Anywhere I Lay My Head
by Scarlett Johansson
  • Record Label: Atco
  • Release Date: May 20, 2008
User Score
6.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 57 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 57
  3. Negative: 15 out of 57

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  1. TimF.
    Jun 9, 2008
    0
    Scarlett is gorgeous and a pretty good actress. There was no need for this. Her voice puts me off.
  2. JamalaB.
    May 20, 2008
    3
    This is not Scarlett! This is the producers creating a self-indulgent album. Scarlett has a beautiful voice - but it is drowned in the instrumentals. Someone obviously told her to sing that way - there's not an ounce of emotion. Bitterly disappointed, Scarlett ... hopefully next time, you'll sing for yourself.
  3. TiernanS.
    May 22, 2008
    1
    Based on the lead single in front of this album I am vastly unimpressed.
  4. PaulC
    May 22, 2008
    0
    I couldn't make it past track five. This is some of the worst music I've heard in years. Scarlett's voice is an atonal nightmare. There's no way any legitimate music critic should be giving this mess the kind of scores it's been getting. Absolutely horrible!
  5. MilesD.
    May 21, 2008
    1
    Wow! really! I Love Tom Waits and think scarlett is great. This album really sucks though.
  6. mk
    May 22, 2008
    1
    Why won't anyone tell her how bad this is? Not to mention that the idea of doing a cover album of Tom Waits songs.. Holly Cole did it years ago. And she can sing.
  7. [Anonymous]
    May 24, 2008
    1
    At least I haven't hung myself yet. Simply terrible.
  8. EmilyC.
    Jun 14, 2008
    1
    Just because someone is an actress does not mean they should (or can) sing songs written by a legend. People should do themselves a favor, and stay away.
  9. DejanS.
    Aug 20, 2008
    8
    Mix of Nico and Sonic Youth. Amazing! Perfect 4 lazy evening.
  10. DavidS.
    May 21, 2008
    8
    Strangely beautiful and haunting in a Nico-meets-80s-Synth-Pop kind of way. Does have its boring moments though.
  11. KevinC.
    May 20, 2008
    10
    look, I don't care what the reviewers say, this was a damn good album. just listen to it. trust me.
  12. BenL.
    May 20, 2008
    9
    The idea works. Proto Tom Waits for this generation. And it was successful. Tom Waits is still a force and all this album does is reaffirm that. The production is beautiful and enthralling. It shows of all the great qualities of the tangible parts of this album like Steik and the musicians while pulling back on the idea to have Scarlett sell the thing with her presence. Listen Closely.
  13. spiderextreme
    May 22, 2008
    10
    Scarlett is a good singer!!
  14. JoaoP.
    May 30, 2008
    10
    Amazing production, and fine enough vocals to make it an amazing album.
  15. JaredH
    Jun 1, 2008
    6
    Having listened to this album once through, I can say that it is not nearly as bad I would have guessed or the critics would lead me to believe. Sure she is not a great singer but its def a cool project with an interesting combination of artists and worth a listen.
  16. JérômeN.
    Jun 20, 2008
    8
    Sure everything is not perfect, but the creativity of this album is impressive and deserves to be well rated. Furthermore, the overall atmosphere reminds me of productions like these of Mazzy Star, Cat Power, Cocteau Twins or This Mortal Coil, fact that I find rather refreshing, as really getting out of today's standards.
  17. EricS.
    Aug 12, 2008
    9
    Scarlett's voice just fits. it's not the best album of the year, but it was worth the shot.
  18. MichaelH.
    May 21, 2008
    7
    So much better than it should have been in every way. I'm pleasantly surprised to find myself hoping she'll do another album (hopefully with Mr. Sitek, again). Maybe some Bowie tunes next time?
  19. RichN.
    Jun 11, 2008
    10
    I really didn't expect to like this at all, let alone this much. Something in it just works.
  20. wards705
    Jun 5, 2008
    8
    Better than expected... beautiful instrumentation.
  21. AlexH
    Aug 1, 2008
    8
    I'm a Tom Waits fan and I checked out this album with the same cynical attitude a lot of people had, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Scarlett's voice is very nice and David Sitek gives further evidence that he's one of the best producers working today. The album alternately reminds me of Sinead O'Connor's version of 'Nothing Compares 2 U', and of a I'm a Tom Waits fan and I checked out this album with the same cynical attitude a lot of people had, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Scarlett's voice is very nice and David Sitek gives further evidence that he's one of the best producers working today. The album alternately reminds me of Sinead O'Connor's version of 'Nothing Compares 2 U', and of a music box playing in blizzard, and I mean both of those things as compliments. I think most of the haters probably don't like this style of music in the first place, and/or refuse to take it seriously because of who she is.… Expand
  22. CK
    May 22, 2008
    8
    I enjoyed it. This is not a pop album or commercial album by any means. This must be an album of love from Scarlett, because doing a goth version of Tom Waits' material is not something that the regular population would be attracted to. I applaud her for doing something she loves instead of just being another vapid pop star wannabe.
  23. ChadS.
    May 25, 2008
    6
    Truth is, Scarlett Johansson could've recorded a hand-picked collection of beloved Roxette songs, and I'd still buy it. I was hoping for the best. The cover reminded me of the Michel Gondry-directed "Human Behavior" video for Bjork. If only she had a voice like Bjork, or at the very least, Marianne Faithful. Tactfully put, her voice is perfunctory. Strictly heard as a curio Truth is, Scarlett Johansson could've recorded a hand-picked collection of beloved Roxette songs, and I'd still buy it. I was hoping for the best. The cover reminded me of the Michel Gondry-directed "Human Behavior" video for Bjork. If only she had a voice like Bjork, or at the very least, Marianne Faithful. Tactfully put, her voice is perfunctory. Strictly heard as a curio though, the vanity project of a talented, but uneven actress(memorable in Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation", dreadful in Brian DePalma's "The Black Dahlia"), "Anywhere I Lay My Head" isn't without its modest triumphs, in particular, "Falling Down" and "Fannin Street". "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" is the cd's bid for mainstream alternative radio airplay, and it's okay, but Johansson and her collaborator from TV on the Radio would've been better off recording "Downtown Train" or "The Heart of Saturday Night". "Downtown Train" is the gateway song for Tom Waits neophytes. If "Anywhere I Lay my Head" was my first exposure to Waits, I wouldn't understand why he's such a big deal. "Downtown Train" is an indestructible song. Since Johansson's vocal is buried so deep in the mix, the "Rain Dogs" standout wouldn't be hampered, because it's one of Waits' more dynamically melodic songs. Everybody now, "You wave your hand and they scatter like crows/They have nothing that will ever capture your heart/They're just thorns without the rose/Be careful of them in the dark...… Expand
  24. MollyC.
    May 26, 2008
    9
    I was expecting to ironically listen to this. But it's much better than expected, in a buzzy, 90s way. Seems to me most people don't like it because of their expectations/bias against actors. Not life changing, but certainly a record that can be enjoyed more and more every listen.
  25. Ana
    May 31, 2008
    8
    I really enjoyed this album. There are some highlights, like "Falling Down", "I Wish I Was In New Orleans" and my personal favourite, "Song For Jo", which is the only original song on this album. It's worth to listen to this CD - just for these three tracks.
  26. ernis_v
    May 4, 2012
    10
    I know most critics aren't fond of this record, but for some reason, this is my favorite album of all times. There's something special about every song, and the feeling that I can relate to every bit is incredibly huge.
  27. abpplanetearth
    Sep 23, 2015
    9
    I had never heard Scarlett sing before. I'm not a huge Tom Waits fan, but find his stuff to be at least interesting most of the time (this is almost an entire Tom Waits cover album). I found this album to be very soothing, relaxing, and eerie. Scarlett's voice fits the mood of the album very well. Thumbs up!

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Most Discussed Album of 2008
61
#61 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 35
  3. Negative: 2 out of 35
  1. Q Magazine
    60
    The album is fine enough, undeniably modish and much better than you might anticipate. [June 2008, p.136]
  2. Mojo
    40
    Much of this album's re-booting of Waits' back pages in an ambient '80s style is fussy and forgettable. [June 2008, p.112]
  3. NOW Magazine
    20
    Sitek attempts to do Johansson (and us) a favour by burying her monotonous voice deep in the mix, but unfortunately, the musical support isn’t interesting enough to carry the album. Skip it.
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