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“Hey Joe” (Jimi Hendrix Cover)

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By Chris Moore:

It’s like I always say:

“Hey music blog listener, where you goin’ with that laptop in your hand?”

Well, I guess I DON’T always say that, but today I DID sing “Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?”  This is the first line from the first hit single Jimi Hendrix released, called “Hey Joe.”  Although this was a cover song even for him, it is an upbeat and catchy song.  It is one of the tracks on his debut release with his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience.  And, although I’m not really a fan of Hendrix’s other albums, Are You Experienced? is probably one of my all-time favorite rock albums.  This is the same album that hosts such hits as “Purple Haze” and “The Wind Cries Mary,” not to mention some incredible album tracks like “Love or Confusion” and “Foxey Lady.”

I almost hesitate to record an acoustic cover of a Jimi Hendrix song — after all, he’s known as an electric guitar legend.  His recordings and live performances didn’t need a rhythm acoustic guitar, just him and his famous axe.  He played it behind his back, set it on fire, but he never needed an acoustic guitar.  Now, that being said, we’re all about the combination of acoustic cover songs and great material, and I can’t believe we’ve never covered Hendrix before.

Maybe I can convince the other guys to do an electric week, and we’ll do some more Hendrix covers…

But, that’s a project for another time.  For now, we’re still chugging away on our session-a-day project, bringing you an all-new acoustic rock cover song every day.  We’re already looking forward to 2009 and thinking of lots of different ideas for how we can make the Laptop Sessions music video blog even more enjoyable and even more popular.  Already, Jim’s been adding incredible new features, such as a new and easier commenting system — so go ahead, don’t be shy, and leave a comment or two or three…

Well, that about does it for me.  Tonight is a big night of the week for us here at Fusco-Moore Productions Studios.  It’s the one night of the week (every week — yup, all 52 of them!) that we take a break from working, writing, recording, web work, and whatever else we’re doing to watch TNA Impact!, certainly the most reliable entertainment in my life.  For those of you who have been watching, Sting will hopefully be there tonight.  He FINALLY showed his legendary painted face last week after over a month of hype, and as promised, he kicked butt and took names.  I’ve been hoping to see Jeff Jarrett again, as they’ve also been referring to him in one way or another for over a month.

Just think — by this time next year, we may even have enough time to devote to a TNA fan site.  That would be lots of fun for us and we might even get more regular visitors each day!

But, once again, these are hopes for the future.  For now, Jeff’s acoustic covers are in the archive.

See you next session!


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Best Albums of 2012: A Weekend Review Special Edition

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By Chris Moore:

 

The TOP TWENTY ALBUMS of 2012

 

I ask myself year to year why I continue to make “best music of the year” lists.  The only answer that I consistently return with is that watching the Grammys and reading Rolling Stone, I observe that the best music being made each year is not properly represented on the screen and in the pages of the mainstream.  Thus, this is my small gesture of thanks to those who, year in and year out, continue to entertain me as a listener, inspire me as a singer/songwriter, and enrich my experience as a human being.  Below, you’ll find my picks for the top twenty albums of 2012.  If you’ve missed any, I hope you’ll consider checking them out.  As always, I’d love to hear your feedback or additions you would make to this list, so please consider adding to the conversation below.  After all, what greater joy is there than engaging in debate and sharing in the admiration of our favorite music?   

 

1)  That’s Why God Made the Radio – The Beach Boys

2)  The Sound of the Life of the Mind – Ben Folds Five

3)  Tempest – Bob Dylan

4)  Magic Hour – Scissor Sisters

5)  Moms – Menomena

6)  The Idler Wheel… – Fiona Apple

7)  Glad All Over – The Wallflowers

8)  Safe Travels – Jukebox the Ghost

9)  Those Around Us – Jim Fusco

10) Go Fly A Kite – Ben Kweller

 

11) Harakiri – Serj Tankian

12) Ten Stories – mewithoutYou

13) King Animal – Soundgarden

14) Port of Morrow – The Shins

15) Blunderbuss – Jack White

16) Rize of the Fenix – Tenacious D

17) Rooms Filled With Light – Fanfarlo

18) II – Bad Books

19) The Next Logical Progression – Gift of Gab

20) Sounds from Nowheresville – The Ting Tings

 

Honorable Mention:

Old Ideas – Leonard Cohen

Clear Heart Full Eyes – Craig Finn

The Circle in the Square – Flobots

thefearofmissingout – thenewno2

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“Up in the Air” by Kevin Renick – Chords, Tabs, & How to Play

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To see how it’s played in a music video, CLICK HERE!

“Up in the Air”
Kevin Renick

C    G            C
I’m up in the air,
C                       G                C
Choices drifting by me everywhere.
C       Am                Em
And I can’t find the one
Em             Am                                        Em
That would help me do the work I’ve left undone,
Em            G            C
‘Cause I’m up in the air.

I’m making some plans,
Finding out there’s always new demands.
And I can’t be precise;
When people ask me what I’m doing with my life,
I say, “It’s up in the air.”

C    G                  C
I’m hearing from friends.
C                   G                C
It’s that tired, old advice again:
C      Am                                        Dm
“You just cannot keep floating all around.
Dm        Am                                             Dm
Oh, you got to get your feet back on the ground.”
Dm      Am                Em
But it’s hard to come down
Em               G             C
When you’re up in the air.

C         G                    C
Daaaa, da-da, da, da-da.
C         G                    C
Daaaa, da-da, da, da-da.
Am      Em     Am             Em
Daaaa, daaa; daaa, da-da-da
C
Mmm-mm…

I’m traveling in my car,
Always lost, though I don’t go that far.
I find that I can live most anywhere.
Everyone I meet has so much they can share.
But I don’t settle down,
‘Cause I’m up in the air.

I’m thinking of my past,
The comfort in my home that couldn’t last.
Now my family tells me work for your success,
And they want to see me find some happiness.
But I’m not sure where that is,
‘Cause I’m up in the air.

I’m talking with my peers,
Listening to them tell their inner fears.
Some have lives that haven’t gone the way they planned,
And some are trapped in situations they can’t stand.
But I don’t want the same for me,
So I stay up in the air.

Daaaa, da-da, da, da-da.
Daaaa, da-da, da, da-da.
Daaaa, daaa; daaa, da-da-da
Mmm-mm…

I’m out in the woods;
Something here does my heart so good.
I breathe the air, and I know that I’m alive.
And I stare at all the birds as they fly by.
I guess it all comes down to them,
‘Cause they’re up in the air…

** 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. **

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The Weekend Review: March 2013 Report

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By Chris Moore:

The Next Day (David Bowie)

Producer: David Bowie and Tony Visconti

Released: March 8, 2013

Rating:  4.5 / 5 stars

Top Two Tracks: “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” & “The Next Day”

After releasing albums at breakneck speed for over three decades until 2003, David Bowie returns from a ten year studio album silence with The Next Day, a masterful accomplishment that serves to reestablish his place in rock music.  Here, Bowie offers up heartfelt vocals across a range of songs from fast-paced to downbeat and heavily produced to minimally rendered.  His work continues to demonstrate dominance, particularly in the realm of quirky atmospherics, and the first three tracks quickly suggest the diversity to come across the record.  From “The Stars (Are Out Tonight),” the most single-worthy standout on the album (despite the fact it was chosen as the second single) to well-paced yet laidback “I’d Rather Be High” to the balladic, smooth, bittersweet tones of “Where Are We Now?”, Bowie’s range is what is perhaps most impressive on The Next Day.  This is a project on which all of the songs share a common sound and feel, yet defy any criticism of uniformity.  This is not to mention the lyrical content, which is worthy of uninterrupted time spent listening while reading along to a lyrics booklet.  With this all established, we can only hope that Bowie won’t wait another decade for a follow-up.

 

 

 

 

Old Sock (Eric Clapton)

Producer: Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall II, Justin Stanley, & Simon Climie

Released: March 12, 2013

Rating: 2 / 5 stars

Top Two Tracks: “Every Little Thing” & “Gotta Get Over”

The last truly dominant, dynamic, and original Eric Clapton album was released in 1998.  It was titled Pilgrim and featured all Clapton tracks with only a couple exceptions.  The ratio of originals-to-covers fell to 2:1 for the still outstanding Reptile in 2001 (an album equal to if not better than Pilgrim) and the uneven Back Home (2005).  His 2010 solo release, strapped with the fittingly unoriginal title Clapton, saw him boasting a credit on only one track and a co-writing credit at that.  Now, three years later, Old Sock continues the trend as his first solo album to feature no original compositions, blues-cover albums like From the Cradle, Riding with the King, and Me and Mr. Johnson notwithstanding.  The most frustrating part of this realization is that Clapton is clearly still deserving of his status as legendary guitarist, teasing licks and riffs here and there that are distinctly a style and delivery all his own.  It is difficult to blame him for taking this relaxed route in the latter days of his career, as his recent covers compilations have tended to net reviews equal to or greater than those awarded his recent original efforts.  It is also difficult to listen to Old Sock and not feel the nagging desire to switch over to Pilgrim or Reptile sooner rather than later.

 

 

 

 

Earth Rocker (Clutch)

Producer: Machine

Released: March 15, 2013

Rating:  4.5 / 5 stars

Top Two Tracks: “Crucial Velocity” & “D.C. Sound Attack!”

 

After a foray into more blues-based work, Clutch returns with resounding and resonating rock that is not only instantly accessible but also worthy of repeated listens and further study.  The pace rarely lets up as, track after track, the band continues to rip into full-throttle rock.  Indeed, the first five tracks are among the strongest opening sequences they’ve presented: from the infectiously catchy laugh refrain in “Earth Rocker” to the allusive “Unto the Breach,” the pace doesn’t let up until the well-placed, hauntingly stripped-down “Gone Cold.”  Lyrically, Neil Fallon’s words are by turns forceful and poetic, direct and open for interpretation.  The commentary is perhaps sharpest on “Mr. Freedom,” the blend of vocal and instrumental energy screams forth from “D.C. Sound Attack!,” and the vocals never seem quite so driven as on “Unto the Breach,” yet it is on “Crucial Velocity” that a near-perfect fusion of all the strengths of this album is achieved.  From the dead-on-target guitar work to the razor sharp lyrical commentary, it is difficult to understand why this track was held back as the second single.  Regardless, Earth Rocker provides further evidence that Clutch can still render loud, relevant rock on a level beyond most other bands.  The first six tracks are essentially perfect, and the second half presents gems – “Book, Saddle, and Go” and “Cyborg Bette” to name a couple – that may be overshadowed initially but will offer up more over time.  In short, Earth Rocker is an essential rock album for 2013.

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