Various: Warby Parker Presents Beck Song Reader

Beck's sheet music collection, Song Reader, was released in late 2012 to nods of approval, harking back, as it did, to a much older template for the recording and interpreting of music. Or, as Beck himself puts it, addressing "the idea of the song in its most elemental form". Linking in with a new edition of the Song Reader book (as well as, quite oddly, the launch of Beck-created, limited-edition eyeglass frames) is this compilation album, which sees a range of singers covering all of the Song Reader 's tracks. Sad to say but truth to tell, it is a fitful mish-mash of styles and ideas. Some are interesting (Lord Huron, Jarvis Cocker), most adhere to form (Jack White, Laura Marling), and a couple are woeful (David Johansen, Jack Black). Tellingly, the best track comes from Beck himself (Heaven's Ladder). Caution! beck.com

Download: Beck,Heaven's Ladder; Laura Marling,Sorry