Scarlett Johansson - The Singer

Everyone knows that the journey from the silver screen to CD or MP3 is parlous. The trip has destroyed many a career. Just recently the general public has had to endure albums from Lindsey Lohan and Minnie Driver. These albums, no matter how good the actress or actor's voice, seem overproduced and boring. These performers add nothing to the musical canon because they're not willing to take artistic risks with their music.

Now, Scarlett Johansson embarks on this fitful path, but her itinerary is very different from say Hillary Duff. She has chosen to do Tom Waits covers. Interestingly enough, most people only know Waits's music through covers. For instance: "Jersey Girl," performed by Bruce Springsteen; "Downtown Train," performed by Rod Stewart; and "Ol' 55," performed by the Eagles. Johansson joins this list with the help of David Bowie and TV on the Radio producer Dave Sitek.

It is at this moment I desperately want to be a high-profile journalist for say Rolling Stone and nab an interview with Johansson. I want to ask her why she decided to do Waits covers and pour whisky and motor oil all over her voice. I want to ask her want she knows about the seedy dive bars and eerie figures Waits describes in his music. Finally, I want to ask her how she got David Bowie to sing on her record. I wouldn't ask these questions with hostility, after all I like the album. I've listened to Anywhere I Lay My Head three times now and find it's shadowy blues and jazz charming. Maybe like other actresses' efforts the album is overproduced, but at least it's doing something a little different. And Johansson, true to her roots, makes us believe she's experienced what she's singing about.

I am not saying Anywhere I Lay My Head is a great album, but Johansson has made it through her journey with dignity, which is more than you can say for Lindsey and the like.

Video of the Week

Here's the deal, every week I am going to post a video that kicks ass. This week's video is home grown San Francisco fun. The artist is called Wallpaper and he's basically a low-budget, but funnier version of Justin Timberlake. His best song is "T-Rex." Enjoy!

Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler

Recap: I heard this song for the first time at work. No - I don't work at a bar or club (although that might be a better alternative to my current job). Basically, I look for errors in peoples' writing then fill out dull paperwork so the stuff will appear in the world. Anyway, I was jamming to Pandora's musical offerings and heard Simian Mobile Disco's "Hustler." 

The dirty techno blips and profound chorus, "I am a hustler baby. That's what my dad has made me," inspired me. I think everyone feels like a hustler since gangster rap has taken over the radio airwaves. We've adopted that mindset collectively. We are either hustling to make money, or we're hustling to get laid. Some of us are doing both. 

Being the good employee that I am, I stopped doing work and started investigating this song and group. It turns out this duo reports from Bristol, England and has a ridiculous sense of humor. My evidence: The "Hustler" video, which features a gang of meagerly clothed women dancing in a disco void stuffing their faces with french files, peanut butter, cake, and spaghetti. As milkshake flowed over one women's breasts, I couldn't help but enjoy the irony. To look as sexy as these women do, one wouldn't be able to stuff one's face with Twinkie. There's also an ironic link between hustling to feed one's self and the copious amounts of food found in the video. 

Regardless of all the underlying means or lack there of, the song sounds cool and makes me want to dance. It made me stop what I was doing and take notice. The more music I listen to the harder it is for me to be wowed like this. I guess that's what this blog is for, to remind myself of all the things people make that wow me and touch my life.