Manic_Skafe

Scarlettalbum.com Listen Here


First off, that album cover sucks - unimaginative and far too literal. I'm hoping that whomever made that wasn't paid too much for the 5 minutes it must've took them to make that in Photoshop.

Has anyone else heard this? I just listened and digested the six track stream from the official site and while I can't say the music was especially mind blowing - I did enjoy it. I'm not exactly a die-hard Tom Waits fan but I definitely think it's worth the 25 minutes of listening time.

I thought the music was at times a bit dull and over-processed and it's a shame that instead of using that (sexy) smokey rasp present in her speaking voice she used a much softer and much less engaging voice seemingly channeled from a distant medically induced coma.

But after two listens, I like it well enough to give the entire album a shot.

Give it a listen.

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"Porn is a zoo of exotic animals that becomes boring upon ownership." -Nersesian

mixedmedia

Wow...I haven't heard a word about this project...

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Martian

I am underwhelmed.

It's very difficult to do a good cover of a Tom Waits song. The Eagles do a passable Ol' 55, but that's really the only one that springs to mind. Ms. Johansson's versions strike me as dull and uninspired, which is really a bit shameful given that Tom's stuff is generally quite the opposite.

I will listen again in the morning. Perhaps it'll sound better by daylight.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Charlatan

I knew Scarlett was coming out with an album, I had no idea that it was Tom Waits covers... Interesting choice.

I am listening to it now. I will report back later.

EDIT: Not impressed in the slightest. Her voice has an interesting tone but she doesn't show much variance in it beyond a morose drone. The arrangements and interpretation of Waits songs is lackluster, and that's being kind. I was kind of hoping that she actually had some talent but sadly this is a vanity project at its worst.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
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ratbastid

Yuch! I was sort of excited when I first heard about this project, but... Jesus, whoever produced this needs to be taken out and beaten.

Those dance drums on "I Don't Wanna Grow Up", for instance, are just nauseating--especially that horrible 808 handclap at the end of the 16. There are a couple sort of interesting interpretations--"I Wish I Was In New Orleans" sounds kind of interesting. But mostly it sounds like overproduced dance remixes of something never meant to be that way.

vanblah

Wow ... you're right about the cover image. Plus, it's a rip off:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._III_Cover.jpg

mixedmedia

well, i won't even bother then....

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Manic_Skafe

I can definitely say that for all the actors and actresses turned musician - she's certainly not the worst but I think an album consisting of Tom Waits covers was just an order too tall for her first real outing as a singer.

Hopefully if she releases anything else it'll be produced by someone who isn't so obviously deaf.

__________________
"Porn is a zoo of exotic animals that becomes boring upon ownership." -Nersesian

echo5delta

Okay, so, I love Tom Waits. I've been listening to his music for about 12 years or so now, and I'm just starting to feel confident enough to say I'm "familiar" with his catalog, mainly the 15 or so albums of his I own.

And I'll be honest in saying I love Scarlett, even though I've seen about three of her movies. Because, you know, that's just a nice-looking woman. I'm sure she wouldn't still be in the Hollywood game if she couldn't act fairly well, also.

I'm going to go get this (because it'll be cheap) and listen some this weekend. I'll weigh in (though the odds don't look too great) in a day or two.

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"Peace" is when nobody's shooting. A "Just Peace" is when we get what we want. - Bill Mauldin

jimk

i really loved the job she did in "lost in translation," but i don't know how ms. johansson can pull this one off.

i am reminded of my annoyance when when rod stewart made "downtown train" into a top 40 hit.

but if it brings more people to tom's music.......can't be all bad, right?

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raw power is a guaranteed o.d.

raw power is a laughin' at you & me

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Martian

You sure you want to say that?

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Willravel

She should have gone with jazz. Like Matt Dennis's Angels Eyes or something.