Simpler or More complex songs?

[All_¥our_Bass]

What do you like better? In terms of listening? In terms of writing?

Share your thoughts.
Personally I like it when the music gets to a point that it's more like rocket science from another planet.

[DWBass]

I prefer to listen and play simple melodic laden music. I can take complex music in small doses!

[VanillaO]

As far as like metal goes, I like fast paced, but nothing too technical and retarded sounding.
As far as hip hop goes, I like oldschool simple beats (Wu-Tang for example) with a nice medium-paced flow of lyrical genius from.. well i love wu-tang in general... bring da ruckus

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

My tastes go from stuff like Rush's "La Villa Strangiato" to Kiss' "Goin' Blind", so I don't think that the complexity/simplicity of a tune is a big factor to take into account when "deciding" if I like it or not. One big factor to me is to feel that the music comes from the creator's soul. Not because "I want to impress musicians" or "People like to hear stupidities and this one is going to sell millions".

[Petary791]

Both.

My favorite genres are Jazz, Jazz Fusion, and Prog, but lately i've been really enjoying some 80's New Wave and other Punk.

[the_fonz]

i voted everything, so basically i changed nothing.
VARIETY!

[markjazzbassist]

i like to write simple music. i like to listen to both simple and complex music.

[All_¥our_Bass]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

My tastes go from stuff like Rush's "La Villa Strangiato" to Kiss' "Goin' Blind", so I don't think that the complexity/simplicity of a tune is a big factor to take into account when "deciding" if I like it or not. One big factor to me is to feel that the music comes from the creator's soul. Not because "I want to impress musicians" or "People like to hear stupidities and this one is going to sell millions".

I don't use simple vs. complex to decide if a song is good or not but I wondered if you(talkbassians) tend to lean towards simple or complex or if you fall in the middle.

I should have added in my first post that I'm a big Meshuggah fan if that helps you understand my point of view.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

...I don't think that the complexity/simplicity of a tune is a big factor to take into account when "deciding" if I like it or not.

My feelings exactly. Complexity for the sake of complexity is no virtue, and neither is simplicity for the sake of simplicity. In fact, to a large degree, it misses the point altogether...

If the vision or mood of the material is inherently deep or multi-faceted or complex, then to render it in a simple way would be a disservice - just as gratuitously tacking on very technical or complex passages to a piece of music that is essentially very stark & simple would actually detract from the power & clarity of it - because it would be out of harmony with the spirit of that particular material...

I believe that if one cultivates a certain spiritual sensitivity - by first cultivating a sense of egolessness & humility with regard to music - rather than reflexively attempting to impose one's preconceived agendas upon it - then one will automatically become a much better musician as a result...and ultimately, a much better human being as well...

Music = Truth

MM

[Baryonyx]

I like a bit of both.

I listen to both simple and complex music, I write both simple and complex music. If it sounds good to me, then I'll like it.

[brianrost]

Geez, I just want to hear good music.

If it reaches me emotionally then I could care less if it's 32nd triplets at 400bpm in 13/8 using the Hypophrygian mode or just a guy drumming on water in a pail (yes, I have seen the latter and it rocked).

[brianrost]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

My tastes go from stuff like Rush's "La Villa Strangiato" to Kiss' "Goin' Blind". One big factor to me is to feel that the music comes from the creator's soul.

First time I've heard anyone equate Kiss with "coming from the soul"

[spectorbass83]

The band that I am in does not call for the complex, technical stuff. I believe in writing basslines that are fun for me to play and carry the song.

I listen to both simple and complex things, and I also enjoy playing the bit more complicated basslines. I'm a big Geddy Lee and Tony Kanal fan.

[Alan Vorse]

I like listening to Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash as much as I like listening to King Crimson and the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

As for my own writing, I don't think it comes down to simple vs. complex. I like to write wierd stuff.