A Modicum of Comfort

When the Jack White and Alicia Keys Bond theme emerged, I was disappointed to discover that it is called Another Way To Die and Jack White had not tried to wrap his chops around the lyrics 'The Quantum of Solace'. I thought using the film title as the song hook was the rules. Turns out I just wasn't paying attention, and Chris Cornell's theme song for 'Casino Royale' is titled You Know My Name. (But honestly, were you paying attention to that one?)

I was vaguely excited about discovering what the big-voiced, piano-hammering Alicia and that ghostly urchin could come up with. I'd also like more details on the writing process. Did Alicia and Jack sit in a room together, drinking coffee until it was finished? Or did they recorded separate ideas at home and shared them over Google Documents. Because it does sound like a bit of a mish mash.
When I first heard - and I mean properly heard it, not just that Coca-Cola advert - I didn't like it. But in the interests of fairness, I've given it a few more tries. After Jack White has given us the White Stripes and Alicia Keys has given us... a whole load of slow jams, so I can give them a few minutes. Below is a plot of my enjoyment of Another Way To Die:

Here are the salient points:
1) The introduction. It starts off in a mess of brass and guitars. A MESS.
2) There is a brief peak during the first progression of piano chords. Alicia Keys always sounds a bit hothoused when she's behind the keyboard, but this I quite like.
3) The first chorus hits another brief peak, because I think I like it but I'm not sure why. The lyrics sort of sound like they watched a preview tape of the film, and listed what they saw: 'A door left open / a woman walking by / a drop in the water / a look in your eye / a phone on the table / a man on your side'.
4) After a trough, the second chorus kicks in. And it's starting to make sense now. I'm enjoying this. Really, I am.
5) But then there's some more messy horns, forcing in the Bond theme. And trying to evoke a Martini-sipping sophistication.
6) This call and response bit between the guitar and Alicia going 'bleeeurrrgh' is good.
7) Third chorus. I really, really do like this. Honest.
8) It sort of dies a way in another mess of brass. Not even redeemed by Alicia singing 'shoot 'em up, bang bang'. END.

Conclusion: It's not GoldenEye, but at least it's not Die Another Day. But what does it matter, anyway? It's just trying to convince you that James Bond films are VERY IMPORTANT EVENTS and that you should get down to the cinema.