007's Quantum musical chairs

You can now add Welsh singer Duffy and UK pop diva Leona Lewis to the long list of names that have been rumored to be singing the theme to the latest Bond film Quantum of Solace. For a film that's got a tentatively scheduled release date for the fall, you'd think that this would be wrapped up by now, but the list of artists that have come and gone has grown to include Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, Jack White (White Stripes, Raconteurs,) Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) and The Killers. All have been eliminated like it's 007 Idol, either by passing on it, asking for too much money (Beyonce,) never getting beyond an initial conversation, or, in the case of Winehouse, just not being able to get your sh*t together enough to pull it off. It's Quantum of Solace people, not quantum physics.

Supposedly it's narrowed down to Lewis and Duffy as far as who gets the honor. Lewis is there at the insistance of her manager, American Idol's Simon Cowell, while Duffy has just been coy about the rumors, only saying "a lady never exposes her secrets." Assuming that the rumors are true, then Duffy should be the obvious choice, and I'll tell you why:

1. The Welsh Factor: Shirley Bassey, pride of Wales, was tapped three different times to sing Bond themes, including the most famous, "Goldfinger." Add to that, fellow Wales product Tom Jones with "Thunderball" and when it comes to Bond themes, being Welsh has it's privileges.

2. Timelessness: While Leona Lewis has a decent enough voice, she's a Cowell product, which translates into bland pop with a short shelf-life. Having the band a-ha doing "Living Daylights" is still a black mark on the franchise. Meanwhile, Duffy's style is timeless, reminiscent of the white soul of Dusty Springfield, which brings me to..

3. A Dusty Do-over: One of the very best Bond songs ever recorded wasn't even a theme song, or even for that matter, from an official Bond movie. The Burt Bacharach/Hal David song "The Look of Love," sung by Dusty Springfield, was written for Casino Royale (1967.) As much as Duffy would love to see an end to the Dusty comparisons, her reverb-soaked blue-eyed soul would be a perfect fit for a franchise subtly looking back to the past with it's eyes on the future.

4. More Bond Babes: By choosing Duffy, the new Bond series now has a slew of retro-chic artists to work with for the next film. Besides Duffy, there's Adele, Estelle, Lily Allen and of course, a second chance for Amy Winehouse if she gets enough rehab.

Now all we need is a producer/collaborator. Generally in the past, the film's composer has worked with the artist and songwriters on the theme song, to making it work with the film's score, but it appears they were willing to forgo that this round (and that ship has sailed with a release date in the fall). Duffy's done alright working with Bernard Butler (Suede) but for James Bond, you have to dial it up a notch, and I of course have my own suggestions, both obvious in different ways:

1. Danger Mouse - The man known to his mom as Brian Burton is an obvious choice only in that he's essentially the obvious production choice for nearly everything now, from Gnarls Barkley to the forthcoming album from Beck. He's another artist that looks to the past to inspire the future, and it's guaranteed his take on Bond would be subtle and exciting. Unfortunately, he's more than likely too busy working on his hundredth project of the year.

2. Barry Adamson - The name for most isn't going to be obvious, but if you've heard any of his work, it seems like he's been producing music for Bond films for years already. The former Bad Seeds bassist has been creating soundtracks for movies that don't exist now since his solo debut Moss Side Story in 1989. He's more likely to be available, closer in proximity (Manchester, UK) and closer enough in style to composer David Arnold that what comes out of it won't seem too disjointed from Arnold's score.

Dina Eaton has been the music editor for the past four Bond films, so I'd have to assume she's on board for this one (there's not one named currently for Quantum,) so she knows the crunch she faces. In case there's any doubt as to the levity of the choice, here's a playlist of all the Bond themes throughout the years (see which ones stick out like as sore thumb).

Playlist: James Bond Themes

Just passing through

After two pretty funny episodes, Nip/Tuck gets back to the soapy drama, and not coincidentally, the return to the scene of Matt, Kinder and Julia. Is it just me, or did those first couple episodes feel like a weight had been lifted from the series? By the end of the second episode, Julia was back, though, and Matt with the third, and with them the series' fancy face lift seemed to just snap back into wrinkle city.

The offscreen story is of course Portia de Rossi playing Julia's love interest, a role that mirrors her coming out of the closet as Ellen Degeneres' girlfriend, but the scenes between her and Joely Richardson don't really generate any heat. Liz is the first to point out that Julia's merely visiting Lesbania, and even though she has one last fling with Christian, Liz's comments still ring true. Hopefully she's truly just visiting L.A., as it was much better without her. Same goes for Matt and Kimber, and their meth-addled hotel room (to the tune of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab."

There were plenty of great music turns this week, with Devo's take on "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" playing while a plastic surgery addict gets a cleft chin (like mine, I bet). Later, The Waitresses' "I Know What Boys Like" serenades Sean as jailbait Eden works overtime trying to make him uncomfortable about her sexuality. And finally, Rogue Wave's apt "California" plays as Christian finds out that both golden hair (Julia) and golden state really aren't for him at all ("screw California" starts the songs lyrics). Wasn't that Shutters (and where Christian later poaches the gigolo trick)? It's the only hotel I've stayed in the area (for work, not to 'take my shitter') so I'm probably just projecting my own limited memory.

Meanwhile, over on House, for the contemplative third act ballad, Joseph Arthur's "My Home is in Your Head" was an interesting choice for the drama. It's a hard to find track (from the EP And the Thieves Are Gone,) so I'm afraid you're on your own for that one -- happy hunting!

Playlist: Nip/Tuck Ep 5.03
1. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - Devo - Sean and Christian discuss Julia's lesbian turn while performing Everett Poe's chin surgery
2. "I Know What Boys Like" - The Waitresses - Sean explains Eden’s hymen reconstructive surgery to Olivia / Sean pre-exams Eden
3. "California" - Rogue Wave - Christian and Julia on the beach / making love
4. "Rehab" - Amy Winehouse - Matt and Kimber take meth and make love in a hotel room
Compiled by Avalon at NipTuckforum.com

Bonus Playlist: Since I was in Mexico last week, here's the comp for that episode (which would've been a better one to discuss, I'm realizing).
Nip/Tuck Ep 5.02
1. "Blues For Mothers" - Henry Mancini - Joyce Monroe consultation
2. "I Wanna Be Loved By You" - Marilyn Monroe - Sean performs surgery on Joyce and discusses his new-found fame with Christian
3. "Blue Satin" - Henry Mancini - Sharon Monroe pleads for Christian to do her surgery
4. "Don't You Want Me" - The Human League - Christian posing for Playgirl magazine
5. "Can't Stand Losing You" - The Police - Sean performs post-gastric bypass surgery on Kate
6. "Beast Of Burden" - Rolling Stones - Christian and Olivia play pool while Sean and Julia talk
7. "Perpetuate The Cycle" - Jed and Lucia - Sean and Christian talk about Julia's new relationship with Olivia at the bar
Compiled by Avalon at NipTuckforum.com

Previously: Lady Cha Cha in La La Land (Ep 5.01)

Ear On TV: The Week of November 5

Note: I'm in Mexico for a week beginning November 2, so posts will be few and far between until I've fully returned November 12.

As you're reading this, I'm currently on an undisclosed beach in Mexico, sucking down cervezas and browning my bald head -- all due to the benefits of staying at a resort with daycare (I highly recommend it, parents). Anyway, one of the problems of writing this post a few days ahead of time is that there's a few musical guests who have yet to be announced. As of this writing, for instance, Amy Winehouse has had to cancel her appearance on Saturday Night Live (as well as the MTVU awards) thanks to some visa problems (which are no doubt thanks to some recent drug charges). SNL has yet to name a replacement, but after checking out where some artists are going to be on tour, I've got a couple suggestions* -- feel free to do use at your discretion, Lorne Michaels.

First, let's shoot for the moon and go for the Boss. He's got a break in his tour after finishing up the Midwest leg and starts up shortly after in Albany, so it stands to reason he'll be in the neighborhood. If no go on Bruce, how about another homeboy in Thurston Moore? He will have also finished up a solo tour and should be available if asked. Finally, sticking close to home again, NYC's LCD Soundsystem would make for an interesting choice, if only to hear them perform "New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" as the second song. They should be available having finished a blistering tour with Arcade Fire.

Speaking of Arcade Fire, they're performance on Austin City Limits sees the light of day this week as well, but as always, check your local listings. It might be months before we see it in Seattle, thanks to our crackerjack affiliate.

Playlist: Picks for the week

Monday, November 5
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Michael Franti and Spearhead
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Black Lips
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Band of Horses
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Soulja Boy Tell' Em
Tuesday, November 6
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Common
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Grizzly Bear
Wednesday, November 7
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Pittsburgh Slim
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Lyle Lovett
Thursday, November 8
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Hives
Friday, November 9
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Spoon
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Rufus Wainwright
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Piers Faccini
Saturday, November 10
NBC: Saturday Night Live: TBA (Amy Winehouse is unable to get a visa to get into the US)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Arcade Fire

*By the time this is published, the decision will have most likely already been made, but it's still a fun exercise.

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, snl, arcade fire, amy winehouse, indie rock, rhapsody

Nobody puts Baby in a river

Every season on Rescue Me they have at least one firefighting scene that transcends television viewing. Last night's opening scene is the one that tops them all. Truck 62's reputation of being the heroes' heroes is laid on the line from the start as babies and toddlers are being thrown from a third story window by a desperate mother The situation eerily echoes Toni Morrison's novel Beloved, as a mother decides which death she wants her children to endure. It's this decision of a parent to take drastic matters into their own hands which helps factor into the episode's cliffhanger of an ending.

The scene was set hauntingly against the stark backdrop of The Twilight Singers' song "The Lure Would Prove Too Much," which has singer Greg Dulli blurring the lines between desire for an old flame and the drugs he thinks he desperately needs. It's themes like this that make Dulli one of Denis Leary's favorite artists (and a good drinking buddy.) And as the camera panned over the seven tiny cloaked bodies lined up on the sidewalk, I instinctively picked up my sleeping one month-old baby to hold throughout the rest of the episode.

The 'baby fire' (as it's quickly christened by the local news media,) has repercussions both surprising and (understandably) dark. Lou finds that he now wants to have children, and because his ex-nun girlfriend hates children, they're breaking it off (Lou's apparently already eaten all her edible panties anyway.) Meanwhile, Alicia's back in town with Franco's daughter, and the fire has him thinking of finding a way to have his daughter back in his life permanently (even at the expense of his engagement to Natalie.)

But the real aftermath, and the plot point the series has been building towards, is with Tommy (Leary) and his (still unnamed at six months old) son. Or rather, as everyone in the family has now accepted, his brother's son (why no one's bothering to take a test to find out for sure is beyond me.) Tommy's already wrestling with religion - convinced since 9/11 that God is absent from the proceedings, he's also habitually reading his Hazelden 24-Hours a Day prayer book. So when cousin (and defrocked priest) Mickey offers that God might have been sparing those children from a far worse fate, it gets Tommy thinking about Sheila's offer to take the baby. Postpartum Janet's still stuck to the sofa, getting Baby to sleep with a Benadryl and Jameson cocktail, so maybe the child would be better off somewhere else (or perhaps Tommy needs to take some vacation days and get Janet some mental help, but don't get me started.)

Left alone with Baby, Tommy decides to take a ride to the Hudson to think and there he is confronted by his brother Johnny's ghost, who encourages him to put the poor kid out of his misery. As Amy Winehouse's "Some Unholy War" plays in the background, Tommy envisions what life would be like for the child with Sheila, then with Janet, and then picks up Baby and dangles him over the railing, like Jacko in Germany. We're meant to think that Tommy might do it, and it might be that I still had my young son in my lap, but I didn't believe it for a second. Amy doesn't believe it either, as she echoes my sentiments by singing "I refuse to let him go." Back to Black indeed.

Previously: All Hail the Jew Chief (Episode 405)

More: Whatever happens with Baby, Janet's not happy, as the previews have her knocking Tommy out with a frying pan to the head.

tags: music, television, soundtrack, dennis leary, rescue me, greg dulli, twilight singers, beloved, indie rock, fx

A martini lunch and a slap on the ass

I don't know about you, but I'm very excited about the premiere tonight of the new AMC series Mad Men. It takes place in 1960 on Madison Avenue, the center of the advertising world, where ad men are the magicians who figure out ways to sell you something you don't need (or, in the case of cigarettes, could kill you.)

Plenty of swinging jazz, cigar smoking, drinking, cocktails and cigarette smoking by men in slim suits gawking at women in pointy bras nestled under tight sweaters (did I mention smoking?) If it sounds like nostalgia, that's merely the packaging to sell you on the product, as the men are misogynist bigots that at times make Neil Jordan's characters seem chivalrous in comparison.

Creator Matthew Weiner created some buzz with this script, enough to land him a job with David Chase on The Sopranos (he wrote the great penultimate episode "Blue Comet.") It's a slick production (with amazing lighting and set design,) but like The Sopranos, it's not the lighting that brings you back. In the few dazzling glimpses I've had at the pilot, I'm already hooked for good. Hopefully, there will be some great music to profile in the coming weeks for it, as the ads for it feature Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good."

Topping it all off, it features Vincent Kartheiser (Connor on Angel - yes, that's who is pictured above) answering a question I'd nearly forgotten I'd asked ('where is he now?')

More: The main advertising client featured is Lucky Strike, a brand which was associated with a 1950's idea of masculinity (see television commercial from 1959.) . Their market share began to fall in the 1960's with the advent of rock and roll, and womens liberation. It's the perfect parallel to the Mad Men character, who faces his own fall later in the 1960's.

tags: playlist, music, television, soundtrack, mad men, amc, advertising, amy winehouse, angel

Ear on TV: Week of March 12

Is the train wreck gonnna make it into the station? UK singer and accident-waiting-to-happen Amy Winehouse is due to make her network television debut tonight on Letterman, but there are some doubts as to whether she'll pull it off. She cancelled two shows last week, and then cancelled her SXSW appearances coming later this week, all in the wake of a booze binge followering her break-up with boyfriend chef Alex Jones-Donnelly. The brash yet soulful singer's appearance tonight and concert in NYC tomorrow night are both still penciled in, so it will be interesting to see if she can pull it together (perhaps more interesting if she can't.) Her new album Back to Black finally makes it to our shores tomorrow (listen to free album stream via AOL,) so there's definitely some pressure on her from her label to pull it together. However, her father came out today begging for her to slow down, or face rehab, adds further to the irony of the lyrics to her first single "Rehab:"

And if my daddy thinks I'm fine
They's tryin' to make me go to rehab--I won't go, go, go

Later in the week, be sure to set your Tivo/DVR to record Last Call With Carson Daly, as a trio of great performers make their way to Carson's lair. Sweden's Peter Bjorn and John will whistle their hit "Young Folks" on Wednesday, then freak folk outfit Grizzly Bear will amaze on Thursday night with their four-part harmony on the track "Knife." Finally, be sure to check out San Francisco's Deerhoof, as they take their frenetic pop to the network masses. Deerhoof and Grizzly Bear, in particular, are both acts you don't normally get to see make appearances like this, so it's a real treat.

Monday, March 12
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Amy Winehouse
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Dr. Dog
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: KT Tunstall
Tuesday, March 13
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Good, the Bad & the Queen
Wednesday, March 14
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Aqualung
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Shins
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Peter Bjorn and John
Thursday, March 15
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Grizzly Bear
Friday, March 16
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Deerhoof
Saturday, March 17
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Snow Patrol

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, amy winehouse, grizzly bear, deerhoof, peter, bjorn and john, indie rock, rhapsody