the secret life of JMJ

Jluckie3 · #1 12-26-2009, 11:36 AM

Hey Justin, most people on this board are familiar with most of your bigger projects such as NIN, Beck, and IMA robot, but knowing that you do a ton of session work, what are some sessions that you have played on that you are particularly proud of or that you feel are a good representation of you as a musician?
thanks
-J

J. Crawford · #2 12-26-2009, 12:02 PM

Subscribed! This could be really cool!

jmjbassplayer · #3 12-27-2009, 06:23 AM

Thank you for gracing me with such a kind request such as this...you flatter me! I hope that when you say "good representation of you as a musician" that you're not expecting me to come up with bass stuff that is impressive from some sort of virtuosic standpoint.

If you're on this forum, I'll bet you already know the score with me. Anyways:

There's some Aqualung songs I played on that I think were so wonderful. I wish I knew their names!

Tori Amos, a song called "Cruel", one of many, but a personal favorite with Tori...kind of my abstract Tony Levin impersonation.

This new Sarah Bareilles stuff I'm working on these days. Not out until summer, I think, so it's silly for me to mention it now. I just feel very "free" on it, so that's why I bring it up. Great female singer-songwriter-pianist, kind of on the pop tip. Just quality.

Gemma Hayes "The Roads Don't Love You"

Marjorie Fair "Self Help Serenade", recorded by my late friend, the great Jerry Finn.

Medicine "Her Highness"

Goldfrapp "A&E"

Marianne Faithful "Kissin' Time"

Team America: World Police (all the songs in the film) The most fun I've ever had in the studio bar none. My face hurt from all the laughing every day.

Ladytron "Velocifero"

Brad Mehldau "Largo"

Air, a song called "Don't Be Light", check out my retarded fuzz bass solo.

Some of the Dixie Chicks stuff is real nice, if simple. I played that one really low-key, but by choice. Rick Rubin gave me a lot of latitude to do whatever, and I chose the path that ended up on the record, and am pleased with it.

The score to the movie "30 Days of Night"

The score to the movie "Halloween II"

The score to the movie "Devil's Rejects"

The score and theme to the Showtime TV show "Californication"

I'm sure I'll think of more, that's just some stuff that comes to mind.

Thanks again for asking...a treat for me to answer, and for me to ruminate on.

Best,
Justin

eoinS · #4 12-27-2009, 08:12 AM

I always get a kick out of discovering that you played on ANOTHER album that I love. It's getting to be a pretty long list!

Did a charity gig with Gemma Hayes last week, she's lovely.

J. Crawford · #5 12-27-2009, 08:23 AM

You played in Team America!? That's one of my all time favorites!

Just proving, you are da man, JMJ.

FernandoDANTE · #6 12-28-2009, 07:17 AM

That solo on Don't Be Light is far from retarded =) Unless you meant it in a "good" way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysk_dQ39ctE

JMJ didn't put it on the list, but one performance of his that I find particularly cool is The Mars Volta's Televators.

dmusic148 · #7 12-28-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FernandoDANTE

That solo on Don't Be Light is far from retarded =) Unless you meant it in a "good" way.

I know what he meant. It's a bit cheeky but it's perfect for the song.

neptoon · #8 12-28-2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FernandoDANTE

JMJ didn't put it on the list, but one performance of his that I find particularly cool is The Mars Volta's Televators.

the best song on that album, too, imo

jmjbassplayer · #9 12-28-2009, 11:29 AM

Thanks, y'all. That bass solo is retarded - in a good way.

It's loosey-goosey, but it has spirit and sass. We had so much fun in the weeks we spent making that beautiful record.

Thanks re: Televators. Likewise, I think that's a great song, just from a listening and album-context standpoint.

JMJ

neptoon · #10 12-28-2009, 11:39 AM

shoot, i thought the upright playing added a LOT to that song...i know it isn't like christian mcbride or anything like that, but it added a lot of texture/atmosphere...really cool

havik180 · #11 12-28-2009, 01:29 PM

Man you sure get around !

Are you a Rob Zombie fan ? Did he have much input to the score ?

The fact that you did Team America is pretty cool. Those songs are hilarious and they fit the movie perfectly.

The bass solo is cool like others have said it just fits the song. I've been looking at getting a fuzz pedal and really liked the sound you got withthat one ! Ya' mind sharing your setup on that song ?

Rich

jmjbassplayer · #12 12-28-2009, 05:06 PM

Embarassing!! I moved this thread to "Amps" by accident! Can a mod please fix my poor moderating and move this BACK to my forum?

Apologies, everyone.

JMJ

Marco A. Mayer · #13 12-28-2009, 05:40 PM

JMJ, this is a bit off-topic, but can you answer me a question?

I've been told you own a couple of Wal Mark 1s. Did you ever use them on tours or in recording sessions with NIN?

Jluckie3 · #14 12-29-2009, 12:46 AM

which of the dixie chicks stuff did you play on? they happen to be one of my guilty pleasures...
thank you for such an awesome response, i'm gonna have fun looking some of this stuff up.

**David Wilson** · #15 12-29-2009, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

Embarassing!! I moved this thread to "Amps" by accident! Can a mod please fix my poor moderating and move this BACK to my forum?

Apologies, everyone.

JMJ

done

Jluckie3 · #16 12-29-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

I hope that when you say "good representation of you as a musician" that you're not expecting me to come up with bass stuff that is impressive from some sort of virtuosic standpoint.

Not at all, I just mean a line that you listen to and think, "yeah that sounds like me"

micahbell · #17 12-30-2009, 10:38 AM

Do you know what albums the Aqualung songs were off of?
Was it just a couple songs here and there, or did you play a good chunk? I just got into their stuff recently and am really digging it.

jmjbassplayer · #18 12-30-2009, 12:39 PM

I played on Dixie Chicks "Taking The Long Way", and a song for the Katrina Hurricane benefit. That's it so far.

Aqualung, I think I played on three songs on that record. Wish I knew the titles. A cool artist.

JMJ

thombo · #19 01-05-2010, 05:50 PM

any word on what's in store for you musically in 2010 (that you can talk about, of course)?
records coming out that you played on? digital noise academy stuff? ima robot? any exciting sessions coming up? tours?

J. Crawford · #20 01-05-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thombo

any word on what's in store for you musically in 2010 (that you can talk about, of course)?
records coming out that you played on? digital noise academy stuff? ima robot? any exciting sessions coming up? tours?

Yeah, we wanna know!