It was a bizarre proposition. First, Scarlett Johansson wanted to make an album. She wanted to make an album of Tom Waits songs. With the help of... David Bowie?

Indeed, this is an unheard of recipe, but to hear about it, it sounds appetizing. There is nothing really normal about any of it and that lends the entire album an air of originality. It is also a credit to Ms. Johansson that she chose to do a CD of an artist who, though ubiquitous, has only a cult following and no radio play. It's always nice to see people taking risks to try and create something new.

Creativity does not always secure brilliant results. What has been created here is an interesting experiment, and nothing more. Upon first listening to this album, one thing becomes apparent; Ms. Johansson cannot sing. The registers to which she has applied her voice are too deep. Perhaps if she used a higher register she would sound better. It is important to remember, though, that Tom Waits himself cannot sing, in a traditional sense, and has formed a style around his distinctive voice. The music itself is a departure from Waits's style. Americana has been replaced here with electro-pop, which carries a tempo to slow to really enjoy as electronic.

All in all, this is a humble album, and though it is not great, the ambition and humility with which it was made makes it impossible to ignore.