on earth kazoos have to do with spy music is not sure, but I'm betting you will love it equally as I did when you hear it. For the main reason, it are the various examples of Powell's most entertaining music that will rock your senses and simply make you belief in entertaining scores for no apparent reason whatsoever. The track 'Agent Banks' could simply accompany Chicken Run like that, with a fun theme and a Chicken Run attitude (especially the flutes carry the sign of that soundtrack) and its really so entertaining, you can't help but feel revived at the end.

The themes aren't high quality but they all are so fun in a non serious kind of way, you don't care at all. The main theme is noticed a lot and appears already in the first track 'Main Title' with finger snapping and a spy tone overall. It appears of course further with especially 'The Mission' being fun, with blazing statements of that theme on trumpets. 'Cleaning' gives the theme flutes and kazoo statements and reprises the theme of track 4 and ends with soothing choir, just all you wanted from Powell in the end. But Bond is heard more, or even more George S. Clinton's Austin Powers scores, because its so close to both you don't know which scores it is influenced by. Just pick spy music overall and you will hear 'Be Watching' as Bond material with the serious dark villain music and horn statements at the end. 'Go' even goes further with a Bond love theme fanfare. There is also some softer material with a home like theme appearing in 'Home' and 'Be a Kid' that is lovely alone for its soothing flair. By then 'Ignition' and 'To the Rescue' give you more oomph and energy with electric guitars and techno samples ala Pluto Nash. But also the action music doesn't go unnoticed, 'Snow Chase' has an amazing first minute and a half where speed and choir are mixed in great form while everybody will recall the final minutes of the film, appearing in 'Hero' which is just as promised by everyone, excellent. It has a beat, light female choir and heroic themes up the wazoo with even a brief love theme statement on 4.30 and a blazing full heroic minute at the end before soothing choir ends it gentle. As only Powell can do this, as only as he can let us feel alive. Agent Cody Banks is simply Spy Kids but way better and like that score needed 8 composers, Powell can deliver 8 styles alone. It has at times Shaft's funkiness or some jazz to spice it up, Powell does more here then reprise Face/Off or The Bourne Identity. Give him the chance and you will see why he equally deserves to appear alongside Harry Gregson - Williams on today's hit list. Agent Cody Banks goes sadly unreleased but altogether its Bond light in serious standards but Bond big if you simply talk about quality. And I think its good to pick up girls with it too! Hey, it worked for Bond Jr. in the movie.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (1.59)

2. Home (2.17)

3. To The Rescue (1.44)

4. Agent Banks (2.37) Excellent Track

5. Details (1.16)

6. Spy Devices (1.26)

7. The Mission (1.36)

8. Cleaning (2.22)

9. Your Target (0.59)

10. Training (1.55)

11. About Girls (1.28)

12. Be Watching (1.46)

13. Banks, Cody Banks (5.01)

14. Like A Real Agent (1.56)

15. Be A Kid (1.06)

16. Junior Agent (2.34)

17. Go (1.17)

18. Ignition (0.33)

19. No Trespassing (2.42)

20. Snow Chase (3.53) Excellent Track

21. Hero (6.46) Excellent Track

22. Suite on Banks (5.51)

Total Length: 53.58

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Powell ===