As an actress, Scarlett Johansson often gives herself over to being an object of fantasy -- not necessarily in a purely carnal fashion, but something rather more complicated: wish fulfillment for her directors. Sofia Coppola turned Scarlett into a romanticized version of herself, Woody Allen was comfortable casting her as both a lethal sophisticated seductress and ditsy bombshell, while even Michael Bay turned her into some kind of empty cloned sex kitten. Given this history, perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that her debut album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, is an extension of this pattern, as Dave Sitek -- pivotal member of TV on the Radio, producer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Foals -- helps turn Scarlett into a 4AD diva, partially with the assistance of Ivo Watts, who helped sequence the album. And yet, it is a surprise that she gives herself over to Sitek so willingly that it's impossible to tell what parts of the album were driven by Johansson and what parts are wish fulfillments from Sitek, who seems to be bent on creating his own dream pop fantasy. Certainly, Anywhere I Lay My Head is not strictly a Tom Waits tribute, as the songs are rearranged so drastically they're only used as a vehicle for texture -- dense, crawling texture, occasionally recalling the junkyard percussion of the Waits of Swordfishtrombones ("Green Grass" retains that same clattering kalimba rhythms). By leaning so heavily on music Waits made after his 1983 avant makeover -- all but one of the ten Waits songs here date from after 1983, and the spooky music box revision of "I Wish I Was in New Orleans" brings it firmly within the Waits' junkyard -- Scarlett and Sitek only enhance the suspicion that this is a creation of an idealized '80s underground fantasia, an ideal soundtrack for a Sofia Coppola movie where it would sit alongside the Jesus & Mary Chain and Kate Bush. All this hazy '80s fantasy is in line with Sitek's TV on the Radio -- not as dark or majestic, but inescapably his work -- and it overwhelms Johansson's singing, not because she's a shrinking violet, but because Sitek's signature is so indelible. He has a gift for provocative, haunting arrangements, yet this gift does not match Johansson's voice. All soft, seductive curves as an actress, she's surprisingly deep and brittle as a singer, fighting instead of floating against Sitek's textures, tension that's as intriguing as it is fatiguing, as the music never settles into the warm, narcotic lullaby it so yearns to be. And so, Anywhere I Lay My Head doesn't quite work, but it can't quite be dismissed, either: unlike so many actor-turned-singer records, there's not a hint of vanity to this project and it's hard not to marvel at its ambition even as it fails.
Here it is plain and simple: Scarlett Johansson is not a singer. She's an incredible actress with loads of talent. No question about that. I've enjoyed every movie I've seen of hers. But Scarlett is not a singer. Yet there are plenty of musicians and singers who can't sing well. Mick Jagger, Lou Reed and Richard Butler can't sing. Yes, they have moxie, and they didn't let their unusual voices s...
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It's become a weekly ritual. Here are some titles that were released on this glorious Tuesday:3 Doors Down - 3 Doors DownFoxboro Hot Tubs - Stop Drop and RollKing's X - XVScarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My HeadFlobots - Fight With ToolsThe Dresden Dolls - No, Virginia.....Mates of State - Re-Arrange UsIslands - Arm's WayCarolina Liar - Coming to TermsMudhoney - Lucky OnesA Skylit Drive - Wi...
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Here it is plain and simple: Scarlett Johansson is not a singer. She's an incredible actress with loads of talent. No question about that. I've enjoyed every movie I've seen of hers. But Scarlett is not a singer. Yet there are plenty of musicians and singers who can't sing well. Mick Jagger, Lou Reed and Richard Butler can't sing. Yes, they have moxie, and they didn't let their unusual voices s...
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There's a new website for Scarlett Jo's new album Anywhere I Lay My Head. The album of Tom Waits covers features David Bowie, Nick Zinner, Karen O, and Celebration's Sean Antanaitis and was produced by Dave Sitek. You can listen to these tracks on the new site:FawnTown with No CheerFalling DownAnywhere I Lay My HeadFannin StreetSong for JoListen hereAnd you can listen to previews of all the s...
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Like staring at a horrible traffic accident, we are morbidly curious creatures. So, I think it's safe to assume that some moggers are curious about the upcoming new album of Tom Waits covers from Scarlett Johansson. There's been a few leaks on the interweb lately, so I rounded up what I could find. But don't be surprised if all of them get taken down. The album is called Anywhere I Lay My H...
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A long long time ago, someone one MOG reported that Scarlett Johansson was holed up in a studio in the southern countryside, recording her debut solo album. What made it even more remarkable news is that Dave Sitek was at the control and Nick Z and Karen O were making noise. Allegedly, Johansson hand-chose the wonder twins to bring their magic to the project. Who wishes they were a huge hors...
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Lots of people are jazzed to hear whether Scarlett Johansson can sing or not and wondering what her debut album will sound like. Of course, I have mad faith in Dave Sitek and Nick Z to make anything sound good coz as far as I have heard, these 2 can do no wrong! After reading an article on HARP Mag's website today, I have even more faith in their magical powers, at least Sitek's powers of per...
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It's become a weekly ritual. Here are some titles that were released on this glorious Tuesday:3 Doors Down - 3 Doors DownFoxboro Hot Tubs - Stop Drop and RollKing's X - XVScarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My HeadFlobots - Fight With ToolsThe Dresden Dolls - No, Virginia.....Mates of State - Re-Arrange UsIslands - Arm's WayCarolina Liar - Coming to TermsMudhoney - Lucky OnesA Skylit Drive - Wi...
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Scarlett Johansson is releasing her first studio album Anywhere I Lay My Head on May 20, 2008. She's taking on Tom Waits classics (and an original "Song for Jo") oh and yeah, David Bowie has contributed to two tracks "Falling Down" and "Fannin Street." It's definitely worth a listen! The whole album is already available for streaming at NME.com :Dhttp://www.nme.com/artists/scarlett-johanssonTra...
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I must admit, after watching Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Sofia Coppola's Lost In Translation in the same week, I've grown quite fond of Scar-Jo. My feelings concerning her attempt to pay homage to the almighty Tom Waits by creating an album of cover songs are still somewhat ambivalent, however. I gotta give the girl kudos for trying to do something that nobody really expected her...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Fawn |
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| 2 Town with No Cheer |
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| 3 Falling Down |
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| 4 Anywhere I Lay My Head |
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| 5 Fannin Street |
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| 6 Song for Jo |
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| 7 Green Grass |
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| 8 I Wish I Was in New Orleans |
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| 9 I Don't Wanna Grow Up |
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| 10 No One Knows I'm Gone |
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| 11 Who Are You |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Anywhere I Lay My Head")
