Earlier this week, I gave the Dead Man's Bones debut album a listen. You may not recognize the band name, but you probably recognize the frontman: it's actor Ryan Gosling. I'm a big Gosling fan, but I wasn't expecting his music to have any substance, or for me to actually like it. Nothing against him, it's just that actors crossing over into music usually fall into a fitting cliche — epic failure.
Every once in a while, though, someone talented proves they're truly multi-talented and makes some enjoyable music. Last year, I fell for She & Him, Zooey Deschanel's project with M. Ward, and I loved Phantom Planet: The Jason Schwartzman years.
There's a longer list of tragic actor/musician crossovers, but I want to focus on the diamonds in the rough: What actors have made albums that you like?
Max Mara
Ruco Line
Milly
well; back when actors and musicians were actually talented, there were a lot of them - Frank Sinatra (I know he was a singer first but he is just great at everything he does), Bing Crosby, etc.
1now-a-days, I don't think there are as many - I've heard some of Ryan Gosling's band's songs and they aren't bad.
I have that She & Him album and while some songs are ok the majority are kind of lame - although I actually think Zooey Deschanel is a better singer than an actress (no offense against her; I love her and I love her voice but I don't think she's a very good actress).
I also love Phantom Planet and I had no idea Jason Schwartzman was in that band! his brother Robert Schwartzman (he sometimes calls himself Robert Carmine) is also an actor; he was in The Princess Diaries is the lead singer of Rooney, which I love.
can't think of anyone else; it's pretty hard to cross over from one genre to any other genre...
Interesting, I had no idea about Jason Schwartzman and Phantom Planet either. They are great.
Zooey is a great singer. Lover her on M. Ward's "Never Had Nobody Like You".
While Scarlett Johansson's solo album was horrible, her duets with Pete Yorn are pretty good. Esp "Relator".
2Zooey Deschanel is superb with M. Ward, both on She & Him and on a couple tracks of Hold Time
3Milla!! The Divine Comedy
Jenny Lewis from Rilo Kiley, she was in Troop Beverly Hills and some stupid video game movie with Fred Savage
Vanessa Paradis
Brigette Bardot had excellent albums, especially with Serge Gainsbourg. On that note, Jane Birkin
The jury is still out on Jared Leto
Do singers crossing into acting count? Because I love Mos Def.
4Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Rilo Kiley, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Robert Pattinson
5Love Jenny Lewis.. (Although, I also love The Wizard.. great movie. Own it. She was also in Pleasantville.) Rilo Kiley would also include Blake Soper - Salute Your Shorts & Boy Meets World. Ha. She & Him was one of my favorite albums last year..
Everyone else I can think of transitioned the other way!
6I really like She & Him. I also like Idina Menzel, but I don't know if that really counts. She's more broadway then screen acting.
7coconut records!! jason schwartzman completes me.
8Honestly, I don't know if that whole crossover thing applies anymore, especially when you're considering the more 'indie' actors who attempt the same genre of music.
She & Him
9Phantom Planet/Coconut Records (there should be more emphasis on the latter, Jason Schwartzman is awesome!)
Scarlet Johannson's album with Pete Yorn is actually pretty good!
Zooey Deschanel ~ She & Him
10Robert Schwartzman/ Carmine ~Rooney
Jason Schwartzman ~ Phantom Planet/ Coconut Records
Johnny Depp ~ The Kids
Keanu Reeves ~ Dogstar/ Becky (Dogstar was HORRIBLE. And Becky was decent, but I've heard he left the band...)
Jared Leto ~ 30 Seconds To Mars (Years ago I read in Rolling Stone that Jared Leto was in a band, but that was all I'd really heard about it. Then, in the summer of 2002, I saw them open for Incubus and fell in love. Leto has an incredible voice, and I love the fact that he doesn't advertise that he's the lead singer. In fact when I saw them I didn't even realize it was him until the very end of their set. Their use of camera angles, unique lighting and the fact that Leto wore a hood through the majority of the show definitely disguised him. They put on a great live show, which for me, can make or break an artist.
Jenny Lewis.
11I also liked She & Him and I'm kind of digging Dead Man's Bones.
I love Coconut Records, which is Jason Schwartzman's current project. I like Jenny Lewis' solo stuff (but not Rilo Kiley too much).
12The first album that came to mind was William Shatner's Has Been. He does a cover of Common People that is absolutely hilarious.
http://www.rhapsody.com/william-shatner
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