The (slap?!) Bass of "The Resistance" (MUSE)

twisty4678 · #1 07-08-2009, 07:42 PM

Anyone else pumped to hear the bass on the new muse album?
An article from NME was posted today where Chris says he will be playing slap bass on a song

. Here's the quote

"Of the songs featured, some, such as "Unnatural Selection" are built around Bellamy's Gigantic guitar riffs, while on "Undisclosed Desire" only the singer's vocals are features, the rest of the song being built around electric drum patterns and some slap bass from Chris Wolstenholme. "I Know it's probably not ever been cool to play slap bass," he admitted, "but on that song it just seemed to work so we kept it in."

Zane Lowe (radio dj) said:

“All I can say is in my opinion they’ve written their best rock song on that record. In my opinion one of their best pop songs is on that record. It’s ambition and drive and all sorts of influences and creative stuff they’ve never tried before. And from start to finish, if you’re a Muse fan, your going to love it.”

Sooo, slap bass, and their best rock song yet?
I'm excited. The first single is supposedly coming out on the 20th so i don't think it's too soon to start gossiping.

IntrepidCellist · #2 09-13-2009, 10:53 PM

Old thread, but the slap tone on "Undisclosed Desire" is awesome. Kind of like a dirty, clangy yet punchy piano.

And his lines on "United States of Eurasia" and especially "I Belong to You/Mon Coeur S'ouvre a ta Voix" are just awesome.

Luke.Walton · #3 10-03-2009, 01:40 AM

When has it been uncool to play slap bass? That is a real big statement that is hard to back up.

Luke.

phxlbrmpf · #4 10-03-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke.Walton

When has it been uncool to play slap bass? That is a real big statement that is hard to back up.

Luke.

Yeah, I kind of agree here. Maybe he was trying to be controversial but in the end it comes across as a bit immature. Personally, I think tasteful slap bass can be one of the coolest things in bassdom.

I just listened to the song in question and I think I changed my mind. I actually think I sort of agree with him now, slap bass that sounds like someone miced the acoustic sound of the bass and boosted the highs afterwards never struck me as particularly cool.

lavmonga · #5 10-08-2009, 06:06 PM

I've listened to the album, where is this alleged slap bass? I'm not finding it? Maybe envelope or synth bass, not hearing any slap...

phxlbrmpf · #6 10-09-2009, 02:56 AM

The slap bass is supposed to be on "Undisclosed Desires", even though it kind of sounds like aggressive pick playing at first listen.

NatWu · #7 10-15-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lavmonga

I've listened to the album, where is this alleged slap bass? I'm not finding it? Maybe envelope or synth bass, not hearing any slap...

At first listen, I didn't realize he was using slap bass on "Undisclosed Desires" either. But I was at the concert in Arlington on Monday, about 20 feet from the stage and maybe 40 from Chris and there is no doubt he was slapping.

He had three bass guitars for that show. Most of the stuff with heavy distortion he played with a headless bass (which you can see if you look up some online videos of Muse). His second bass just looked like a regular 4-string to me. There was a bass that he used solely for slapping on this one song.