Scarlett Johansson has released her debut album
It seems wherever you turn your head, you can�t escape that distinctive red lipstick and unbelievably gorgeous profile of 23 year old American actress Scarlett Johansson. Few could say that they haven�t seen one of her movies or ad commercials for the likes of Calvin Klein, L�Oreal or Louis Vuitton. However many more would be surprised to know of Scarlett�s vocal talents, even after seeing her karaoke performance in �Lost in Translation� with Bill Murray.
At such a young age, there is more than meets the eye to Scarlett, who has expressed her feelings about monogamy, saying that she doesn�t believe its human nature to be with just one person, and stated (as reported in the Washington Post) that she gets HIV tested every 6 months as it�s part of being a �decent human being�.
Anywhere I Lay My Head is Scarlett�s first album, and features her inspired vocal interpretations of 10 Tom Waits songs, plus one original track, written by Johansson and album producer David Sitek (TV one the Radio). As an undeniable bonus, two tracks on the album, �Falling Down� and �Fannin Street� feature backing vocals by non other than David Bowie. Yeah Yeah Yeah�s guitarist Nick Zanner and �multi-instrumentalist� Sean Antanaitis also comprise but a couple of the members of the band behind the album�s music.
Tom Waits began recording studio albums 10 years before Scarlett was even born. Possibly one of the best testaments to great music (and lyrics) being timeless. Anywhere I Lay My Head creates new interpretations for Waits songs that featured across 8 different Tom Waits albums.
Interestingly, the album was recorded over 5 weeks in a small country town of Maurice, Louisiana, and subtly incorporates the sounds of nature captured by microphone outside, while the group recorded indoors. And in a way, as was Scarlett�s voice, for on many of the songs, it is just as melded into the music as the hordes of insects singing their life melody.
It will be interesting to see what the Tom Wait fans of the world think of Scarlett�s elucidation of the man, however as someone who considers herself Tom Wait �uneducated�, I judge this album on it�s own merits, without pretence. Scarlett�s voice is like a husky whisper within the trees, the words working their way around the delicate forestry that is the collective brilliance of team Sitek brought together.
Best described as a soft Alt/Indie genre, and produced for a niche audience, Anywhere I Lay My Head will alternate between working you into a lullaby trance, and capturing an introspective mood that will bring about the best memories of youth.
Tracklisting:
1) Fawn
2) Town with No Cheer
3) Falling Down
4) Anywhere I Lay my Head
5) Fannin Street
6) Song for Jo
7) Green Grass
8) I Wish I was in New Orleans
9) I Don�t Want to Grow Up
10) No One Knows I�m Gone
11) Who Are You?
