Anybody else tired of Geddy's flamenco style?

[RAM]

Okay, maybe I'm alone in this, but maybe I'm not.

It seems like such a tired "gimmick", pumping straight 16th- notes out, fret-clanking noise that I've grown tired of him. To me, it's actually a lazy technique, that he's lost a lot of his melodic-ness...a prime example is if you listen to YYZ from Different Stages. The middle section has forgone his melodic line for a strictly rythmic feel, that while not entirely horrible, has taken away from some of the song's quality.

I mean, don't get me wrong...I think it's got its place. Animate, from Counterparts, is one of my favorite more "recent" songs of theirs, and he employs this technique throughout, but I just think it's overused.

I'd like to see him go back to using his left hand more, and dump that flamenco style.

Am I alone?

[Nasnederis]

Ok Ram


You are talking about a 25 old year old album, are you tired of that YYZ song live on that album?

Simply dont listen to it, he has tons of different songs!

[Sneckumhaw]

Yeah, it's a little played out.

[j-raj]

?

[xlows]

Yeah, and Entwistle's typewriter style really pisses me off. Furthermore, Jaco's harmonics...UGH!!! And don't even get me started on Larry Graham and his vile slapping.



People have techniques that are prevalent throughout their music. Dig it or don't, it's just their style. I dig Geddy.

[keb]

Mmmm, not really. I still dig it. It's propulsive. I remember feeling a little ambivalent about it when he first started doing that in the early '90s though.

It's kinda inspired me to do something similar, though I use my thumb. Kind of a cross between double-thumping and Geddy-flamenco.

[Cygnusx2112]

No. That's my favourite part of his playing!

[Snarf]

I definitely prefer his playing up until about 93, when he really started using the flamenco. His sound lacks that percussive, nice midrange sound. The pop and growl he got out of his Wals was fantastic. And the treatment of his Fender in the 70's and early 80's was very tasteful, but now his tone leaves a lot to be desired. I don't let it bother me too much, since Rush can do no wrong, ever. Ever.

[MoD_Scotty]

I dunno, when I saw them on the R30 tour, I couldn't believe how badass he sounded (and I've seen Rush during the Vapor Trails, Test For Echo, Counterparts, and Roll the Bones tours). I think he sounds better now than he ever has...LIVE.

I'm not a huge fan of the last couple CDs, but I dig the flamenco style. It would be different if EVERYONE did it. But you just don't hear it too often.

Slap on the other hand...it's awesome, but for the love of god, it's not the end-all be-all of bass playing!

[Baryonyx]

I do prefer his tone with the Wals, without a doubt. But I dig his flamenco thing, especially in the song "How It Is", from Vapor Trails. Just listen to the way it's employed during the "Foot upon the stair..." section, I could not think of anything that would sound better there!

Geddy is the greatest of all time!

[Dave Siff]

I like the flamenco thing. It's certainly become a prominent ingredient in the Geddy Lee stew, but he doesn't use it all the time. His great melodic lines are still there. Plus, I admire the fact that his style has evolved over the years.

[Nino Valenti]

Nope. Love it.

[barbarbass]

Always been a Rush fan, but I remember being surprised by how "weak" Geddy's fretting technique looked when I first saw them. I don't know, the sound I heard coming out of the speakers suggested somebody like Nathan East (you know, wearing the bass high and tight, perfect posture, thumb behind the neck). So, Geddy is that unique player who can shred -- because, let's face it, the guy is fast -- with improper technique.

Although I wouldn't buy his instructional video, in no way does it detract from my enjoyment of the band's music.

[steve66]

I like Geddy's flamenco technique. Its one techinque that you can employ that works well in most bass lines.

[Alan Vorse]

Originally Posted by j-raj

?

+1.

[prattguy]

I´m totally biased but i´ll talk anyway. GEDDY IS GOD....get it? And no i´m not tired of his flamenco strumming that´s a totally badass way to get sounds out of a bass, he has TOTAL command of his instrument and his tone is BRUTAL.

[Sneckumhaw]

Originally Posted by Snarf

I don't let it bother me too much, since Rush can do no wrong, ever. Ever.

If you can listen to Anthem and Roll The Bones back to back and consider the latter anything but wrong...

Whatever floats your boat

[RAM]

Originally Posted by Nasnederis

Ok Ram


You are talking about a 25 old year old album, are you tired of that YYZ song live on that album?

Simply dont listen to it, he has tons of different songs!

What I don't like is how the version on Different Strings departed from its origin, in favor of the flamenco style during the middle section. And, Different Stages isn't 25 years old...it came out in 1998. You must be thinking of Moving Pictures, which YYZ was originally on, roughly 25 odd years ago.

It's hard to not hear it...much of their last few albums, live and studio, incorporate this method very heavily.

[RAM]

Originally Posted by xlows

Yeah, and Entwistle's typewriter style really pisses me off. Furthermore, Jaco's harmonics...UGH!!! And don't even get me started on Larry Graham and his vile slapping.



People have techniques that are prevalent throughout their music. Dig it or don't, it's just their style. I dig Geddy.

Um...yeah...that's not at ALL an apples-to-apples comparison.

You could listen to entire albums or bootlegs of Entwistle or Jaco and hear, maybe a couple of minutes of these techniques. But, with Geddy's flamenco style playing, it seems like it's at least 1/2 of each of the last few studio and live albums.

[Rhythm5]

Geddy is THE man in my book. Saw the last tour and I thought his playing was better than ever. His playing and tone was simply unreal !