Author Archives: Chris Moore

“Modern Guilt” (Beck Cover)

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By Chris Moore:

Hello and welcome to yet another quality edition of the Laptop Sessions music blog, dedicated to bringing you the best cover songs on the web today!

Today’s acoustic cover is Beck’s “Modern Guilt” off his 2008 album of the same name. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure how I would like the album, which came highly recommended from one of my students. But, being in an experimental mood and curious to try it out, I went out and picked it up. Beck works with Danger Mouse on this CD, and it is the latter’s drum beats that really propel the album as a whole. I’m usually not a fan of artificial drum sounds, but I think that they really work for some of these songs. In fact, the reason why I think I’m okay with the drum sounds is that they sounded so much like real drums to me until I read the liner notes in the booklet. Now, granted, I’m not the best judge of sounds in albums, so it may be really obvious that these are fake drums…

For my tastes, the first third of the album is good, the middle third is excellent, and the final section is okay. “Modern Guilt” is track four and the first of my three favorite songs (tracks 4-6). Probably the most enjoyable part of playing this as an acoustic cover song is its beat and how it is fun to play in a staccato fashion with the strumming. Another fun aspect of playing this song as an acoustic version was that I really learned the words — I’d have to say one of my biggest criticisms of the album is that it has great lyrics… that I have a really difficult time understanding. It’s not that I don’t understand the lyrics themselves; in fact, I really like what these songs are about and how he has worded them. But, whether through his singing or the way the album was mixed, I have a difficult time hearing what he is saying.

Well, that’s enough about new rock music for today. I’m going to echo Jim’s post from yesterday and urge you to keep checking back as Jim and I begin to post our collaborative videos; he, Becky, and I sat down last week and recorded several group sessions that are certain to impress.

For now, you can tide yourself over by tuning in tomorrow for another excellent, all-new acoustic rock cover song from our very own Jeff Copperthite…

See you next session!


“Socrates’ Gulps” (Chris Moore original)

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By Chris Moore:

Hello and welcome to the third installment of the 2010 Project preview series.  If you’ve been around the blog recently, you’ve seen the unveiling of both the opener “No Lights, No Sound” and the second track “I Would Prefer Not To.”

Now, on to track three…

“Socrates’ Gulps” is a fairly recent song, one that knocked the older “No More” down to the fourth slot.  It features one of my more ambitious vocals in the chorus, which guaranteed its place in the third slot.  I won’t say much about it, other than to note that it is the song I plan on recording tomorrow and/or Saturday.  For once, I’ll have the song speak for itself.

Outside of tonight’s video, I’d like to emphasize that I haven’t forgotten about the Weekend Review.  In fact, I have the next six reviews lined up and ready to be written.  Finding time is the issue.  I did finish my class, which has freed up a lot of time, but I have been spending a lot of time hanging out with friends, reading books that I want to finish before the summer is out, and kicking off recording sessions for my first album in four years, The 2010 Project.

In other words, I’ve been enjoying the latter half of my summer break!

But stay tuned here, as I’ve pledged to post 52 of my 2010 music reviews here at the Laptop Sessions, and I am confident that I will be able to do so.  (As for my Bob Dylan review-writing goal, I’ve shifted that to included his sixties releases only…)

As a final note, be sure to glance behind me in the video tonight and check out the Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin lithograph that has covered up my previous Dead Weather Sea of Cowards poster.  I mention this, first, to give Wilson’s new album a shout-out (it just may end up being the seventh review on my list), and second, to re-iterate how much I love Newbury Comics, whose coupon brought the album price down to a reasonable $9.99 and included the poster for free.

At that, I’ll leave you to this Original Wednesday video and turn my attention back to the increasingly depressing Mets game, currently in the bottom of the twelfth inning.  With any “luck,” Ollie Perez is getting warmed up.  I mean, his role is as the twelfth inning specialist, isn’t it?

See you next session!

Jimi Hendrix’s “First Rays of the New Rising Sun” (1970/1, 1997) – Yes, No, or Maybe So, Retro

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First Rays of the New Rising Sun (Jimi Hendrix) – MAYBE

Jimi Hendrix's "First Rays of the New Rising Sun" (1970/1, 1997)

Jimi Hendrix's "First Rays of the New Rising Sun" (1970/1, 1997)

(intended for 1970/1, released April 22, 1997))

Review:

Listening to First Rays of the New Rising Sun — this composite of what Hendrix’s fourth studio album may have sounded like — is a bittersweet experience:  it is clearly incomplete, but there is evidence here — tight, upbeat, brilliant evidence — that this could have approached the quality of Are You Experienced!

Top Two Tracks:

“Freedom” & “Night Bird Flying”

“Laughing” by the Goo Goo Dolls – Chords & How to Play

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“Laughing”
The Goo Goo Dolls

C#                     B                           A             E                   B
I wake up, I’m staring at the clock; my belly hurts and my head is like a rock.
I get up to see what I can see; furthest I got was my black and white TV.
Eyewitness news brought to you at noon; oh my God guess I got up too soon because…

E                   A
Oh I feel like laughing
Oh I feel like laughing
Oh I feel like laughing
B         A          E
all because of you

C#                     B                           A       E                     B
I didn’t mean to wear this disguise, but I can’t stand the look in my eyes.
Oh, I didn’t mean to lie; I was doing what I thought was right.
Come on, walk right down the line; you’ll be walking til the end of time because…

E                   A
Oh, I feel like laughing,
Oh, I feel like laughing,
Oh, I feel like laughing,
B         A          E
all because of you.

SOLO (over verse chords)

E                   A
Oh, I feel like laughing,
Oh, I feel like laughing,
Oh, I feel like laughing,
B         A          E
all because of you.

** These chords and lyrics are interpretations and transcriptions, respectively, and are the sole property of the copyright holder(s).  They are posted on this website free of charge for no profit for the purpose of study and commentary, as allowed for under the “fair use” provision of U.S. copyright law, and should only be used for such personal and/or academic work. **