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Getting Into: Tom Waits
With Scarlett Johansson's album of Tom Waits covers, Anywhere I Lay My Head hitting stores today, some folks may be wondering: Who's this Tom Waits character, and why would someone like ScarJo want to cover a bunch of his songs?
Waits is one of the great American songwriters, but several of his best-known songs became famous only once covered by someone else. He penned "Downtown Train," but that song will forever be associated with Rod Stewart; same goes for "Jersey Girl" and Bruce Springsteen.
Buzz News Roundup, 5/5
- According to Variety, the next Terminator movie will attempt to broaden its audience with a PG-13 rating.
- Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane has signed a huge deal with Fox that makes him the highest-paid writer-producer in television, Reuters reports.
- Tom Waits has announced Summer tour dates via a bizarre faux press conference, Billboard reports.
- The Hollywood Reporter has the mind-boggling news that Tristan Wilds (Michael from The Wire) is joining the cast of the 90210 spinoff. Another actor, Michael Steger, has also been cast.
- Meanwhile, TV Guide has news that Brea Grant, who played Landry's rebound girl on Friday Night Lights, has been cast as a Heroes character with the power of superspeed.
- Amy Winehouse won't be recording the new Bond movie theme after all, writes Variety.
- Billboard announces that Nine Inch Nails is offering a free download of its new album, The Slip.
Check Out More of Scarlett's Tom Waits Covers
The first track from Anywhere I Lay My Head, Scarlett Johansson's album of Tom Waits covers, gave us a pretty good indication of where the album might be headed: thick, fuzzy production, androgynous vocals, and some pretty drastic reinterpretations of Waits' songs. Now, six full tracks from the album are streaming online, and sure enough, they all have a similar vibe.
Those of you who thought the vocals on "Anywhere I Lay My Head" sounded manly will have a field day with "Town With No Cheer," on which Scarlett's voice sounds flat and almost spooky.
First Listen: Scarlett Johansson, "Anywhere I Lay My Head"
It's been a long wait for ScarJo's album of Tom Waits covers, Anywhere I Lay My Head and we still have until May 20 for the full album, but today we can at least hear the title track. Apparently, the album's producer Dave Sitek was "going for a 'cough medicine/Tinkerbell' vibe" on the album, which it actually helps to know when listening to "Anywhere."
The song has a dreamy/hazy thing going on, with lots of synth.
Buzz News Roundup, 1/25
- Stephen Colbert's WristStrong bracelets have raised more than $170,000 for charity, the Associated Press reports.
- In Sundance deal news, the well-received comedy Baghead has been bought by Sony Pictures Classics, Variety reports.
- Lionsgate and Marvel have struck deals with the striking WGA that will let union writers work on their projects, USA Today reports.
- After completing Revolutionary Road, director Sam Mendes will get to work on an untitled comedy written by David Eggers and Vendela Vida, reports Zap2It.
- Shout Factory has gotten the rights to release every episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on DVD, writes The Hollywood Reporter.
- Scarlett Johansson's album of songs written by Tom Waits will be released May 20, writes E! Online.
- Lance Reddick of The Wire has been cast on the new JJ Abrams show Fringe, as has John Noble of The Lord of the Rings movies, TV Guide reports.
- Variety has news that The Color Purple will end its run on Broadway February 24. Meanwhile, Reuters writes that Phantom of the Opera will mark its 20-year anniversary on Broadway this weekend.
- NBC is all about competing parents this spring, scheduling the reality show My Dad is Better Than Your Dad and searching for America's Favorite Mom; details on both are at The Futon Critic.
Scarlett Johansson's Album Might Actually Be Good
When I first heard that Scarlett Johansson was recording an album of Tom Waits covers, I didn't quite know what to think. Sure, she proved she could sing when she joined Jesus and Mary Chain onstage at Coachella, but Waits's music seemed like an odd — and challenging — choice for the actress.
Now, Pitchfork has revealed some new details about the album, and it actually sounds quite promising.
Link Time! 5/1
- FitSugar's getting into the swing of things with these socks that look like they could give Spider-Man a run for his money.
- The TV Addict offers his take on more than 50 of this season's TV finales.
- Tom Waits tops Rolling Stone Rock & Roll Daily's list of the 25 most underappreciated artists.
- TV Filter pays its respects to recently deceased character actor Dabbs Greer.
- Harry Potter's Emma Watson apparently said that playing an American high schooler would be her "worst nightmare," Cinematical tells us.
- Stereogum gum gives us a brand spanking new Interpol song.
- If laughing at "The Bachelor" from afar isn't enough for you, TV with MeeVee has the scoop on how to apply for a spot on the show.
- Film Experience picks apart a candid on-set photo from Australia, the upcoming Baz Luhrmann/Nicole Kidman project.
- Pop Candy makes me happy with a podcast about Sassy magazine.
- TV Squad laments the sad, cancellation-happy state of Fox.
Free Downloads! Six Covers by the Cold War Kids
Cold War Kids already won me over with a stellar debut album, Robbers & Cowards, and the awesome interview the band did for BuzzSugar. But now, the boys from Long Beach have done something even cooler: They've posted free MP3s of six cover songs that the band played at a recent breast-cancer benefit show.
The very eclectic set includes CWK's version of songs by Fiona Apple, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and more.
What's Buzzworthy: Readers' Top Albums of 2006
After compiling my own list of the Top 20 Albums of 2006, I wanted to know what music you guys really loved in the past year. So I asked BuzzSugar readers to use our cool new Buzzworthy feature to bookmark your favorite albums of 2006.
I really like what you guys found: Many of these were albums I enjoyed but didn't include on my Top 20, but many more are CDs I still haven't heard but want to get my hands on.
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The season six premiere of Desperate Housewives opens with Mike's much-anticipated wedding and then takes us on a series of flashbacks to the weeks leading up to the big event.
With Edie out of the picture and a new housewife on the block, Mike's marriage isn't the only scandal happening on Wisteria Lane. To chat about the exciting season premiere, just read more
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