Scarlett Johansson

[Woops]

She's infact now engaged to  actor Ryan Renolds (I think he was previously married or engaged to singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette a few years ago) . 


 

[Out of the Blue]

I hate to sound pessimistic but I don't give Hollywood marriages much of a chance.

[Woops]

 A review from NME music site



I wondered what critics would say if she had recorded a pop/R&B album? Unfortunately, many would say negative comments or whatever. Just a thought.

[Out of the Blue]

She said something about her voice sounding like it was on helium or something like that.

[Woops]

Out next week...

The comments I've read (ie Amazon board, Rate Your Music) are  mixed.  The postive appear to be from those into alternative/indie, folk music.

Would I buy her album? No

[Out of the Blue]

I really hate alternative.  I'm not going to buy it, not because of of that, I just haven't bought any music at all in a long time now.  Most of it just isn't any good right now.

[Woops]

5 reviews, as of the day of the release (May 20), on Amazon:

3 are negative, 1 OK, and 1 with 5 stars.



As for new albums (besides compilations and older music) I actually didn't buy Natasha Bedingfield's debut until after a few of her songs were released since I wasn't sure if she was actually any good. There's  artists that I pretty much only like about two or three songs.

[Woops]

I might as well listen to samples at Best Buy to see if it's really bad. I thought she was good (not great, but better compared to several other actresses turned singers), though only from a 30 second clip and only heard it once. 

Now more reviews have been posted and they're negative.

Not a fan  of Sinead O' Connor, which a few people have compared her singer to, and the only song I can tolerate is "Nothing Compares 2 U".

 I've heard the song "Mandinka" from her 1987 debut "Lion & The Cobra", which was on a compilation set,  and it's not my ball o' wax.

[Woops]

 from Amazon:

 

An Unexpected Delight (4 1/2 stars), May 22, 2008
By  Doug (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This is the kind of music that I live for, so imagine my surprise when I found this album out of the blue, with no prior knowledge of it. I stumbled upon it on Amazon, loved the samples, and bought it right then. It's easily one of the best albums I've bought in the past year, so I'm a bit shocked and disappointed by the abundance of negative reviews. For the record, I have no attachment to Scarlett Johansson or to Tom Waits. Frankly, I'm not a big fan of his. With the exception of Bone Machine, which I find fairly accessible and mostly enjoy, his music is usually a bit too rough around the edges for my taste...lacking melody, and vocally a bit hard to swallow except in small doses.

Scarlett's interpretations of his songs, on the other hand, dazzle me. They're different in style and a bit more accessible than Waits's originals, but I can't help thinking it's an album that he would admire. It's sometimes creepy, sometimes beautiful, sometimes fun, and always strange - in other words, very much in keeping with his own style.

I do think that Scarlett's vocals are a bit over-produced and hidden behind the instrumentation. Is that because her voice isn't good enough to be in the forefront? I don't doubt that one bit. But I happen to enjoy her vocal presence on this album; it lends a hazy, dreamlike quality to the music that I love.

I could be totally wrong, but I have to believe that most of the haters fall into two camps: Waits fans who can't stomach the idea of a cover album by someone lacking "art-rock cred", and fans of the actress who expect mainstream music and a pop-star voice. I'm neither of those things, so maybe that's why I can enjoy this album. I love music that is strange but at least somewhat accessible, and this definitely qualifies.

Clearly this music isn't for everyone. But I don't think that she deserves to be treated like a starlet who has no business trying to make music. There is an audience for music like this, and I can honestly say that I'm stunned by the beauty of this album. I've listened to it at least four times today, and it will be in heavy rotation until I've overplayed it so much that I'm sick of it.

I agree with the review, which is probably the best I've read from Amazon and have some good points about the album like that it's a required taste and other things like about the negative reviews.

[Woops]

Saw about a minute of her "Falling Down" video on MTV2...


The video was average, though her voice was very monotone, boring, and not as good.

Like that movie she was in with Bill Murray, I was pretty much "Lost In Translation" (OK, that comment was corny  )

[Woops]

I saw an LP of her album for about 20 dollars... also "Lost In Translation"for three bucks (new), which I bought. Didn't buy the album though.

[Woops]

She's now married.

Agree that most celebrity relationships don't last long, though I'd give it 5 years.

[Out of the Blue]

It's already lasted longer than I thought it would.

That's just wrong.  I shouldn't post things like that. 

[Woops]

"Ghost World" was  depressing and also extremely boring...

 

[Woops]

I'd actually like to see Scarlett Johansson tackle a role as a superhero

Either Wonder Woman or Supergirl

Never seen the original movie of "Supergirl", though I found Helen Slater robotic from the YouTube clip..

Also a good comedy like with Ben Stiller or Steve Carrell, which I would definately watch