Yep, I figured I could kill two errm...cockroaches with one bottle of bug spray (I don't want to kill two birds, let alone one!) by making this entry fit into my Music Spotlight series (it's only entry #2), as well as constitute my entry for B. I am going to talk about all things bass - songs whose basslines I love, bassists I admire, and a reminder that recently I bought my own bass guitar. :D
So, let's go!
Bass players
My favourite bass players include D'Arcy Wretzky formerly of the Pumpkins, Nikki Monninger from Silversun Pickups, Peter Steele of Type O Negative (RIP), Les Claypool of Primus (I saw these guys live at Soundwave this year!) and my own character Jared, who is a bass player too. :D
Songs whose basslines I love
The Smashing Pumpkins' b-side "Speed Kills", which is a beautiful song in and of itself but whose bass, particularly during the outro, is truly beautiful. The unforgettable introduction to Type O Negative's "Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All)". And quite possibly the most beautiful bass recording in the history of the world, Mogwai's "Now You're Taken" - pure aural velvet, my friends! There are songs where the bass directs the flow of the entire song, like Ride's "In A Different Place" (and the aforementioned "Speed Kills" does this too). And then there are songs where the bassist is akin to an acrobat, i.e. Interpol's "Obstacle 1". There are plenty of other songs worth mentioning (those I remember, those I don't) but I'll leave it here. I think I've made my point. :D
And...I wouldn't say no to this (the brand is Daisy Rock, they are awesome!)
I didn't really notice the A-Z Challenge until like the last three days. XD Then everyone started talking about it.
ReplyDeleteBut I didn't feel like joining so instead I'm doing NaPoWriMo.
That sounds like fun! :D I haven't written poetry in ages.
ReplyDeleteApart from the pumpkins I haven't heard of any of these bands or songs. I'm off to go sit in my rocking chair.
ReplyDeleteMood
Happy A-Z Challenge. A great variety of posts to start with. I love bass guitar - I love anything with a lot of guitar. I only knew the S. Pumpkins too.
ReplyDeleteHi Trisha! I, too, only recognized the pumpkins. I did check out the Mogwai song, so lovely. It evoked an image of me floating in a warm pool of water at night, with the stars reflecting all around me ~ :)
ReplyDeleteSweet Bass. I love Smashing Pumpkins
ReplyDeleteI love bass, too--I tend to know very little about it, but when I hear it, I know I love it. And yes, Smashing Pumpkins are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteGreat entry and a creative way to combine posts!
ReplyDeleteGreat B Post! I'm a huge Aerosmith/Def Leppard fan, but I love some Smashing Pumpkins!
ReplyDeleteDonea - glad you liked the Mogwai song. it's gorgeous isn't it?! I know what you mean about that image in your head. I get a similar vision!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone else for stopping by :D For those who commented on SP, they are my favourite band (have been since I was 14 or so...that was *ahem* a while ago. hehe).
Alison, I love those bands too, especially Def Leppard who I saw in concert a few years back.
Hart, I know what you mean! I'm not a bass guru by any means, and sometimes you take it for granted, but when you stop to think... "What would this song be like without the bass line?!", you realise a lot of the time the song would be complete crap. :D
Mooderino, I am always wanting to discover new music (even if it's old music and only new to me). :)
Great post! What about Flea?!
ReplyDeleteMatt Conlon dot com
Matt's Brew Log
Of course! Flea is awesome :D Thanks for the reminder Matt.
ReplyDeleteHello Trisha,
ReplyDeleteI imagine you are like in the same genre as Jason Mraz, his fiance Tristan Prettyman, they are young, multi-talented singer, songwriter.
I don't know much about music other than listen to songs I could relate to.
A post on bass players! Excellent!
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say my favorite for technical proficiency wuld be Stu Hamm, and my pure favorite would be Kasim Sulton.
Larry
Ocean Girl - thanks for stopping by :D I actually don't know Jason Mraz really, but should check out his stuff for sure. Haven't heard of his fiance either.
ReplyDeleteDiscConnected - I haven't heard of those guys, will check out their bands. :)
ooh I love the bass guitar :o))
ReplyDeleteHm.. I guess I've never really noticed base players that much (except that whever I see one playing I think about how they look kind of funny because so many of them play with their hand bent over the strings in a kind of weird, sloppy looking way!). And I was hoping I'd reacognise some of those songs you mentioned - but I didn't!
ReplyDeleteBass players are the unsung hero of every band. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Niki and Christa, and Christa I do agree :D. Though I think drummers often get overlooked too. Someday I'll do a post all about awesome drummers and songs with brilliant drums.
ReplyDeleteRachel, they're often overlooked, but if you heard a song sans bass (and I don't mean an acoustic track or whatever) you'd probably notice their absence. ;)
Hi Trisha .. Basses .. I know so little about music .. but I do love it! and you own one - brilliant news about the base bass purchase!
ReplyDeleteCheers - thanks for the comment over at P L .. good to see you - Hilary
Wow, you play bass guitar? That's very cool. :)
ReplyDeleteHilary - nice to see you! :D There is plenty I don't know about music, i.e. I can't read music or anything. But when it comes to music I love, I tend to pay pretty close attention to the bits and pieces :)
ReplyDeleteAlison, I don't play it particularly well. I am a lot more at home on guitar. but i only recently got my first bass, so it's early days. :)
You play bass? My son is a musician and plays lead and bass guitar. Someday he'll be on your list. :)
ReplyDeleteI must be old. I only know the Smashing Pumpkins. *sniff* Going to listen to these other bands. :0)
We went to a concert last night and all my husband talked about was the bass player. I'm not a musician but I love the look of that instrument!
ReplyDeleteMonti
MaryMontagueSikes
yeah for me I was downloading music when I came here... haven't heard that pumpkins song in forever
ReplyDeletestopping by for the A to Z
http://baygirl32.blogspot.com
@Robyn, I'm a new and unskilled bass player :D I'm better at guitar, but then I've had 6 years of practice at that. Also, some of those bands above I only recently discovered too ;)
ReplyDelete@Monti - when I see shows I tend to focus on all the musicians, analysing their talent one by one :D
@baygirl32 - thanks for stopping by, it's exciting that you actually know that Pumpkins song. Most people don't learn about the b-sides and stuff :) Which are amongst their best work!
I enjoy a good bass line. Can't say I have any favorite bass players. I can appreciate nice intricacy in a fancy bass line, but I tend to prefer a nice steady thumping, rhythmic bass back up that drives a song along.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of A to Z and I hope you have a good time with it.
Contrary to my usual practice of subscribing to comments, to save time during the challenge I will not be doing so at the moment. If you want to respond to my comment , please email me directly from your email notification for the comment.
Thanks. And I truly appreciate your efforts.
Lee
Tossing It Out