Victor: Flecktones or Solo?

rarisgod · #1 08-17-2008, 11:13 AM

Do you prefer Victor Wooten's work with the Bela Fleck and the Flecktones or his solo work?

Personally, so far I prefer his work with the Flecktones, but I'm curious for opinions.

brivello · #2 08-17-2008, 11:25 AM

I'm assuming by solo work you mean the stuff he does under his name, In which case the flecktones win by a mile. I saw him a while ago with his band and i was very disappointed. The Victor Wooten bass stuff was awesome, but everyone/everything else was...lacking in comparison. I especially dislike his guitar playing brother, with the wristbands on his guitar....it just sounds bad to me.

I saw him with the flecktones a few weeks ago with return to forever at the mann center. Great concert.

If by solo work you mean just victor wooten playing the bass alone though, my answer might be different.

rarisgod · #3 08-18-2008, 10:25 AM

Well I meant the stuff he's released under his name. Like I wouldn't qualify the Amazing Grace bass solo as Victor Wooten solo.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones were/are touring WITH Return to Forever?! How great was that concert??? :O

T-MOST · #4 08-18-2008, 10:42 AM

I own both projects because it gives you a nice variety of Vic's abilities. I can't say which I prefer because of the variety of context.

**baba** · #5 08-18-2008, 01:17 PM

I enjoyed him the most when I saw him with Mike Stern. It was nice to seem him slay in a more traditional bassist role and only go overboard for a couple solos.

StanFan · #6 08-18-2008, 05:27 PM

I like his stuff with the Flecktones. I'm not a fan of much of his solo material.

Matt Till · #7 08-18-2008, 05:56 PM

I hate his solo material, the Flecktones are pretty solid though. I think Vic is a great bass player, but as far as writing material on his own... eh, I don't dig his stuff at all.

BetterBottomEnd · #8 08-18-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brivello

I saw him with the flecktones a few weeks ago with return to forever at the mann center. Great concert.

I was there absolutely killer show. I guess opening acts aren't allowed to play an encore though which is a shame

keb · #9 08-19-2008, 06:38 AM

Definitely with the Flecktones... his solo albums just don't do it for me.

rarisgod · #10 08-19-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterBottomEnd

I was there absolutely killer show. I guess opening acts aren't allowed to play an encore though which is a shame

I'm curious, what songs did they play? Like I don't need a whole list, but any of the more popular ones?

FreaqyFrequency · #11 11-10-2008, 11:26 AM

+1 to the majority.

Largedon · #12 11-10-2008, 12:07 PM

For me, definately the Flecktones. Seems with his solo albums its very hit or miss, 2 or 3 ok songs and the rest are average at best. Also seems to be the cover tunes that I like best on his solo albums (ie EW&F's Cant' Hide Love).

At the risk of opening a can of worms, the same thing can said of Marcus Miller. Sometimes it seems the best songs on his albums are the covers. This is one probably the most impressive thing about Stanley Clarke, his ability to combine great bass playing and great song writing.

Webtroll · #13 11-12-2008, 07:49 AM

+ Flecktones. Wooten *and* that band together? Greatness. I think they are a great fit and I'm not sure how I would feel any different about them without Wooten than him without them.

SteveC · #14 11-12-2008, 07:58 AM

I'm not a huge fan of solo bass. Manring, Wooten, etc. I appreciate the solo stuff, but prefer to listen to the other things they do.

IanStephenson · #15 11-12-2008, 08:24 AM

While most people would probably agree that his solo stuff isn't as strong as the Flecktones, it's a bit of an unfair criticism. There are plenty of people who were in great bands that have produced DREADFUL solo albums. Without the rest of the band to bounce ideas with, solo albums become one dimmensional. Victors solo stuff is better than most.

FreaqyFrequency · #16 11-12-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

While most people would probably agree that his solo stuff isn't as strong as the Flecktones, it's a bit of an unfair criticism. There are plenty of people who were in great bands that have produced DREADFUL solo albums. Without the rest of the band to bounce ideas with, solo albums become one dimmensional. Victors solo stuff is better than most.

Agreed as well.

Victor is most musically and tonally pleasing with the Flecktones IMHO.

funkalicious101 · #17 11-12-2008, 09:53 PM

I would have to say The Flecktones. I'm sure it has something to do with them all being phenomenal musicians though.

Kwesi · #18 11-13-2008, 12:15 AM

I definitely prefer Vic's stuff with the Flecktones. A lot of his solo work is pretty cheesy to be honest. Of course the musicianship and music are good and all - great even - but it just doesn't stand up. He does have a few songs that are pretty cool like Bass Tribute and My Name Is Victor and a few others but the are few and far between. Too many of his songs suffer from plain weird (i really want to say bad...) songwriting and lame lyrics. It seems like his talents are put to better use when he plays from others.

wazzel · #19 11-13-2008, 03:55 PM

I think his solo stuff is good, but with the flecktones he is so much better. Could be in the interaction of the other guys and stuff.

BradyEB · #20 11-13-2008, 05:39 PM

I'm still yet to lock in with a Flecktones album! Anyone got an album recommendation?
My favourite of Victor's solo stuff is def the Instrumental side of Yin/Yang. Great stuff!