Attack of the Singing Actresses

By: Charbarred | in: Movies, Music |

Remember when Jennifer Lopez was a credible actress? I don’t blame you if you don’t, but for a second there it seemed like a great new actress has arrived on the scene. And then she started singing…and worse…she insisted on dancing too. That was the end of that.
Despite that, here are 3 new albums that will hopefully not ruin their singers’ movie career.

She & Him

She and Him - Volume One
You may recognize Zooey Deschanel from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or Weeds. 2 years ago she teamed up with indie hero M. Ward for a very effective collaboration. The result, Volume One is quite an impressive album. Deschanel’s vocals along with the sweet 50’s country tinged tunes provide a very enjoyable listen throughout.

She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here

Scarlett Johansoon

Scarlett Johansson – Anywhere I Lay My Head
A vocally challenged singer, an album full of Tom Waits covers, a guest appearance by David Bowie and a kick ass production…this can only happen in the movies, right? Johansson should be applauded for partaking on such a huge challenge. I’d argue that Waits’ vocals and production are what makes his music tick in the first place and really doesn’t need an update. If this album helps spread the Tom Waits gospel to 12 year old girls then I guess it’s done its job. An interesting musical oddity.

Scarlett Johansson - Falling Down

Minnie Driver

Minnie Driver – Seastories
English born Minnie Driver does Americana better than many of her counterparts across the pond. Her new found credibility on “The Riches” makes it a bit easier to relate to her music. With guest appearances by Ryan Adams and Liz Phair, Seastories has a lot of potential. The result is a bit cheesy, but if your musical taste leans more towards the middle, you’ll find plenty of nice tunes to hang onto. If anything, Driver’s voice is surprisingly good…it’s actually very good. Give it a spin.

Minnie Driver - Cold Dark River

Bonus track – Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head
Nothing to do with the actress, but with a name like this I figured this Seattle Electro-Pop outfit deserves a little mention….

Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head - Me + Yr Daughter

[Subscribe to this feed]

Posted on June 12, 2008

Comments

11 Responses to “Attack of the Singing Actresses”

Nicole on June 12th, 2008 11:55 am

Wow, Minnie Driver really does have a great voice. Never would have guessed…

Kendall on June 12th, 2008 12:15 pm

I think out of these selections, Minnie is the winner, but don’t forget about Juliette Lewis and her band Juliette and the Licks. I keep listening to the record over and over. It’s a year or two old now, but check out this video….

http://youtube.com/watch?v=l8KAEPTdlRA

Kendall on June 12th, 2008 12:22 pm

Oh…and Dave Grohl played the drums on the record…

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VVS3-8Ejz44&feature=related

DThompson on June 12th, 2008 11:45 pm

Listening to Johansson suck the heart out of a great Tom Waits song actually made me queasy. Dear God! Why was there no one to stand up and just say “No”? Why was there no one to tell them, “Cease this blasphemy. Have you not EARS? Can you not HEAR? Do you really think any amount of devil crossed silver, ANY pile of filthy lucre, no matter how large can be worth the stain on our very SOULS for perpetrating this crime against all that is good and holy? No. No. A thousand times no!”
Quickly, confine her before she records again!

Charbarred on June 13th, 2008 3:19 am

They could’ve said the same things to Dylan when he started out
The trouble with becoming a star is that you start believing your own hype. I’m willing to live with it as long as J-Lo doesn’t enter a recording studio ever again.

Charbarred on June 13th, 2008 4:06 am

I like the music Juliette and the Licks make, but whenever I watch her in a video it seems like she’s trying too hard to look like a rock star.

Kendall on June 13th, 2008 4:34 am

Didn’t Tom Waits produce most of the Johansson album? As well as David Bowie?

DThompson on June 13th, 2008 12:25 pm

Charbarred: It’s not Johansson’s lack of singing finesse that makes this such a crime against humanity, Waits is no golden throat himself. It’s her complete lack of…soul I guess. Dear God man, do I have to send you a file of the original before you stop calling her “the next Dylan”?
Kendall: No, Tom Waits didn’t come any closer to this fetid puddle of raw sewage than a royalty check. David Andrew Sitek produced the album, and apparently played most of the music.

Charbarred on June 13th, 2008 1:19 pm

That yellow wink thing shoulda tipped you off I was being sarcastic. She’s not even the next Jacob Dylan.
I sure hope Tom Waits didn’t have anything to do with this.

DThompson on June 13th, 2008 5:16 pm

Oh.

Sandra Possing on June 18th, 2008 6:48 pm

Zooey is kind of adorable I think. Not the best song in the world, but her voice works with the 50s country tinged thing.

And Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head might be the best band name ever.