Scarlett Johansson

Johansson's first offering as a vocalist is so high in concept and crowded with contributors (Bowie guests, TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek produces) that it's hard to get a sense for the starlet herself as she mopes in the corner under spacey organ and big atmospheres, borrowing the confidence of Nico on off-kilter arrangements of Tom Waits. It's a compelling result, sure to rankle ardent fans of Waits ("I Don't Wanna Grow Up") and yield curious rewards ("Falling Down"). The only tune she cowrote, "Song For Jo," like the LP surrounding it, is stylish enough, but not all that memorable.

The girl's got indie cred, no doubt. Lost in Translation wrapped her in a dynamite alt-rock
soundtrack, and she's sung with the Jesus and Mary Chain. So it makes sense that, for her
debut, Scarlett Johansson takes on the indestructible songbook of indie totem Tom Waits.
Produced by TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek, the experimental result finds her draped,
sonically speaking, in costumes as ornate as those 16th-century period gowns sh... More >