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“No Lights, No Sound” (New Music – Original Song by Indie Songwriter Chris Moore)

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By Chris Moore:

Tonight is the beginning of a side project that will take me as late as next summer to complete…  a new album!  You may be asking yourself, okay, so you’re going to record another new album.  It’s about freakin’ time.  And you may also be wondering what that has to do with the Laptop Sessions.

Well, I’m going to tell you!

Having been thinking so much recently and having been so inspired by a number of factors — not the least of which are hearing some leaked tracks from Jim’s forthcoming release and some awesome new albums this year by songwriters like Brian Wilson and bands like R.E.M. — I have been working on and arranging tracks for a new album, ironing out arrangements, finishing lyrics, etc.  Now, I bring my motivational and promotional project to the Laptop Sessions…

Every three weeks (or so, once we hit the new year), I will release a demo of another track from the new album.  Not only will I release the tracks, but I’ll do so in order!  Thus, tonight, I bring you what will be track one of my next album.  Now, in the spirit of the Laptop Sessions, I bring this song — “No Lights, No Sound” — to you as a recording of only my third complete performance of the song ever.  In other words, I rolled out of bed, finished writing the lyrics and the entire middle section, and recorded this demo.  This is hot off the presses.  This is the song in about as early a form as you’ll see here on this music blog.

And, that being said, I hope to get an amazing, yet fairly affordable producer to make it the perfect opening track!  (Anybody know a good producer, by any chance? ;- )  I’m thinking either Rick Rubin or Jim Fusco.  I figure I’ll send out for a bid in a couple of months and see what’s in my budget.  (Actually, no offense to Rubin, but I’d take JIm any day.  Even though he does NOT wear a fashionably immense and flowing beard…)

As you listen to the demo, you might notice that it’s a bit slow at first for an opening track.  I’ve since worked out a better version of the tempo I’d like to use, and I hope to have it build up right after the chorus and incorporate drums, bass, etc. before getting to a solo and eventually ending with a repeat of the first verse with only an acoustic and lead vocal.  But, we’ll see what the finished version holds.

In closing, this really puts the pressure on me to finalize my track listing and finish writing these songs.  I plan to record them as soon after writing them as possible, which will make it all the more interesting to look back and compare them to the final versions some day!  (And I don’t doubt that some won’t make the final cut, or that I’ll change the order as I go, but I’ll try my best to decide an order soon and stick to it.)

I truly hope you enjoy this side project for me here on the best acoustic cover song and original music blog in the universe!!  Don’t forget to come back tomorrow and Friday for a double dose of one Jeffrey Copperthite…

See you next session!

Music Reviews – Meade Skelton’s “My Loudoun County Home” Single

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By Chris Moore:

The notes for Meade Skelton’s 2003 release They Can’t Keep Me Down declare, “In an era of serious singer-songwriters with overly pretentious lyrics, Meade Skelton keeps it simple and sincere.”

This indeed continues to be true for the music he is making five years later.

His new single, “My Loudoun County Home,” is a lyrical stroll down memory lane, recalling and reminiscing about people, places, and events of importance in Skelton’s life.  There is a bittersweet combination of love and sadness in his words.  Truly, Skelton’s voice brings this song to life.  His voice is clear and crisp; clearly he has been classically trained.  And yet this training has not affected his ability to sing with the sort of emotion that one cannot be trained to project.  His vocals have a soaring quality that conjure John Denver at his best.

Meade Skelton

Meade Skelton

Skelton is clearly singing from his heart, and when he sings, “No matter where I roam, I’ll always love my Loudon County home,” it does not come across as too simple or trite — it translates as true and heartfelt.

And this song holds true to that claim made in 2003 — he sounds far from pretentious.  Quite to the contrary, his lyrics are straightforward and his sound is perfectly matched to the tone of this single.  In addition to his pitch-perfect, emotive vocals, the instrumental accompaniment is simple, but full.  Predominant in the mix are Skelton’s piano, a violin, bass, and drums.  The piano may be the grounding force in this track, but the violin accents the tone of the song in all the places that his voice does not, the string instrument holding back as he sings only to come to full and vibrant life as his singing pauses in between lines.

“Moved By The Spirit,” the second track (the B-side if you decide to purchase the vinyl edition of this single instead of the CD), delves into the spiritual overtones referenced in “My Loudoun County Home.”  Here, the lyrics are even simpler and more straightforward.  The instrumentation is sparse to match, highlighting Skelton’s abilities on the keyboards, which have been — perhaps purposely — set to an organ tone.  This is, of course, fitting for a song about the Holy Spirit.

Meade Skelton

Meade Skelton

Overall, this seems a very appropriate time for Skelton to release a fairly serious, autobiographical song.  After all, he has been performing music since childhood and has been “playing the scene” (as his YouTube page states) since 2001.  His two releases in the past five years have included an album of standards, which is of course the traditional way to gain people’s interest in your own work.  Now, as he pays tribute to his “Loudoun County Home,” Skelton sounds confident in his work.

As well he should be, considering the amount of time and energy he has dedicated to this endeavor.  Even a quick stop at Meade Skelton’s YouTube page will reveal a virtual treasure trove of life performances, as well as a video promo for this, his latest single.

Whether you are a fan of Skelton already or a newcomer to his music, this new single is an excellent opportunity to acquaint (or re-acquaint, as the case may be) yourself with the sound and the background of this talented performer.

“Piles of Love Letters” (Chris Moore Original Acoustic Song)

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By Chris Moore:

Hi there.  This is Chris, bringing you my “Original Wednesday” contribution for this week.  And I’m really trying here, but you’re going to have to cut me a break on the post length.  But I have a reason for the brevity of tonight’s post, I swear!

Whether you think it’s a valid reason, well, that might be another issue altogether…

Anyway, this original song, “Piles of Love Letters,” is potentially slotted for track four of my soon-to-be-recorded album, a debut offering me and a producer officially overseeing things, namely Jim Fusco.  In fact, Jim just made a HUGE contribution to the album tonight by suggesting what I have decided is an excellent idea for an album title.  He thinks the title should be based on the line in this song that states, “At least it’s tried and true.”

I can see this — the new album as Tried and True.  Or Untried and True.  Or Tried and Untrue.  Great idea, Jim!  Now, all I have to do is think a bit about the album and decide which version fits the most strongly with the dominant themes, etc.

Unfortunately, while I was recording this, I missed a performance by the Foo Fighters on the Grammy Nominations Concert Show.  I initially scoffed at the idea of a nominations show, but the concert idea was pretty cool.  Taylor Swift is a modern pop country singer, and yet I must say that her voice is amazing and she is beautiful and seems very sweet.  I wonder, of course, how she is as a normal person, away from the cameras.  (I don’t know if she can quite top my love for Katie Lloyd on Boston Legal (see previous post), but still…

Well, one thing led to another and before I know it, Jim and I are locked in a contest for who can stop watching television and return to working first.  You see, the Victoria’s Secret show came on in HD.  To look away would be to deny both one’s heterosexuality and love of HD television, so you can see why this was an unproductive stretch for us…  Nevertheless, after being told neither the true identity of Victoria nor what her secret is, I returned to my work.

Now, all distractions have dispersed and I am in bed listening to the Uncle Tupelo track “Outdone,” a demo from 1989 that is on their 89/93: An Anthology disc.  This is a fitting end to the day, as it’s been a wild musical ride — the past few days, in fact.  I have heard everything from Brian Wilson to Leonard Cohen to lots of Ringo Starr to What About Today? recently.  On the way home from work, I popped in Wilco’s AM before giving Paul McCartney’s (The Fireman’s) Electrical Arguments another set of rotations.  That led me to this essentials disc — I’ll definitely be recording one from them in the future, though possibly not until the new year.

And with that, I’m off to sleep.  Thanks for checking in for your daily dose of acoustic rock music, today in original form!  Come back tomorrow for a surprise visit and video from our very own Jim Fusco!!

See you next session!

WCJM Free Internet Radio Station: “The All-American Show” – 2001

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By WCJM Free Internet Radio:

After the conflict in the country in September, 2001, WCJM decided to heighten its American Pride.  The entire free Internet radio cast, minus Jeff, gathered in the studio and picked out their favorite songs that deal with America.  From Simon and Garfunkel to Justin Hayward, this show will definitely get you in an American mood!

This show is where Jim Fusco finally tried to show up everyone else.  He wrote ten pages of material for both the Food Critic and his new segment, The World Report.  The cast was a little tense after arguments about paying attention to the skits, but got out of that mood very quickly when they heard the various comedy segments.

Without a doubt, the funniest Stuffy D. Bear segment ever was heard on this show.  Stuffy showed his American pride by singing his own rendition of “God Bless America”.  He also expressed his utter longing for his brother Stuffo by singing his own song, “Stuffo Come Home.”

The cast even sang the National Anthem at the beginning of the show, making the absolute worst rendition of the song since Roseanne!  And it might be worse than that!  So, if you’re not a fan of Dave’s singing, skip past the first two minutes, but stay tuned for the rest of the All-American Show!  This is classic comedy radio at its best!