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When naming celebrities who’ve released records, you might think of Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton. If you’re geeky, you might recall William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. If you’re really geeky, you might remember the Michael Parks country and blues albums. Buy any of these and you’ll be the butt of a lot of jokes. Scarlett Johansson singing on Anywhere I Lay My Head , however isn’t laughable. It’s surprisingly good for a one time side project. Thank goodness Johansson isn’t becoming boring and predictable.

According to the promotional materials, Johansson already sung for a Music Matters benefit compilation. Afterwards, Rhino Entertainment pitched the actress the idea of a full-length LP under their Atco Records label. Anywhere I Lay My Head will be available everywhere May 20^th. The album’s website contains a podcast interview with Johansson and Producer David Andrew Sitek as well as photos and audio samples. Johansson’s Myspace page includes the music video for the single “Falling Down.” You can buy the single off Amazon or iTunes.

If I asked you to guess what her album sounds like, you’d never guess Tom Waits covers. Waits is an indie musician who for years has been recording songs combining blues, country and jazz. According to the album website, Johansson turned into a Waits fan after hearing Bone Machine in 8^th grade. With album titles like Rain Dogs and Bawlers and Bastards, Johansson chose to make her debut a challenging one. Waits’s gravely vocals evoke Louis Armstrong’s voice run over by a pick-up truck. She pulls it off, though her renditions have a dreamlike cinematic quality. Think the Lost in Translation soundtrack. Johansson sounds like a young Annie Lennox at times but in a lower register. Anywhere looks like it’s going to be a decent ambient rock album with no crummy filler tracks.

Besides the album, the music video Johansson made for “Falling Down.” is pretty cool. We see her wearing street clothes traveling to film a commercial. Once there, a legion of makeup artists and suits transform her into the celebrity we thought we knew. Johansson has always kept her celebrity life apart from her private life. In the video, she’s willing to express that without makeup.

Anywhere I Lay My Head will appeal to Johansson’s fans and movie soundtrack buyers. More than a novelty, the record reveals a mature, intelligent actress. It’s the work of someone who’s drawn to unusual and meaningful projects. Put simply, don’t expect The Nanny Diaries 2.

Find our more on the album website, on MySpace or on iTunes.