― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)
― Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)
― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)
― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:21 (twenty-one years ago)
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)
― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)
― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)
Oh, you probably meant Steve Harris, n'ermind.
― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:07 (twenty-one years ago)
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)
― dleone (dleone), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)
― Brucio, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)
― Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)
― Grell (Grell), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:40 (twenty-one years ago)
― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)
― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)
― damian_nz (damian_nz), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)
― scott seward, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:54 (twenty-one years ago)
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)
― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:20 (twenty-one years ago)
― boldbury, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:20 (twenty-one years ago)
― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:21 (twenty-one years ago)
― kephm, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:33 (twenty-one years ago)
James Jamerson from Motown was a fantastic musician.
― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 23:01 (twenty-one years ago)
― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 23:06 (twenty-one years ago)
This trend of not having a bass player (a la White Stripes) is distressing.
― Jakels (Jakels), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 03:31 (twenty-one years ago)
i like mike watt.
thud thud,m.
― msp, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 03:46 (twenty-one years ago)
― spittle, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 07:46 (twenty-one years ago)
― nate detritus (natedetritus), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 08:35 (twenty-one years ago)
― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 11:02 (twenty-one years ago)
― dave q, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 11:34 (twenty-one years ago)
(As the ongoing controversy about whether Kaye or Jamerson played on "Bernadette" and a host of other Motown classics demonstrates, it can be hard to tell sometimes when a pick is being used.)
― ArfArf, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)
So there.
― Rob M (Rob M), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 11:46 (twenty-one years ago)
― dwayne dibley (frownland), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 12:10 (twenty-one years ago)
Contrary to popular opinion, it is the bass player and not the lead singer in the band that get's the most ACTION *nudge nudge wink wink*.
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)
One nice thing about bass players is that every time Dave Q tries to say something about them he makes an ass of himself.
― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:17 (twenty-one years ago)
(x-post)
― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:22 (twenty-one years ago)
― dave q, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)
― dave q, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)
― dleone (dleone), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:35 (twenty-one years ago)
― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)
In the beginning there was a bass. It was a Fender, probably aPrecision, but it could have been a Jazz - nobody knows. Anyway, itwas very old... definitely pre-C.B.S.
And God looked down upon it and saw that it was good. He saw that itwas very good in fact, and couldn't be improved on at all (though menwould later try.) And so He let it be and He created a man to play thebass.
And lo the man looked upon the bass, which was a beautiful 'sunburst'red, and he loved it. He played upon the open E string and the noterang through the earth and reverberated throughout the firmaments(thus reverb came to be.) And it was good. And God heard that it wasgood and He smiled at his handiwork.
Then in the course of time, the man came to slap upon the bass. And loit was funky.
And God heard this funkiness and He said, "Go man, go." And it wasgood.
And more time passed, and, having little else to do, the man came topractice upon the bass. And lo, the man came to have upon him a greatset of chops. And he did play faster and faster until the notesrippled like a breeze through the heavens.
And God heard this sound which sounded something like the wind, whichHe had created earlier. It also sounded something like the movement offurniture, which He hadn't even created yet, and He was not sopleased.
And He spoke to the man, saying "Don't do that!"
Now the man heard the voice of God, but he was so excited about hisnew ability that he slapped upon the bass a blizzard of funky notes.And the heavens shook with the sound, and the Angels ran about inconfusion. (Some of the Angels started to dance, but that's anotherstory.)
And God heard this - how could He miss it - and lo He became Bugged.And He spoke to the man, and He said, "Listen man, if I wanted JimiHendrix I would have created the guitar. Stick to the bass parts."
And the man heard the voice of God, and he knew not to mess with it.But now he had upon him a passion for playing fast and high. The mantook the frets off of the bass which God had created. And the man didslide his fingers upon the fretless fingerboard and play melodies highupon the neck. And, in his excitement, the man did forget thecommandment of the Lord, and he played a frenzy of high melodies andblindingly fast licks. And the heavens rocked with the assault and theearth shook, rattled and rolled.
Now God's wrath was great. And His voice was thunder as He spoke tothe man.
And He said, "O.K. for you, pal. You have not heeded My word. Lo, Ishall create a soprano saxophone and it shall play higher than you caneven think of."
"And from out of the chaos I shall bring forth the drums. And theyshall play so many notes thine head shall ache, and I shall make youto always stand next to the drummer."
"You think you're loud? I shall create a stack of Marshall guitar ampsto make thine ears bleed. And I shall send down upon the earth otherinstruments, and lo, they shall all be able to play higher and fasterthan the bass."
"And for all the days of man, your curse shall be this; that all theother musicians shall look to you, the bass player, for the low notes.And if you play too high or fast all the other musicians shall say"Wow" but really they shall hate it. And they shall tell you you'reready for your solo career, and find other bass players for theirbands. And for all your days if you want to play your fancy licks youshall have to sneak them in like a thief in the night."
"And if you finally do get to play a solo, everyone shall leave thebandstand and go to the bar for a drink."
And it was so.
― darth nader, Thursday, 13 November 2003 02:14 (twenty-one years ago)
― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 13 November 2003 02:31 (twenty-one years ago)
I mean, he *was* the Brontosaurus.
― Ian Grey (Ian_G), Thursday, 13 November 2003 02:34 (twenty-one years ago)
― oops (Oops), Thursday, 13 November 2003 02:35 (twenty-one years ago)
― msp, Thursday, 13 November 2003 03:10 (twenty-one years ago)
― oops (Oops), Thursday, 13 November 2003 03:16 (twenty-one years ago)
― Sonny A. (Keiko), Thursday, 13 November 2003 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 13 November 2003 04:32 (twenty-one years ago)
― Ian Grey (Ian_G), Thursday, 13 November 2003 04:37 (twenty-one years ago)
― Speedy Gonzalas (Speedy Gonzalas), Thursday, 13 November 2003 06:21 (twenty-one years ago)
No. Take a look at any Who clips
― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 13 November 2003 06:31 (twenty-one years ago)
― Emilymv (Emilymv), Thursday, 13 November 2003 08:17 (twenty-one years ago)
― boldbury, Thursday, 13 November 2003 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 13 November 2003 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)
― Felcher (Felcher), Thursday, 13 November 2003 20:09 (twenty-one years ago)
That violin bass is a Hofner or a Hofner rip-off. The Rickenbacker, a beautiful instrument:
http://www.rickenbacker.com/images/4003.jpg
― scott m (mcd), Thursday, 13 November 2003 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 13 November 2003 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)
― Vin Lee, Tuesday, 25 January 2005 10:55 (twenty years ago)
― scotstvo (scotstvo), Tuesday, 25 January 2005 11:18 (twenty years ago)
RIP Andy Fraser
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Tuesday, 17 March 2015 22:09 (ten years ago)
Indeed, great bass player and pretty good songwriter! RIP Andy.
― Walking Close to Melton Mowbray (Tom D.), Wednesday, 18 March 2015 10:17 (ten years ago)
Why are mainstream / vaguely alternative rock bassists so boring these days? When did the rot set in? Is it U2's fault? Is it RHCP's fault? Is it Noel Gallagher's fault?
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 27 July 2015 10:44 (ten years ago)
like who?
― (no offence to people) (dog latin), Monday, 27 July 2015 10:44 (ten years ago)
Exactly.
― 29 facepalms, Monday, 27 July 2015 10:56 (ten years ago)
Is it U2's fault? Is it RHCP's fault? Is it Noel Gallagher's fault?
Say what you will about RHCP, they have much better low end than the other two acts mentioned.
― the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:13 (ten years ago)
For all Flea's gymnastics, I can't remember a time where I've heard one of his basslines and been inspired. And this comes from someone who plays and adores bass guitar.
― (no offence to people) (dog latin), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:20 (ten years ago)
Ah well, I think he's come up with a number of decent licks throughout the years.
― the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:22 (ten years ago)
it's impressive work, but not inspiring to me in the same way as say Tina Weymouth whose style was a lot simpler but more effective and affecting.
― (no offence to people) (dog latin), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:26 (ten years ago)
Well off the top of my head...Snow PatrolColdplayMumford & SonsTemper TrapArctic MonkeysArcade FireKasabianThe Libertines
Blur, Radiohead, Muse might be exceptions.
I am being very 'old man waves fist at clouds' here, I know.
Blaming RHCP is down to a feeling of ostentation having put people off.
I guess White Stripes need a slap, too.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:27 (ten years ago)
Not sure what Flea is doing being bracketed with Adam Clayton and whoever Oasis' bass player was.
― Possibly Fingers (Tom D.), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:31 (ten years ago)
(xp) oh right, I see your explanation, but no nonetheless.
― Possibly Fingers (Tom D.), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:32 (ten years ago)
Yeah, the bass playing on Blur, Radiohead and Muse tracks is generally very good, IMO. All the other acts in that list are acts I find unexciting in every possible way, not just bass playing. I also don't find Flea's playing "ostentatious", and a lot of his bass lines are actually deceptively easy to play.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:39 (ten years ago)
Snow PatrolColdplayMumford & SonsTemper TrapArctic MonkeysArcade FireKasabianThe Libertines
I'm not sure it's just the bass that's mediocre in these bands.
White Stripes don't have a bass player?
I know that when I was a kid in the 90s, even when I was taking up the guitar, I had trouble understanding what the bass guitar was for, since bass wasn't a big feature in much of the music I was listening to (save Blur, maybe Pearl Jam?). Most Britpop and grunge tended to follow the guitar on the whole. To me at the time, a big part of what sounded 'lol eighties' about the 80s was the presence of big slappy new wave basslines. Now I love those kinds of basslines of course.
― (no offence to people) (dog latin), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:49 (ten years ago)
So many of those bands in that list play arrangements that are so utterly pedestrian, it's only natural that the bass is hardly noticeable. Imagine being the bass player in Snow Patrol - deng-deng-deng-deng-deng-deng *chord change* deng-deng-deng-deng-deng-deng-deng *zzzzzz*
― MaresNest, Monday, 27 July 2015 11:54 (ten years ago)
Saw X last night (get better Billy Zoom), and gosh darn it John Doe is a great bass player.
― BlackIronPrison, Monday, 27 July 2015 12:00 (ten years ago)
Yeah, maybe this is actually a question about boring arrangements rather than boring bass playing. As ever, i feel that U2 are squarely to blame.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 27 July 2015 12:20 (ten years ago)
People used to compare Radiohead to U2. I'd say today the only thing they have in common is their unfathomable contingent popularity; if for completely opposite reasons - U2's blandness vs Radiohead's complete lack of commerciality
― (no offence to people) (dog latin), Monday, 27 July 2015 12:39 (ten years ago)
Radiohead's complete lack of commerciality
Heh, this isn't true at all. Radiohead have a large number of anthemic, very catchy songs. I'd say they dabble in non-commerciality.
― the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Monday, 27 July 2015 12:43 (ten years ago)
I like some bands without bass players, it helps set a particular mood. Sleater-Kinney works with no bass (THOUGH I have seen Corin playing through a jewel-blue Ampeg bass amp, not that this counts). The sort of nervous high-end frantic feeling of e.g. "One More Hour" makes sense with guitar/guitar/drums.
White Stripes/Black Keys (in their live duo incarnations) also sometimes bring that cocaine/caffeine fizzy anxious vibe. Not my favorite thing but I can understand it as an aesthetic choice.
Taking Sides: bass playing that you consciously notice vs. bass playing that you don't notice (but if it weren't there, the music would suck)
Related topic: if people are generally listening to music on bass-deficient systems (laptop speakers, earbuds), should music in general adapt by forefronting trebly scoopy bass sounds, lots of slapping? Or trust that even if you can't really hear the bass, it's there helping to unify and give structure to the song.
Put another way: The bass is a type of glue, and like the glue in my furniture, I don't need to see it to be glad it's there.
― Ye Mad Puffin, Monday, 27 July 2015 17:26 (ten years ago)
I like the guy in Future Islands.
― timellison, Monday, 27 July 2015 17:46 (ten years ago)
(THOUGH I have seen Corin playing through a jewel-blue Ampeg bass amp, not that this counts). The sort of nervous high-end frantic feeling of e.g. "One More Hour" makes sense with guitar/guitar/drums.
there's def bass on the new album and some other recordings
― Ma$e-en-scène (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 27 July 2015 17:54 (ten years ago)
UMS, there is bass on some of their recordings yes. Their signature sound is a trio, esp. early and esp. live. It is frenetic and trebly in the extreme; my point is that it adds to the emotional vibe.
If someone had dubbed in a kickass bass line on e.g. "All Hands on the Bad One," I am not sure it would have been improved.
― Ye Mad Puffin, Monday, 27 July 2015 18:37 (ten years ago)
i don't know if it would hurt
it can work but i've seen a zillion 2 man underground bands and i'd say 80% of the time i'm just like "i guess you guys couldn't find a bassist" and it doesn't really add any vibe except there feels like something's missing
― Ma$e-en-scène (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 27 July 2015 19:01 (ten years ago)
This is why I prefer the likes of Cop Shoot Cop or Lightning Bolt to similar underground acts who have dispensed with the bass instead
― Master of Treacle, Monday, 27 July 2015 20:01 (ten years ago)
An exception is the Cramps early records that had no bass yet are their best stuff
― Josefa, Monday, 27 July 2015 20:17 (ten years ago)
I recently saw Insect Ark w a drummer and the drums/bass combo was outta this world heavy/good. Also bass players are usually nice and friendly ime.
― La Lechera, Monday, 27 July 2015 20:20 (ten years ago)
I feel a special connection to Tina Weymouth's bass lines because my first start with fretted instruments was playing along with talking heads bass on my dad's baritone ukulele when I was 15
― demonic mnevice (Jon Lewis), Monday, 27 July 2015 20:36 (ten years ago)
Oh lol I wasn't supposed to use this username anymore. Well anyway
― demonic mnevice (Jon Lewis), Monday, 27 July 2015 20:37 (ten years ago)