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Chris Squire vs Geddy Lee

#101
seang15 said:
Why is this a "troll job?" I directly gave my opinion. And it's an educated one, too.

I studied with Jerry Jemmott from 1986- 1987 in Harlem. At that time, Jaco was quoted as saying he was merely an imitation of "one Gerald Jemmott." Jaco had multiple times more chops than Jerry, of course. But it was a sign of respect, like Geddy to Squire.
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It's a troll job to say Squire had no chops, he had way more chops than 95% of the bassists playing (including you). I've played Squire and I've played Lee, I can play anything by either of those guys, and Squire's bass lines are WAY tougher and more intricate. Geddy's never written a bass line that's as intricate as "Roundabout" and that's not even Squire's toughest bass line.

I'm not putting down Geddy, I love the guy, he's the reason I started playing bass, but he's not at the level that Squire was at.
 
#102
seang15 said:
I studied with Jerry Jemmott from 1986- 1987 in Harlem. At that time, Jaco was quoted as saying he was merely an imitation of "one Gerald Jemmott." Jaco had multiple times more chops than Jerry, of course. But it was a sign of respect, like Geddy to Squire.
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Also, let's not obscure history. Jaco wasn't some humble guy that would say Jemmott was better than him, as far as Jaco was concerned, he was the greatest bass player on Earth and he wasn't shy about telling people so.

Geddy's not an idiot and it's not false modesty when he says Yes music or Chris Squire's bass playing is a lot more complicated than Rush or his own bass lines, it's the truth.
 
#106
Duke21 said:
Tony Levin "hate" this song as it was a nightmare for him to learn/ play live.
.
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Tony Levin is a great player, and has played with a pick for years, so it always surprised me on the ABWH tour that he decided to play all the Squire parts with the funk fingers instead of a pick. He said in interviews it was because Squire's picking technique was too advanced for him and he could only replicate it with the funk fingers.
 
#107
Rickengeezer said:
Have you listened to the Syn's _Syndestructible_? It sounds like classic Squire to me, that same impeccable sense of what to play, and when to play it. Other than maybe some stuff on The Ladder, I think it's Squire's best work since the 70s.
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OK, found a little of it on youtube. Yeah, good stuff. Too bad it didn't garner much attention that I can tell. But it does riposte my feeling that Squire's been sitting on his laurels.
 
#109
Not in original topic, but what about including Jon Camp to the "debate" ?

I've never seen Rush. I've seen YES many times since 1971, and E L P a couple of times; once with YES as the warm-up for E L P: Fragile against Tarkus. YES and E L P fortunately got airplay, as PROG usually isn't radio-friendly; subsequently opened the door for Genesis, Rush, Kansas..Some may say that Jethro Tull opened doors for them on the radio....I DIGRESS.

I have seen Renaissance a couple of times. They had minor air play in 'mid 70's. DIGRESSION...

POINT: In Renaissance, Jon camp plays rolling arpeggios on his Rick while dancing a jig on bass pedals; singing harmonies and contra-melody. Superior in chops, skills and vocals to Squire and Lee, in my opinion.
 
#110
Jaco Taco said:
This is a joke and a clear troll job. Listen to Squire from the 70's and he had WAY more chops than Geddy has ever had. And I bet you Geddy would admit to the fact that he can't play a lot of Squire's stuff. He's said in past interviews that his style is a simplified version of Squire's.
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Show me where he said his style is a simplified version of Squires. Ive never heard that.
 
#115
Jaco Taco said:
Tony Levin is a great player, and has played with a pick for years, so it always surprised me on the ABWH tour that he decided to play all the Squire parts with the funk fingers instead of a pick. He said in interviews it was because Squire's picking technique was too advanced for him and he could only replicate it with the funk fingers.
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I've never seen Tony play with a pick.
 
#119
India_Sierra said:
I don't find Squire all that interesting. His lines, rhythm, note choice, tone - just falls flat for me, most of the time.

Geddy on the other hand, delivers in all those areas. I could listen to Rush all day long.
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Geddy have more "rock drive" in many ways more strait forward and "simple", at least compares to Squire which is way more melodic. Both are amazing.
 
#120
JetBlackJazz said:
Most of these replies are ludicrous. I am by far a Geddy fanatic but undoubtedly, Chris Squire ALMOST matches him. If not for Squire, Geddy wouldn't have his tone, style, and most of his chops. If not for Geddy, Chris Squire would be the best on Earth.

As far as bass creativity and melodic playing, Geddy=8/10 , Squire=10/10. I know 20 songs from Moving pictures to Fly By Night and about 6 Yes songs from Fragile, 'Yes', Tales..., etc on bass. Geddy's most Squire-esque line is Closer to the Heart. Squire's most Geddy-esque line is Siberian Khatru.

Geddy's leg up is his extremely great sense of emotional writing. His following of Neil's syncopated and inhuman drumming is unparalleled, his high range vocals (usualy syncopated with bass as well) is unique, and his ability to play 2 instruments and sing at once is genuine. Geddy as a musician=10/10 , Squire=8/10.

The argument of Squire being 'better' or 'worse' is invalid because they are so distinctly unique. Squire writes melodic, thoughtful, complex lines. He adds a whole new layer to Yes songs that Geddy can't emulate. He can be the left hand of a piano and the harmonizing voice and the root of the guitar chord all at once. You can't replicate this.

Geddy= emotional, unorthodox, thoughtful

Squire= musically aware, unconventional, diverse...

and all in all, they are about tied, as if counting really matters, again, because they are completely different and unique in their own sense.
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This matches my thoughts on the subject almost identically, the main difference being that I find Squire to also be the more emotional player in that his playing is so integral to the melody and his unconventional approach drives many of the arrangements.
On the whole, I'd have to conclude that Squire is king....no Yes, no Rush as we know it. After all, all three members of Rush have confessed that the 1975-76 "Relayer" tour is the impetus for their retooling of their sound, resulting in 2112 and every masterwork that followed up to Permanent Waves (the only era of their music that I still enjoy listening to).
 

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