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Overrated bass players
- Thread starter Bryan
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i thought always thought that Blink 182 couldn't find a bass player that's why they have the singer to play the bass 
anyways...i really don't like blink 182 but then i guess the guy had to sing
anyways...i really don't like blink 182 but then i guess the guy had to sing
Cory Murchy was in Kill Sadie, and I think the only reason he's in the band is because some sort of demonic contract was written up that if they wanted Erin Tate (drummer of Kill Sadie) the bass player had to come too. Homosexual undertones? Your guess is as good as mine.
Three over-rated bassists for me have already been mentioned but I'll put the names up again.
Jack Bruce, Fieldy and Les Claypool - three guys who just managed to get far greater press than they deserved.
Jack Bruce, Fieldy and Les Claypool - three guys who just managed to get far greater press than they deserved.
Most overrated?
I nominate John Paul Jones, a thoroughly professional, solid session musician who never played a single innovative note, or one with any real personality, on any Led Zeppelin song.
In fact, I've never understood Led Zep's popularity. They always seemed like an adolescent, cartoon superhero band to me. Page and Jones were studio pros who could cover lots of styles, none with any real heart (exhibit A: any blues thing they did) and Plant was a painfully bad singer. At least Bonham forged a personal style, and had a great feel, but his "pound 'em loud and heavy" credo buried the drumming style I loved, the interactive, mobile, jazz-influenced variety played by people like John Densmore, Mitch Mitchell, Ginger Baker and Keith Moon. When Led Zep comes on the car radio, I crank them the same way I crank, say, "Pleasant Valley Sunday" by the Monkees. Good high-adrenalin music with no substance.
I nominate John Paul Jones, a thoroughly professional, solid session musician who never played a single innovative note, or one with any real personality, on any Led Zeppelin song.
In fact, I've never understood Led Zep's popularity. They always seemed like an adolescent, cartoon superhero band to me. Page and Jones were studio pros who could cover lots of styles, none with any real heart (exhibit A: any blues thing they did) and Plant was a painfully bad singer. At least Bonham forged a personal style, and had a great feel, but his "pound 'em loud and heavy" credo buried the drumming style I loved, the interactive, mobile, jazz-influenced variety played by people like John Densmore, Mitch Mitchell, Ginger Baker and Keith Moon. When Led Zep comes on the car radio, I crank them the same way I crank, say, "Pleasant Valley Sunday" by the Monkees. Good high-adrenalin music with no substance.
I think the problem with this thread is that you guys don't get what overrated means. being overrated is not living up to the hype behind the bassist. Victor Wooten is not overrated because he lives up to his hype of slap monster. Flea defenetely is overrated because people say he's a crazy slaper
when in reality he doesn't do anything spectacular. I'm not saying he's a bad player, I actualy like him and the chili peppers very much, but he's not quite what people make him out to be. And I fail to see how people like Cliff Williams(AC/DC) and Micheal Anthony (Van Halen) are overrated...they are strictly pocket/root note players...what you see is what you get, no fancy tricks. Being overrated is not about skill, songwriting ability or who you don't like personaly, it's about what people make you out to be. I know Cliff and Micheal have "legendary" status according to some bass mags but this is due to the fact that they are in bands that are "legendary" not because their playing is "legendary".
Sorry for the rant, I had to get that off my chest.
when in reality he doesn't do anything spectacular. I'm not saying he's a bad player, I actualy like him and the chili peppers very much, but he's not quite what people make him out to be. And I fail to see how people like Cliff Williams(AC/DC) and Micheal Anthony (Van Halen) are overrated...they are strictly pocket/root note players...what you see is what you get, no fancy tricks. Being overrated is not about skill, songwriting ability or who you don't like personaly, it's about what people make you out to be. I know Cliff and Micheal have "legendary" status according to some bass mags but this is due to the fact that they are in bands that are "legendary" not because their playing is "legendary".
Sorry for the rant, I had to get that off my chest.
Groove Reaper said:
no kidding, people are saying nikki sixx is over rated? how can he be over rated if everyone knows he sucks. The only hype about him is his attitude, which he lives up to. I don't think I've ever heard anyone ever say that he was a good bassplaye. I don't think i've even ever heared anyone say he was an adequate bass player. I'm pretty sure if he didn't write a few catchy tunes he'd be a broke homeless bum.
dougjwray said:
I don't know. I'm not even a big JPJ booster; but, if the his line on The Lemon Song doesn't grab you somewhere good, you must be in another zone.
I personally think Jaco is overrated, but I don't want to start a flame war. That's just my personal opinion. The reason is similar to why I think Wooten is overrated below.
JPJ I think can be a tad overrated, but then again I think Led Zeppelin is very overrated. Alot of people like him though, so I should keep my mouth shut.
Wooten I think is overrated because i've never heard him play anything innovative that would appeal to the mainstream. And I don't mean today's corporate mainstream, I mean the majority of people. The only people who really listen to Wooten's solo stuff are bassplayers who are wowed by his technique. But most people would be bored by his playing within minutes of the first note. Alot of people get annoyed with the "bippity bappity clank" stuff he does very quickly.
Jason Newsted: None of his lines in Metallica were creative, and didn't hold a candle to Cliff Burton. But then again, Burton was more of a downtuned guitarist than a bassist, and Newsted was more of a strictly play the root kinda player. He does seem kinda boring if you're listening to the Black album just for the bass, but I guess for the more commercial sound of that album, his style fits. (Also, if you've ever heard him talk, he sounds like the stereotypical Guitard Center salesman. Aka. a freakin idiot!)
I should shutup now before I piss off anyone else.
JPJ I think can be a tad overrated, but then again I think Led Zeppelin is very overrated. Alot of people like him though, so I should keep my mouth shut.
Wooten I think is overrated because i've never heard him play anything innovative that would appeal to the mainstream. And I don't mean today's corporate mainstream, I mean the majority of people. The only people who really listen to Wooten's solo stuff are bassplayers who are wowed by his technique. But most people would be bored by his playing within minutes of the first note. Alot of people get annoyed with the "bippity bappity clank" stuff he does very quickly.
Jason Newsted: None of his lines in Metallica were creative, and didn't hold a candle to Cliff Burton. But then again, Burton was more of a downtuned guitarist than a bassist, and Newsted was more of a strictly play the root kinda player. He does seem kinda boring if you're listening to the Black album just for the bass, but I guess for the more commercial sound of that album, his style fits. (Also, if you've ever heard him talk, he sounds like the stereotypical Guitard Center salesman. Aka. a freakin idiot!)
I should shutup now before I piss off anyone else.
bucephylus said:
I won't disagree with "The Lemon Song" and I love his part on "Ramble On"... I also think his sound and attitude on "Heartbreaker" make the song.
It's just that when people rank him in the top ten of all time (or whatever), I don't see it. To me, to be in that league you have to be an innovator, madman, visionary, or something else along those lines, and JPL was merely a solid, creative studio musician who found himself in a show-bizzy metal band and made a lot of $$$. (More power to him!)
oh how i loathe the fame that a certain "e string only" player gets from being in one of the world's most recognized bands...
curse you Adam Clayton....
curse you Adam Clayton....
The 0x said:
I also have to disagree on Jaco
The 0x said:
I wanted to weigh in here because I agree. . . and disagree. Hopefully I can communicate this somewhat coherantly. Vic's A Show of Hands and What Did He Say albums have some stuff on them like "Norwegian Wood" that are slow, melodic numbers that I can see appealing to smooth jazz/easy listening folks. I think some of his arrangements of those tunes are really nice and could have a somewhat more commercial appeal, although admittedly not mass appeal - moreso than just bassists. There's another one off his new CD that's the same way. My wife, for instance, can't stand his "bippity" moves the same way she doesn't really want to hear Richard Bona play "Liberty City," (I'm not putting Vic in the same musical league as Richard, by the way) because she doesn't understand it. But she likes the slower, more "melodic" stuff. I too much prefer his arrangements of other tunes and some of his slower original stuff to his fast originals.
Secondly, I completely agree on the "bippity bappity clank." A lot of my musician friends here, particularly a lot of younger guys just can't fathom why I'm not so impressed with Vic. I think he has a tremendous amount of talent and has unquestionably innovated on the bass, although he openly admits that everything he does on the bass he learned from watching Regi play the guitar. They always assume it's jealousy. . . I try and assure them that there are countless other cats - AJ, Oteil, Richard Bona, Gary Willis, etc... - I'd sooner choose if I had to sound like someone else. Stylistically as well, but certainly tone-wise. . . YIKES
To me its Victor Wooten. He's a good bassist and all but I cant stand him personally. I don't like his solo's his sound or his looks (maybe it's the dookie braids)
Anyone is entitled to an opinion saying JPJ and Led Zep are overrated....
It's just that you're WRONG.
It's just that you're WRONG.
Paul A said:
How the hell?
Most people (well non-musicians) probebly don't even know he played bass.
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