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Most Underrated Bassists

#381
Tim Foreman of Switchfoot is a fantastically melodic player, and plays a lot of well-written and interesting lines all while providing great backup vocals. Take a listen to "Gone," "This is Your Life," "Dirty Second Hands," "Bomb," "Oh! Gravity" and others- he's not particularly flashy but the music would be a lot more boring without him.

I've also started to appreciate Nate Mendel, whose playing with Sunny Day Real Estate and on the Foos' "There Is Nothing Left To Lose" is also melodic and adds so much to the music.
 
#384
I was going to name several but I'll focus on my case for Alex James of Blur.

James played the hooks of many Blur songs, trading melodies and space with Graham Coxon (ironically the best guitarist of his generation) often playing with speed in a musical way (not the incredible wank most associate with "good" or fast playing). But he could also pull back when songs called for it. Here are some examples:

For Tomorrow - moving up and down the neck with ease, this song represents a big chunk of James' signature style - funky triplets you can actually sing along to, giving the song it's bouncy edge

Popscene - the proper beginnings of the bassline as the hook in Blur singles. It's a simple hook but is overflowing with swagger!

Girls and Boys - an indie disco surprise hit that helped rid the UK of grunge with its John Taylor-style bassline

Song 2 - every time a band covers this song, the guitarist of the group erroneously plays the post-chorus lead line, which James plays (on bass). This baffles me because this fact is widely known - that awesome riff is a bass!

Good Song - a very simple, repeated bassline with a lovely chord type slide that complements and completes the song. He's saying more with these handful of notes than most bass players ever do
 
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#387
RB! said:
I was going to name several but I'll focus on my case for Alex James of Blur.

James played the hooks of many Blur songs, trading melodies and space with Graham Coxon (ironically the best guitarist of his generation) often playing with speed in a musical way (not the incredible wank most associate with "good" or fast playing). But he could also pull back when songs called for it. Here are some examples:

For Tomorrow - moving up and down the neck with ease, this song represents a big chunk of James' signature style - funky triplets you can actually sing along to, giving the song it's bouncy edge

Popscene - the proper beginnings of the bassline as the hook in Blur singles. It's a simple hook but is overflowing with swagger!

Girls and Boys - an indie disco surprise hit that helped rid the UK of grunge with its John Taylor-style bassline

Song 2 - every time a band covers this song, the guitarist of the group erroneously plays the post-chorus lead line, which James plays (on bass). This baffles me because this fact is widely known - that awesome riff is a bass!

Good Song - a very simple, repeated bassline with a lovely chord type slide that complements and completes the song. He's saying more with these handful of notes than most bass players ever do
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Woah! Didn't realise that the Song 2 lead riff was bass! Thanks for the info!
 
#389
RunBeerRun said:
no one loves me, thats what history will say
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#395
Antisyzygy said:
This guy seems almost unknown. I have no idea what band he could be in, but holy cow is he a great player with a unique style.



It get's really good around 1:20 - 2:15
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Actually, this is true; Remco is very good. I often listen to his play lists at work.

To be fair, he is amazing. Not only does he play well, but his style is also very practical - stuff you can use. I listen to other players and it is all for show.

He is one of my favourite bassists.
 
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#398
Graham Douglas said:
Going back to the good of days, Chas Chandler of the Animals, brilliant lines, just listen to "we gotta get out of this place" played on short scale Gibson /epiphone with a pick but sounds fantastic. Of the British beat R & B bands he is up there with the best who was of course Jack Bruce.
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Agreed. Chandler was great in the Animals. "It's My Life" was another one with some killer bass.
 
#400
Roger Glover of Deep Purple
Mani of The stone Roses
Chris Edwards of Kasabian
Ben shepherd of Soundgarden
And search up a band called "Morgen"...a psychedelic rock band, the bass player is absolutely amazing, right up there with the likes of John Entwistle, John paul Jones, McCartney etc!
 

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