This still seems like an odd pairing, but there’s never a problem with watching Scarlett do her thing regardless of her musical talent:
Scarlett Johansson is really making a go of this music career I guess… This collaboration with Pete Yorn is a bit more understandable compared to her odd Tom Waits cover album of a few years ago.
LOS ANGELES — In 2006, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Pete Yorn contacted actress and Atco recording artist Scarlett Johansson with the idea to record a duets album in the spirit of Serge Gainsbourg’s 1960s recordings with Brigitte Bardot. “I was having a strange week of insomnia and when I finally passed out, it came to me in a dream,” says Yorn. “I woke up and the whole thing was in my head, fully formed.” Johansson was intrigued by Yorn’s out-of-the-blue invitation. “It sounded like an interesting little adventure,” she explains. “The idea of two people vocalizing their relationship through duets.”
Check out the first single here
BREAK UP includes eight original compositions by Yorn, ranging in tone from the lilting opener “Relator” to the disarming, retro/futuristic “I Don’t Know What to Do” to the climactic “Someday.” Completing the collection is a powerful interpretation of the art-rock classic “I Am The Cosmos” by the late Chris Bell, co-founder of quintessential cult band Big Star. Produced by Sunny Levine, with Yorn and Max Goldblatt as executive producers, the album features contributions from guitarist Robert Francis; bassist Giuseppe Patane; and violinist Amir Yaghmai, with Goldblatt on banjo, synth bass and backing vocals, and Levine handling programming and mixing.
Predating Johansson’s debut album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, by nearly two years; BREAK UP was conceived and recorded in 2006, in Levine’s garage studio. “I always thought of it as just a small project between friends,” explains Johansson. “I’ve loved the album ever since I heard it completed. It perfectly captured where I was in my life at the time.” Yorn was as protective of BREAK UP as a father of his daughter, playing it for no one until last year. When those close to him finally heard BREAK UP, the overwhelming response convinced Yorn that it was simply too strong a work to remain under lock and key.
BREAK UP
Track Listing
1. Relator
2. Wear And Tear
3. I Don’t Know What To Do
4. Search Your Heart
5. Blackie’s Dead
6. I Am The Cosmos
7. Shampoo
8. Clean
9. Someday
MySpace Page:
Scarlett Johansson performances on AOL Sessions and Yahoo Pepsi Smash (links below). Scarlett’s debut album Anywhere I Lay My Head will be available in stores and online on May 20th. The album features 10 Tom Waits covers and one original track.
Scarlett Johansson AOL Sessions:
http://music.aol.com/video
Scarlett Johansson Pepsi Smash Performance:
http://music.yahoo.com/promo
Featuring this video is partly because I was in a pinch for a music video this week and partly as a mourning for all men who hoped to somehow marry Scarlett as she announced her engagement to Ryan “Van Wilder” Reynolds. The song is from Scarlett’s debut album Anywhere I Lay My Head which is mostly covers of Tom Waits songs. Check out the video and shed a tear that Van Wilder beat you to the punch:
Scarlett Johansson will release her debut album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, on Atco Records, an imprint of Warner Music Group’s Rhino Entertainment, on May 20. The inspired album features 10 Tom Waits songs and includes one original track. Collaborating with TV on the Radio producer David Sitek, Johansson is also joined by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zimmer, Sean Antanaitis from Celebration, as well as others. Johansson spent five weeks last spring recording in Louisiana at Dockside Studios.
Check out 6 Songs from the Anywhere I Lay My Head Listening Party Streams:
Anywhere I Lay My Head Official Site:
PLAY
