I knew death had been looming for years but when I saw the news online late last night it saddened me greatly. Still does. It’s not like Wexler and I were ever friends but the hours we spent together, which I recall vividly, and the kindness he showed me, made me feel like we had connected in way that rarely occurs during an interview.

Read this post in its entirety, and the Jerry Wexler interview I did in 2003, at TampaCalling.com.

Venomous: As if Spider-Man 3 weren’t bad enough.

Does this mean the next Austin Powers won’t be shag-a-delic?

Mighty shield, yeah, sure: But who will wear that ridiculous costume?

The votes are in: Dark Knight is the greatest movie ever!

More to meet the eye: Superbabe Megan Fox ordered to gain weight for Transformers sequel.

Based on some Internet surfing and my own personal preferences, here’s my list of the top 10 candidates for becoming a part of 007 trivia and lore:

In no particular order:

1. Chrissie Hynde (a personal favorite of mine, she performed a track for the 1987 Bond film, The Living Daylights, but it was not the title song (that honor belongs to A-ha)

2. David Bowie (How Bowie hasn’t recorded a Bond theme thus far is a mystery to me; his voice is tailor-made for it)

3. Scissor Sisters (came at the suggestion of a poster on commanderbond.net. After listening to a couple of their tracks, I can hear why).

4. The Killers

5. Gnarls Barkley (they probably don’t have chance, but it would be a bold choice)

6. Neko Case (yes, she specializes in gothic noir, but wouldn’t her dark, rich voice fit perfectly with this vengeance-based Bond entry?)

7. Coldplay

8. U2 (Bono and The Edge wrote the theme for Goldeneye, sung by Tina Turner)

9. Aimee Mann (she’s got the voice and the songwriting chops)

10. Goldfrapp

And here’s my top 10 list (again, in no particular order) of those who shouldn’t be allowed within the firing range of a Walther PPK to a Bond theme:

1. Neil Diamond (because he’s Neil Diamond)

2. Elton John (unless Disney is producing the film)

3. Any hair metal band

4. Frank Stallone

5. Kenny Loggins (unless the principal bad guy in Quantum of Solace is a gopher bent on world domination)

6. Phil Collins (see #2)

7. Fountain of Wayne (unless Tom Hanks replaces Daniel Craig as Bond)

8. Anyone from American Idol

9. Celine Dion

10. Randy Newman (see #’s 2 and 6)

My first impression of the CD is that the arrangements are very faithful to the original versions. No surprise, since Benny Andersson, one of the group’s original members and architects of its sound, also produced this album.

Meryl Streep puts in the most vocal work here, appearing on the majority of the disc’s 17 tracks (actually, 18 — yes, there’s a hidden cut; more on that later). As you might expect, Streep does a fine job, but her standout moment may be her appropriately emotional reading of “The Winner Takes It All.” No, it’s not as good as the original, but if you ever wondered what an ABBA song sung by Shirley Bassey might sound like, listen to the last verse of this cut.

Co-star Christine Baranski, among her contributions, offers a vamp-y performance on the cute “Does Your Mother Know.” But the best voice of all belongs to Amanda Seyfried, who stars as the daughter searching for her real dad. Her strong, clear vocals (with an appealing vibrato) are in evidence on tracks “The Name of the Game,” “Honey, Honey,” “I Have a Dream” and that “hidden” bonus, “Thank You for the Music” (maybe my favorite ABBA song, and one that I was so pleased to hear after I’d thought the album was over).

As for the former 007, Brosnan acquits himself quite well. His voice isn’t the most powerful instrument, but his vocals are throaty and expressive, and he delivers theatrical readings of songs like “S.O.S.” and “When All Is Said and Done” Co-stars Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard aren’t too shabby in their limited roles, though Firth’s exaggerated English accent can take a couple of listens to get used to, and Skarsgard, um, is that an Irish lilt I detect?

While this disc isn’t essential if you already have the original recordings, it’s an agreeable soundtrack to what will hopefully be fun, fluffy entertainment.

Top 10: Songs about sugar

1. “Sugar on My Tongue,” Talking Heads

One of my all-time fave Talking Heads songs. Other than Zeppelin, this is the band I most want to see reunite … and play “Sugar On My Tongue.”

2. “Brown Sugar,” The Rolling Stones

Terrific song but this killer riff/sordid lyric lost its sex/danger appeal — and No. 1 ranking — when it was used to sell kahlua … and Pepsi. Mick, Keef, is nothing sacred?

3. “Sugar, Sugar,” The Archies

Fake band, I know, cheesy, I know, but I love this song.

4. “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl,” Nina Simone

Allison Moorer does a fine cover of this song on her latest album.

5. “Sugar Baby,” Dock Boggs

One of numerous gems from the legendary Harry Smith anthology.

6. “Sugar Baby,” Bob Dylan

No one steals from the public domain quite as effectively as Dylan. Click here to read my rather amateurish review of Dylan’s Love and Theft (the album includes “Sugar Baby”), which dropped on 9/11, while I was in college, writing/editing for the USF Oracle and freelancing for Weekly Planet. Yes, I was taking a polite swipe at the proverbial feeding hand. To this day, my esteemed editor Eric Snider and I differ on the merits of Dylan’s past three albums.

7. “Sugar and Spice,” The Cryan Shame

Good lawd, I love vintage garage rock.

8. “Brown Sugar,” ZZ Top

Not a Stones cover.

9. “Blood Sugar Sex Magik,” Red Hot Chili Peppers

Ah, yes, the title track from one of my favorite CDs of junior high (and beyond).

10. “Falling Sugar,” The Palace Guard

Good lawd, I love vintage garage rock.

WHAT DID I MISS?

Cross-posted from Tampa Calling.

Seven-word description: Highly emotive and quirky anti-folk from Paris.

Should appeal to fans of: Kimya Dawson, Jonathan Richman, Hamell on Trial
Wait, hasn’t Herman Dune been around for like 10 years? Yes, but this might be the year the Parisian duo finally expands its following Stateside. Herman Dune played a well-received set at SXSW in March, has toured with Juno soundtrack star Kimya Dawson and today released the bouncy, poignant, folky, poppy, excellent 5-song EP 1-2-3/Apple Tree.

Breakout CD: 1-2-3/Apple Tree

Release date/label: June 24/Everloving

Listen/watch official video: “1-2-3/Apple Tree”

Cross-posted from Tampa Calling.

Top 10: Songs for George Carlin

1. “My Shit’s Fucked Up,” Warren Zevon

2. “Bitches Ain’t Shit,” Dr. Dre/Ben Folds

3. “Cocksucker Blues,” The Rolling Stones

4. “Fuck Me Pumps,” Amy Winehouse

5. “Little T & A,” The Rolling Stones

6. “Fuck the Police,” N.W.A.

7. “Piss and Vinegar,” Against Me!

8. “Still Don’t Give a Fuck,” Eminem

9. “Funk Shit,” The Prodigy

10. “Sure As Shit,” Kathleen Edwards

Cross-posted from Tampa Calling.

From Wikipedia:

The words are (with examples):

1. Shit – The bird shit on the statue.
2. Piss – I have to piss like a race horse.
3. Fuck – Fuck you.
4. Cunt – She has a gorgeous cunt.
5. Cocksucker – Go to hell, you cocksucker.
6. Motherfucker – You are a motherfucker.
7. Tits – Hey, nice tits.

Later, Carlin referred to three additional “auxiliary” words:

1. Fart – I farted.
2. Turd – Who dropped a turd in the urinal?
3. Twat – Shave that hairy twat.

• Michael Jackson touring? For real? Anybody give a f—? (From MTV.com.)

• New Order finished? For real? Anybody give a f—? (From Pitchfork.com).

• CL Political Editor Wayne Garcia reports “Vicki Santa steps down at WMNF.”

• Blac Soap to open for Flo Rida June 28 at Club 360 in Ybor City. Look for my Blac Soap interview in the CL hitting newsstands June 25.

• Lil Wayne rules. Los Angeles Times explains why.

• U2 remasters first three albums. Do I detect a healthy whiff of irony in the CMJ headline “Oh, Boy!”

• Really, more Ryan Adams songs should be under 2 minutes long (Aquarium Drunkard).

• The Chicago Reader (aka Creative Loafing Chicago) dares to ask “Oh yeah, chicks play guitar too, don’t they?”

• Billboard reports Bruce Springtseen to extend tour, play Hershey, PA, which means it’s time for me to visit my hometown, aka “The Sweetest Place on Earth.”

• I’m totally feeling Sean Daly’s blog post, “Brother, Can You Spare a Song?”

Cross-posted from Tampa Calling.