We’re not discussing their ability to sell bullshit, either. (We’re looking at you, Mr. Sean Penn.) We’re also not hinting at their knack to change face, or physical presence. (Christian Bale, how do you do it?) No, we’re talking about their raw talents. Some actors can do things that go outside acting. A few might dabble in painting, and prove incredibly worthy. Others might be great politicians… sh’yeah, right. For the most part, if any cross over into other industries, it’s more often than not into music. It just makes sense.

But not all can pull it off. Think about the real blunders of the past: Russell Crowe, Lindsay Lohan, Bruce Willis, Don Johnson, shall we go on? Okay, one last one: Steven Seagal. Horrible. (Actually, Don Johnson gets a bad rap. “Heartbeat” isn’t that bad. It’s a little cheesy, but think about the times. He nailed the time period.) Some can really pull it off, though. Enough that we decided to put together a list. Sure, some of our choices will no doubt come off as obvious, but others might surprise you. Regardless, this list is an honest carving of pure, real talent. These aren’t ironic choices. These folks deserve the spotlight, simply because they can deliver. They didn’t cross over for cash grabs — well, not that we’re aware of. No, they tried their hand and they succeeded.

So, take a gander. You might be shocked. If anything, it’ll certainly give you some perspective if you watch the Oscars this Sunday. Speaking of which, stay tuned this weekend, as we unveil our Top 5 Oscar Musical Performances (Saturday) and 10 Film Scores You Really Should Know (Sunday). Trust us, you’ll be sick of Hollywood and everything involved with it by Sunday night. We know we will.

p.s. The Social Network better sweep, Christian Bale deserves the damn Oscar, and give Christopher Nolan the Original Screenplay award. Okay, we’re done.

-Michael Roffman
President/Editor-in-Chief

10. Jeff Bridges

When you think of Jeff Bridges and music, your thoughts may not immediately settle on his own work in the field. The actor has been a part of many films with well-known soundtracks. You may think of his turn as The Dude, dancing to “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” during a dream sequence in The Big Lebowski. You may wander back to late last year where he reprised the role of Kevin Flynn, running from his controlling program Clu to the tunes of Daft Punk in Tron: Legacy. But if you just listened to the soundtrack of Crazy Heart without knowing anything else about it, his work on tracks like “Hold On You” and “I Don’t Know” is nothing short but brilliant. With a rich timbre that fits the country-fueled tunes, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Bridges released an album that was as successful as the film that started him down the path. Country may not be my favorite genre, but if Bridges wrote it, I’d definitely buy it. -Dana Grossman

09. Jeff Daniels

For better or worse, Jeff Daniels will always be remembered for his portrayal of Harry Dunne in 1994’s incendiary Dumb and Dumber. His knack for slapstick and obvious chemistry with Jim Carrey is what makes that film the cultural icon it is today. But it sort of overshadows his other work. The man has hit mainstream success (Arachnaphobia, Purple Rose of Cairo, Fly Away Home), as well as indie success (The Squid and the Whale, The Lookout), and has flourished in just about every role thrown his way, crumby or ground-breaking. What you may not know about Daniels is that he’s a self-proclaimed folk artist. He’s recorded songs throughout his life, and has released two full-lenghts: Grandfather’s Hat, and Jeff Daniels Live and Unplugged. If you haven’t had the chance to check out Harry Dunne’s music, he did a captivating session with Daytrotter, which you can download for free here. -Winston Robbins

08. Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx is a triple threat. Not only did he become an enormous name in Hollywood after getting his start by joining In Living Color, eventually landing larger-than-life roles in blockbuster films (Ray, Collateral, Jarhead, Miami Vice, Dreamgirls, The Soloist, etc.), but he’s an established musician as well as a legitimate stand-up comedian. He’s released four solo albums, all of which charted on Billboard’s top 200, but that’s not where his musical legacy will lie, I’m afraid. The man has appeared on just about every keynote rapper’s albums as a featured guest, most notably on Kanye West’s club hit “Gold Digger” and other track “Slow Jamz”, which also features Twista. You have to admire a man who can sing, rap, produce, act, and do stand-up proficiently in every category. -Winston Robbins

07. Juliette Lewis

She survived Quentin Tarantino’s perversion and a Mexican vampire nest in From Dusk Til Dawn; she went on a killing spree with Woody Harrelson’s red tea-shades in Natural Born Killers. Juliette Lewis is a darling and a psycho, a Christian follower of a trendy “cult”-ural conversation called Scientology, but more than that, she is now a musical entertainer.

Lewis’ career in rock has spawned two LPs under the banner of Juliette & The Licks, while later forming The New Romantiques, credited solely as Juliette Lewis for the album Terra Incognita. Taking into account the sexy romps of “You’re Speaking My Language”, the attack on society with “American Boy, Pt. 2″, even a Patti Smith vibe as of late…Lewis does not give a fuck what you think.

Move, ’cause Mallory Knox did it. -David Buchanan

06. Ryan Gosling

Aside from being everyone’s man crush (it’s okay, you can admit it, this is a safe place), Ryan Gosling is a spectacular actor and musician, though the musicianship facet of his career is a fairly recent development. You may know him as Noah from The Notebook, that kid from Remember the Titans, or that little boy who used to be on The Mickey Mouse Club, but Gosling’s film career goes much deeper than that. Gosling’s days of mediocre acting jobs are behind him, and he’s now become a marquee name. His accolades include two Golden Globe nominations, two Academy Award nominations, and two Independent Spirit nominations. He decided to try his hand at music in 2009 with his project, Dead Man’s Bones. By all accounts, this should have been a flop, but it was surprisingly endearing and honest. Their self-titled debut was dark, yet jauntily poppy, and was a collaboration with L.A.’s Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir, who added an eerie aesthetic that bolstered the album immensely. And although the performances by the group were few, they were successfully raw and full of energy. -Winston Robbins

05. Zooey Deschanel

Almost a full decade before She & Him entered anyone’s radar, Zooey Deschanel was already mixing together her interests in music and acting. One of her first appearances on-screen was the music video for The Offspring’s 1999 single, “She’s Got Issues”. A large movie audience got the first taste of her vocal abilities in Elf, where her deadpan character unknowingly duet-ted with Will Ferrell on “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”. From there, she starred in a variety of films, including The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Bridge to Terabithia, and (500) Days of Summer. Musically, she formed a jazz cabaret act called If All Stars Were Pretty Babies, though they never released any studio recordings. Once she got working with M.Ward in 2007, she found the perfect outlet in She & Him. While many artists crossover and then stay in that field for a while, it looks like Deschanel will continue to move between the lines of her two professions as smoothly as her singing voice. -Joe Marvilli

04. Jack Black

It wasn’t too much of a stretch for comedic actor Jack Black when he went from the silver screen to the world of rock and roll. If you’ve seen the vast majority of his films (High Fidelity, Orange County, and School of Rock, to name a few), it’s obvious rock ‘n’ roll is a very important part of Black’s personality. That’s why it made sense in 2001 for Black and acting companion Kyle “KG” Gass to team up together and officially form Tenacious D. What started with a short-lived television series in the late ’90s blossomed into a self-titled debut that captured nearly every fan of rock ‘n’ roll. In addition to playing the greatest song in the world (for the devil himself, no less), Tenacious D has gone on to sell millions of records, even headlining numerous festivals (let’s not forget their surprise Coachella performance). Sure, the group’s long gestating 2006 film, The Pick of Destiny, was a flop, but nearly five years later it has become a stoner cult classic. What else did you want it to be? With promise of a new album and some potential tour dates with the Foo Fighters later this year — oh, by the way, Dave Grohl was their studio drummer — Tenacious D has solidified itself in the rock ‘n’ roll genre. In hindsight, Jack Black has become just as famous in the music biz as he has in the film industry. You might not think of this, especially when the guy’s arguing about cock pushups, but he’s definitely smarter than the average bear. -Ted Maider

03. Woody Allen

Oy vey. When he’s not romanticizing about past love, or trying to seduce his latest leading actress behind the camera, director-writer-actor Woody Allen spends some time playing jazz. You heard that right: jazz. Since the ’60s, Allen has performed as a clarinetist for a handful of acts. (Fun fact: His stage name comes from legendary clarinetist Woody Herman. That one’s on the house.) This isn’t an old passion that he’s dropped, either. He continues to consistently play alongside The Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band every Monday night at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City. Allen may be prolific for his filmography, but he’s turned some heads with this music career. In 1996, director Barbara Kopple followed Allen and his group around, documenting their tour in a film entitled, Wild Mans Blues, the soundtrack to the film being one of two albums the group’s since released. The other? 1993′s The Bunk Project. Not too shabby for Alvy Singer, huh? So, if you don’t subscribe to Bruce McCulloch’s hatred of the genre, perhaps your fanaticism of Allen doesn’t stop with film. -Michael Roffman

02. Jenny Lewis

There’s something about a babe with a bass guitar. Jenny Lewis wears it well; a rock chick with a dress sense who can rock along with the best on six strings, as well as four, without looking like she’s about to collapse under the weight of the instrument. Lewis is a prime example of the actor turned fair musician and singer. From child acting through a raft of TV shows and teen movies, she earned her thespian spurs until finding her true mojo in 1998. At the still tender age of 22, she co-formed the band, Rilo Kiley, a made up name that sounds like it should be an anagram. The indie pop-rockers went on to release five albums over nine years, all of which would make a name for itself in the evolving indie market. She didn’t stop there, though. Lewis also has two solo records to her name, the first of which was brought together by Conor Oberst and has Lewis co-billed with The Watson Twins. More recently, however, the songstress has been performing with her partner, Johnathan Rice, as Jenny & Johnny. The two released their debut album last year, titled I’m Having Fun Now. In between, however, Lewis has a host of contributions on her CV; everything from Elvis Costello to Brandon Flowers. On the topic of the Oscars, Jenny Lewis’ proved to be a contender when her tender-sweet song, “Barking At The Moon”, from the Disney animation, Bolt, fell on the long list of potential nominees for Best Original Song in 2009. Sadly, along with Springsteen’s “The Wrestler”, she didn’t make the cut in a year where oddly just three songs got through. Shame on you, Oscar! Any song with a lyric like “I may not see in color babe, but I sure can feel blue,” deserves its moment in the sun. -Tony Hardy

01. Steve Martin

He’s been a jerk, a father (to a bride, no less), an amigo, and, on the side, he’s one of the most compelling banjo players out there. Ever since it became a staple of his stand-up routines throughout the ’70s, Steve Martin has made no secret of his skills with the eccentric instrument. It’s worked, too. His debut album, Let’s Get Small, won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album in 1978, which he followed again a year later with his work on A Wild and Crazy Guy, which featured SNL-favorite hit, “King Tut”. In 2001, Martin nabbed another Grammy, this time for Best Country Instrumental Performance on the remake of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”. He followed this Grammy success in 2009 by releasing his first all-music effort, The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, which brought him a win for Best Bluesgrass Album. It’s not all in the studio, either. Lately, he’s been picking up steam in the festival circuit with his group the Steep Canyon Rangers, appearing nationally at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Merlefest Bluegrass Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluesgrass Festival, and, of course, Bonnaroo. Yeah, it doesn’t get better than that. This guy fucking bleeds talent. -Michael Roffman

Getting back to the music for a moment, the release includes two exclusive tracks — a Peter Bjorn & John cover of Seals & Crofts’ “Summer Breeze” and a previously unreleased live version of Third Eye Blind’s “Bonfire”. So, as if there weren’t enough reasons to pick this up, you’ll be getting something new as well.

As mentioned, Indie Rocks! A Benefit Album For Malaria No More will be released on November 17th via RED. It will be available exclusively through Amie Street first (for a four week period) and then all participating digital service providers thereafter. Amie Street will also make the compilation available at multiple price points, effectively giving consumers the option to make a donation in the amount of $10, $20, $50 or $100.

Preview PB&J’s “Summer Breeze” below. Tracklist after that.

Check Out:
Peter Bjorn & John – “Summer Breeze” (Seals & Crofts)

Indie Rocks! A Benefit Album For Malaria No More Tracklist:
01. Peter Bjorn & John – Summer Breeze (Exclusive)
02. Juliette Lewis – Fantasy Bar, from Terra Incognita
03. Jeff The Brotherhood – Bone Jam, from Heavy Days
04. The Grates – Two Kinds Of Right  from Teeth Lost, Hearts Won
05. Third Eye Blind – Bonfire (Exclusive, Live in NYC)
06. Dirty Little Rabbits- Hello, from Simon
07. Wild Light – Adult Nights, from Adult Nights
08. The Walkmen – Four Provinces, from You & Me
09. State Radio – Let It Go, from Calling All Crows
10. Those Darlins – Wild One, from Those Darlins
11. Great Lake Swimmers – Pulling On A Line, from Lost Channels
12. Kate Miller Heidke – Politics in Space, from EP Kate Miller-Heidke
13. Yonder Mountain String Band – Fingerprint, from The Show
14. Youssou N’Dour – Fight Malaria

It has been about 15 years since Lewis’ memorable performance and beyond the silver screen she dabbled with a punk rock sound, going out with a bang in the real world and in a real way with her outfit Juliette & The Licks. It’s now 2009, and while a certain writer was regrettably not a devoted follower of Ms. Lewis, the film star turned rock star has shined so brightly to the masses, and here I stand taken aback. Juliette Lewis has now officially gone the solo route and presented us with Terra Incognita, a profound revisit to the mid ’90s and proof positive that those of us who gave her no thought at all post-production were sorely mistaken.

The one minute intro serves as a descent into madness, blasted apart by “Noche Sin Fin”, with almost tribal thunder present on drums and vocals reminiscent appropriately of fellow Killers alumnus Patti Smith or the band Nico Vega. There is passion and decadence in Lewis’ vocals, as if she were at the peak of an orgasm on each consecutive note. Apparently not being one to kill the mood too quickly, Lewis braves the title track and comes in like the third party of a ménage à trois, swaggering to alternative rock infused with pop vox galore a la Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Sinking into track four, “Hard Lovin’ Woman” is a blues song with memories of Mallory Knox seeping from its pores like tainted honey, impossibly existing and yet so damn succulent without reason.

Next up comes “Fantasy Bar”, a song that would feel somewhat at home dubbed over the “bat country” scene from Fear and Loathing, maybe in a fan made tribute to Thompson and Lewis without explanation. “Romeo” is a genetic splicing of lovestruck attitude and acid trips, glazed over with The Mars Volta as is expected since Rodriguez-Lopez helped produce Lewis’ solo debut. Hot off the heels of a Volta classic, this is less reinventing the wheel and more so adding a shiny spinner sans hip-hop associations; “Romeo” is a gem amongst gems here, a hallucinatory and poetic song with no bad vibes. Following suit, a companion song titled “Ghosts” feels like a crash after the aforementioned high, narrated by the spirit of a haunting beat poet and equally as hypnotic.

Honestly, if the first set of songs on Terra Incognita were intended as described — a sex and drug byproduct resulting in beautiful insanity — then our second portion bleeds more an introspective mood, reflecting on past mistakes like a twisted psychiatry session. “All Is For God” could be perhaps the anger and frustration of not understanding one’s true self or origins; “Female Persecution”, the interment into and subsequent dive from denial about one’s own demons; “Uh Huh”, the breath of fresh air surrounding a patient who finally becomes accepting to the real world, positive and otherwise. Finally, the last two tracks “Junkyard Heart” and “Suicide Dive Bombers” appear to be Lewis’ release of said demons and the finality of her imagination and poetry draining upon blank pages respectively.

It is quite possible that this particular journalist is reading way too deeply into a concept that may or may not exist. On the other hand, the tangibility of Terra Incognita‘s messages in audio bliss and Juliette Lewis’ restraint in commercialism being severed lends us this monumental fact: the album currently playing on my computer is not meant for tinny monitor speakers, it is in fact destined for surround sound, for dive bars and amphitheaters, for long drives in the American west while on every drug conceivable. Terra Incognita hit me out of nowhere like (coincidentally) a suicide dive bomber, and one is irrevocably thankful.

Now, excuse me while I howl mercilessly to the gods of Juliette Lewis’ achievement here before settling down with a Pringles can and a DVD copy of Natural Born Killers. Yes ma’am, Mallory Knox did it!

Check Out:

Buy:
Terra Incognita

Lewis is also support the release of Terra Incognita, which features the talents of The Mars Volta’s Omar Rodríguez-López and hit records stores last week, with a brand new music video for the track “Fantasy Bar”. Check that out, as well as all the confirmed tour dates, below.

Tickets for many of the North American dates are available via Ticketmaster.com.

Juliette Lewis 2009 Tour Dates:
09/11 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House
09/15 – Montreal, QC @ Il Motore
09/17 – Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
09/18 – Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
09/19 – New York, NY @ The Fillmore
09/21 – Westchester, PA @ The Note
09/22 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
09/24 – Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn
09/25 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
09/26 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
09/27 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ The Culture Room
10/02 – Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
10/03 – Minneapolis, MN @ Station 4
10/04 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
10/06 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
10/07 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
10/09 – Seattle, WA @ Corazon
10/10 – Portland, OR @ Dante’s
10/11 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
10/13 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
10/14 – Las Vegas, NV @ Wasted Space
10/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
10/21 – Glasgow, UK @ Garage
10/23 – London, UK @ Shepards Bush Empire
10/24 – Bristol, UK @ Lazarette Festival
10/27 – Moscow, RU @ B1 Club
10/29 – Helsinki, FI @ Nosturi
10/31 – Stockholm, SE @ Pumpehuset
11/03 – Hamburg, DE @ Gr Freiheit
11/04 – Berlin, DE @ Kesselhaus
11/06 – Prauge, CZ @ Palace Acropolis
11/08 – Vienna, AT @ Gasometer
11/09 – Munich, DE @ Muffathalle
11/11 – Wiesbaden, DE @ Schlachthof
11/12 – Cologne, DE @ Live Music Hall
11/14 – Lausanne, CH @ Metropop Festival
11/15 – Zurich, CH @ Kaufleuten
11/18 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
11/19 – Bochum, DE @ Zeche
11/20 – Linz, AT @ Posthof
11/21 – Milan, IT @ Magazzine Generali
11/23 – Paris, FR @ Alhambra
11/25 – Madrid, ES @ Heineken
11/26 – Pamplona, ES @ Totem
11/27 – Barcelona, ES @ Apolo
12/08 – Portsmouth, UK @ Wedgewood Rooms

Bouncing Souls:

What: Tour dates for Las Vegas & Kansas City (MO)

When: October – November

Tixs: $17.00 – $20.00

Buy: Ticketmaster.com at 10:00 am CDT

Juliette Lewis:

What: Tour dates for Las Vegas & Vancouver

When: October – November

Tixs: $15.00

Buy: Ticketmaster.com at 10:00 am PDT

Maxwell:

What: Tour dates for “BLACKsummers’night” North American tour

When: October

Tixs: Price not listed

Buy: Livenation.com at 10:00 am EST

Mika:

What: Tour dates for Los Angeles & Boston

When: October

Tixs: Price not listed

Buy: Livenation.com at 10:00 am EST

Peaches:

What: Tour dates for Ft Lauderdale (FL) & Vancouver

When: November

Tixs: $17.00

Buy: Ticketmaster.com at 10:00 am EST

STS9:

What: Two-night New Years Eve stint in Denver, CO

When: December 30-31

Tixs: Price not listed

Buy: Livenation.com at 10:00 am MDT

The Used:

What: Tour dates for New York, Atlanta, Detroit, Denver, & Lake Buena Vista (FL)

When: October – November

Tixs: Price not listed

Buy: Livenation.com at 10:00 am EST

Tickets for select dates go on sale beginning tomorrow, June 5, at 10 A.M. EST via Ticketmaster.com.

The Pretenders 2009 Tour Dates:
08/04 – Rama, ON @ Casino Rama
08/05 – Rama, ON @ Casino Rama
08/07 – Wallingford, CT @ Chevrolet Theatre ^
08/08 – Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom *^
08/09 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony *^
08/10 – New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage *^
08/12 – Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion *^
08/13 – Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theatre *^
08/14 – Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre *^
08/15 – Harrisburg, PA @ The Forum ^
08/16 – Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion Outdoor *^
08/18 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom *^
08/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Weesner Amphitheater *^
08/20 – Council Bluffs, IA @ Harrah’s *^
08/22 – Littleton, CO @ Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield *^
08/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Botanic Gardens *^
08/25 – Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield Amphitheatre *^
08/26 – Vancouver, BC  @ Malkin Bowl *^
08/27 – Redmond, Wa @ Marymoor Amphitheatre *^
08/29 – Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Winery *
09/01 – Pala, CA @ Starlight Theater *^
09/03 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre *^
09/04 – Rancho Mirage, CA @ Agua Caliente Casino

* = w/ Cat Power
^ = w/ Juliette Lewis

So, let’s move on to some other news, like the fact that Juliette Lewis is super popular. After all, she’s hanging out with everyone from The Mars Volta’s Omar Rodríguez-López to The Pretenders and Cat Power these days. Details, you ask?

Well, the hang out time with Rodríguez-López began back in 2007 at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. As the story, or press release goes, the two “soon bonded over their love of Fellini movies and the relationship between drama, visual images and songwriting,” so much so in fact, that late last year, the two got together and recorded a Lewis’ latest studio effort. Entitled Terra Incognita and due for release on September 1st via The End Records, the 10-track effort is described as featuring a “emotionally guttural and ultimately melodic and unpredictable, new sound.” In other words, as Lewis notes, “This album is so sonically different than anything I’ve done before and captures many flavors of my emotional life and voice.”

The other hang out time, the one with The Pretenders and Cat Power, hasn’t gotten away quite yet, but will in the coming months. Lewis will look to support the release of Terra Incognita by teaming up with The Pretenders and Cat Power for a summer tour of epic extravaganzas. A few dates have trickled out so far, but most are still forthcoming.

Terra Incognita Tracklist:
01. Romeo
02. All is for God
03. Ghosts
04. Fantasy Bar
05. Hard Lovin’ Woman
06. Terra Incognita
07. Uh Huh
08. Female Persecution
09. Junkyard Heart
10. Intro
11. Noche Sin Fin
12. Suicide Dive Bombers

Juliette Lewis 2009 Tour Dates:
06/05 – Nurburgring, DE @ Rock am Ring
06/06 – Nurnberg, DE @ Rock im Park
06/08 – Verona, IT @ Arena di Verona
06/09 – Rome, IT @ Alpheus
06/10 – Ravenna, IT @ Rock Planet
06/12 – Barcelona, ES @ Razzmatazz
06/13 – Rodez, IT @ Festival Skabazac
07/18 – Istanbul, TR @ Rock’n Coke Festival
07/19 – Bern, CH @ Gurten Festival
08/09 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony *^
08/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Weesner Amphitheater *^
08/22 – Littleton, CO @ Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield *^
10/21 – Glasgow, UK @ Garage
10/22 – Manchester, UK @ Academy 2
10/23 – London, UK @ O2 Shepards Bush Empire
10/24 – Bristol, UK @ Lazarette Festival
10/25 – Portsmouth, UK @ Wedgewood Rooms
11/04 – Berlin, DE @ Kesselhaus

* = w/ The Pretenders
^ = w/ Cat Power