“Modern Guilt” (Beck Cover)

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 with more excellent, all-new acoustic rock cover songs from our very own Jeff Copperthite…

See you next session!


More Laptop Sessions covers

“Nobody” (MoU Original Cover)

By Jeff Copperthite:

That’s right – it is the best day of the week.  A day where you can hear something from the Fusco-Moore library.  As promised on Sunday, I present you with…well, more than a Jim Fusco song.  It’s actually a Chris Moore, Jim Fusco, and Mike Fusco song.  Heh – finally I get to do a song that has Chris Moore in the credits.

It is from their MoU EP “Meaningless” (check it out on Jim’s website here), a song called “Nobody”.  The song, like every song on this EP, has a double meaning (or, a “meaningless” meaning).  Short and sweet, this song was originally conceived on the piano.  I decided it needed the guitarbucketlist.com acoustic treatment, and covered it on my acoustic.

Of course, I also made a couple other changes that only Chris, Jim, and Mike may notice.  Well, you may notice it too if you have listened to the EP!

Enjoy today’s original!

Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, Jeff’s acoustic cover song music videos are no longer on YouTube, but we decided to keep his cover song blog posts up.  We figured these music blog entries would be good for posterity’s sake and because Jeff always gave such insightful posts each Session.  We hope to see Jeff’s impressive catalog of acoustic rock songs here on the Laptop Sessions cover songs and origianal music blog again in the future.  But, for now, please make sure to check-out hundreds of other acoustic cover songs from all of your favorite bands here on the Laptop Sessions music blog!

More Laptop Sessions covers

“Mother” (Pink Floyd Cover) – Jeff Copperthite

By Jeff Copperthite:

Good evening and welcome to your Sunday edition of the Laptop Sessions. Today, as promised, I bring you another installment, and one from Pink Floyd. This comes by request from Dave – thanks Dave, now my vocal cords hurt.

Not because the vocals are high, which is usually what could cause some strain to a voice. This song has quite a low register through most of the song. It is something i’m not used to dealing with. The song is “Mother” from their album “The Wall” – same album as last Monday, but different disc.

This song has some solid lyrics and at the time of songwriting for “Expressions”, the song “Independence” was influenced by this song somewhat. The guitar part is easy-going and not that difficult to play. The band also threw in some subtle time signature changes in the song – see how many you can spot.

As mentioned, ow, my voice. It took me approximately 15 takes to make it through the song. Near the end I came in late on an “ooo”, but since I was so close to the end, I decided I had expended my voice enough, and to keep chugging.

Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, Jeff’s acoustic cover song music videos are no longer on YouTube, but we decided to keep his cover song blog posts up.  We figured these music blog entries would be good for posterity’s sake and because Jeff always gave such insightful posts each Session.  We hope to see Jeff’s impressive catalog of acoustic rock songs here on the Laptop Sessions cover songs and original music blog again in the future.  But, for now, please make sure to check-out hundreds of other acoustic cover songs from all of your favorite bands here on the Laptop Sessions music blog!

Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, Jeff’s acoustic cover song music videos are no longer on YouTube, but we decided to keep his cover song blog posts up. We figured these music blog entries would be good for posterity’s sake and because Jeff always gave such insightful posts each Session. We hope to see Jeff’s impressive catalog of acoustic rock songs here on the Laptop Sessions cover songs and origianal music blog again in the future. But, for now, please make sure to check-out hundreds of other acoustic cover songs from all of your favorite bands here on the Laptop Sessions music blog!

More Laptop Sessions covers

“Thought I Knew” (Weezer Cover)

By Chris Moore:

Welcome back to the best acoustic rock cover songs music blog on the Internet! What a mouthful…

It’s my pleasure today to bring you a new song from Weezer’s 2008 self-titled album, also known as The Red Album. This is, of course, a nod to their past self-titled albums that were colored blue (The Blue Album) and green (The Green Album). To be certain, Weezer had a lot to live up to when they released their album this year, and I was a bit put off by the remix of “Automatic” that leaked to YouTube videos via a video game trailer.

Then I bought the album and fell in love with it!

Well, to be honest, I found the album a bit quirky at first. I couldn’t decide if I thought the lyrics were catchy or cheesy. The first few songs had so many different sections and styles that it was difficult to get a handle on them. But, after a few listens, I had already decided that this was one of my favorite albums of the year. Aside from some great, catchy, upbeat, rocking, and experimental tracks by frontman Rivers Cuomo, the other three members of the band all contributed in the songwriting and singing departments.

I especially enjoyed “Thought I Knew” by guitarist Brian Bell from the first time I heard it, which is why I chose it as my first Laptop Session from The Red Album. I hope you enjoy it as well, and I can’t wait to play more from this great album!

Don’t forget to check back for more all-new and great acoustic rock cover songs by Jeff Copperthite…

See you next session!



More Laptop Sessions covers