Great Tone/Terrible Song

Jared Lash · #1 09-27-2007, 11:56 AM

I was flipping channels and landed on MTV. I was surprised by the video being played because (1) I thought MTV completely stopped playing music years ago and (2) it was a terrible song (IMO) but with what I thought was a fantastic bass tone.

I watched for a bit just to see what the bass player was playing. If I'd seen the video from the beginning I'd have seen his bass in the opening shot of the band. I have a love-hate relationship with that bass as it seems a number of TBers do.

Anyway here's the clip.

Anybody else have this same experience, where you hear a bass tone you really dig, but in a song you can't stand?

Johnny Crab · #2 09-27-2007, 04:42 PM

Too many times to count.

The song you brought up sounds a LOT like either they or their producer listened to some CARS stuff as the bass tone, song arrangement, vocal phrasing are nearing the copied zone.

PS-es:
If you liked that bass tone, revisit the CARS.
That sound can be impersonated with a Line 6, time, and a chameleon-like bass.

Baryonyx · #3 09-28-2007, 03:39 AM

When Flea used a Wal with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I was hearing a great tone being used in terrible songs!

burk48237 · #4 09-28-2007, 04:49 AM

On a side note, why does Collective Soul have the word SOUL in their band name? The Partridge Family has more soul then these guys.

As far as good tone bad songs, not a whole lot come to mind right now. Maybe because I rarely listen to truly bad songs for any period of time. I can think of some bass players who have never blown me away with their bass lines per say. In other words I've never been "wow, I have to learn that line" who have great tone over some good songs. Adam Clayton and Dug Pinnock (Kings X) come to mind. Dug, is a good player, the band has great songs, he has great lines for the songs, but their not really my style, but his tone is the definition of a modern power trio. I always felt Adam Clayton's tone killed in U2's songs (some excellent) but I never thought he was more then a mediocre bass player.

joebingo · #5 09-28-2007, 10:30 AM

god that was poor.......

you're right about the tone though

Matt Till · #6 09-28-2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burk48237

On a side note, why does Collective Soul have the word SOUL in their band name? The Partridge Family has more soul then these guys.

Collectively they have one soul.

Jim Nazium · #7 10-06-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Crab

The song you brought up sounds a LOT like either they or their producer listened to some CARS stuff as the bass tone, song arrangement, vocal phrasing are nearing the copied zone.

Word. That totally sounded like the Cars (which is not necessarily a bad thing, but in this instance I like the originals better). Remember a Cars tune called "It's not the night"? I still dig that one.

acleex38 · #8 10-06-2007, 06:58 PM

There is an entire world of post 1979 "smooth jazz" or "fusion" where the songs do NOTHING for me and the tone is wonderful. I won't name names to avoid upsetting fans of some of the big names.