Tampa Calling

The Jack White-penned theme to the latest James Bond flick, Quantum of the Solace, has been released for download at iTunes, but not in North America, where it will be available October 23. “Another Way to Die” is, however, receiving airplay over the radio.

After giving the highly anticipated Jack White/Alicia Keys duet (the first in Bond history) a few listens, my reaction has remained consistent: This will go down as among the least of the Bond title songs. And I’m not the only one who feels White’s effort is rather underwhelming. Or that it’s just a pretty bad song.

While its angular, menacing sound may be appropriate to the harder edge Daniel Craig and Bond’s producers have crafted for their hero, it is by no means worthy of a James Bond film, and it’s totally outclassed by the the classic Bond songs performed by Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones and Paul McCartney. Melody, which should set a compelling mood, is virtually nonexistent, while the featherweight lyrics fail to either tell a story or capture the essence of the iconic super spy.

Bond, you deserve better.

Update: The original YouTube link to the song has been taken down, but you can hear the song in its entirety at theboombox.com.

A slew of the big names are headed this way. Alicia Keys (pictured) at the St. Pete Times Forum on May 24. Sheryl Crow at Ruth Eckerd Hall on April 29. The Boss. Petty. Kanye. Radiohead. They’ve all announced dates around Tampa Bay. But which ones are priorities?

Top 10: Upcoming shows (Feb. 28-July 30, 2008)

1. Radiohead at Ford Amphitheatre on May 6: Been far too long time since the world’s top art rockers have performed ’round here.

2. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band at St. Pete Times Forum on April 21: Memories of seeing him at Jazz Fest still give me chills. Plus, he’s touring behind his strongest album in years.

3. Kanye West at Ford Amphitheatre on May 5: His gripping performance at the Grammys completely sold me.

4. Alicia Keys at St. Pete Times Forum on May 24: Her MTV Unplugged performance from ‘05 completely sold me. Dig her new album, too.

5. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at St. Pete Times Forum on July 16: Somehow I’ve managed to go my whole life without ever seeing Petty. This needs to change.

6. WMNF’s Tropical Heatwave w/Sonny Landreth/Del Castillo/Soul Rebels/Scissors for Lefty (others) at the Cuban Club on May 17: The best annual fest in the area. Tex Mex masters Del Castillo impressed me last year when they played the Orpheum, Landreth’s one of the best guitarists alive and the Soul Rebels’ blend of Big Easy brass and hip-hop have made them one of my New Orleans faves ever since seeing them play until sunrise one night at Le Bon Temps Roule.

7-8. They Might Be Giants at Jannus Landing on March 11; Ani DiFranco at Tampa Theatre on March 11: This is a tough one. I’ll probably go with DiFranco since she did such a fine job of thoroughly charming me during our recent interview, which will run in the Creative Loafing that hits newsstands March 6.

9. Caribou at Crowbar on April 6: Interviewed Caribou’s Dan Snaith last year but missed the electronica-pop whiz’s show. Not gonna let it slip by this time.

10. The Roots at Jannus Landing on March 9: The best rap band around. Another act I’ve been meaning to see for a long time.