This Week in the Mercury

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Music Listen to Scarlett Johansson Shame the Legacy of Tom Waits

Posted by Ezra Caraeff on Tue, May 13 at 9:25 AM

Since there is no way in hell you are buying that slow moving trainwreck that is Scarlett Johansson butchering Tom Waits’ songs (right? RIGHT?), you can stream the entire record, Anywhere I Lay My Head, right here.

My, someone sure likes the Cocteau Twins. While ScarJo has plenty of cred on the album—producer Dave Sitek is in TV on the Radio, and some guy named Bowie stopped by to ~~desperately align himself with youth~~ sing some songs—this whole project seems painfully unnecessary, and feels like one of those bizarre novelty discs (Blackest Album: An Industrial Tribute to Metallica, or Karma Police - Anyone Can Play Radiohead Tribute) that Cleopatra Records releases.

End Hits: When Lindsay Lohan releases an album of Captain Beefheart covers, we’ll be on it.

Link courtesy of Wired Listening Post.

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Comments

It's OK, but nothing that hasn't been done, better, 20 years ago.

However, Scarlett Johansson singing Tom Waits' songs is much better than Waits himself singing...

Posted by Aaron V. | May 13, 2008 9:53 AM

First let me say that Aaron V. is out of his mind. Secondly, Scarlett can do whatever the fuck she wants. She's doing Ryan Reynolds!!!!

Posted by Cruspy | May 13, 2008 10:18 AM

I was kinda surprised by this and found it to be on the upper end of "ok." Despite the album cover, this is really Sitek's show, and his work is more interesting on here than certain other recent projects of his (e.g. Celebration). I think hating on this is sorta the music snob party line.

Posted by Michael | May 13, 2008 10:18 AM

Are you kidding? This is so bad, it's staggering.

Posted by Jeremy Van Keuren | May 13, 2008 10:26 AM

Ryan Reynolds...he's the bassist from The Fall Out Boys, right?

Posted by roguespierre's fiesta wrap from the future! | May 13, 2008 10:47 AM

Sounds like somebody channeling Nico.

Pretentious, sure. Horrible? Not really.

Posted by The Guilty Carnivore | May 13, 2008 10:51 AM

Cruspy - I have nothing against Tom Waits as a songwriter, or as an actor (I liked him as the crazy inventor in Mystery Men).

But his voice sounds like he gargled with broken glass.

Posted by Aaron V. | May 13, 2008 11:05 AM

Two words: Scarlett Johansson.

Hot.

Who needs ears. Use your eyes.

Posted by kungfu | May 13, 2008 11:38 AM

I didn't want to ever listen to that but now that I have thanks for ruining my day. This definitely makes Scarlet less hot...oh and her being engaged to Ryan Reynolds does that too.

Posted by Garrett | May 13, 2008 11:47 AM

It sounds like Nico has been forced to sing in Bananarama.

Posted by Valarie | May 13, 2008 12:07 PM

I fucking love Tom Waits, I really like TVOTR, and yes she is hot. But this is just wrong. Very wrong. Although it would be funny to watch pop music fans buy this because it is Scarlett Johansson and then decide to go and buy a Tom Waits album. Ha! I think the whole thing is just Tom Waits fucking with us.

Posted by marc | May 14, 2008 7:53 AM