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Prog Rock albums with impressive bass

A

AcidFripp

Jul 12, 2010
478
11
#1
Now, I know prog often has awesome bass but what're some records that go above and beyond even the normal prog standard for bassism?

I'll give a vote up for VDGG's Aerosol Grey Machine. Blows my mind every time; not necessarily super complex, but always audible and always perfect.

Oh, try to go for less-known ones, too. Like, everyone knows King Crimson's Discipline, so there's no point in posting that one.

Your turn, TB!
 
#2
Progressive Rock pretty much always has incredible basslines, it's almost a given. However, these are some I believe that stand out, to me anyway.


Yes-Yes Album I think this album pretty much set the standard for prog bass. As a matter of fact, you can listen to any era of Yes and be blown away by Chris Squire's basslines.

Hemispheres-Rush I think this goes without saying.

The Great Deceiver-King Crimson I had no idea how much of a solid player John Wetton was(still is) until I listened to this live compilation of 70s recordings. He's keeping up with Bill Bruford, I think that says something.
 
#4
KenHR said:
Wetton in the '70s is one of my favorite things.

I also think Greg Lake on the first KC album showed some chops. Check out what he's doing in Schizoid Man!
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Greg Lake never really impressed me, but I think that his early days with KC and ELP were pretty good(Tank from ELP comes to mind).

I like The Great Deceiver versions more, KC songs always seem to have more power when played live(I didn't believe that was humanly possible for a while)
 
#9
poorbassist15 said:
I like The Great Deceiver versions more, KC songs always seem to have more power when played live(I didn't believe that was humanly possible for a while)
Click to expand...

No argument here. I knew a guy years ago who was at the Providence concert that runs from disc 1 to the front of disc 2. Very jealous. If there was ever a night to see the awesomest lineup of the awesomest band ever, it was that one.
 
#12
Tony Levin's lines on King Crimson's 'Thrak' sold the whole album to me.

Ditto his solo stuff; 'Waters of Eden' for mellow & 'Stickman' for when you feel like biting someone's head off & blowing stuff up - angriest album I've heard in ages.

Also Percy Jones & Brand X. 'nuff said.

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#15
Some of my favorites:

Rush - Hemispheres (and many others)
Yes - Fragile (and many others)
Kansas - Leftoverture

I have heard Pink Floyd referred to as prog rock, but Floyd music doesn't rely on bass as much as the usual prog standards. That said, I love the simple but effective bass in Meddle, especially the long jam parts of Echoes.
 
#18
Everything JPJ did with Led Zep. I know the band us considered by some to be derivative blues rock by some snobs, and perhaps one of the progenitors of metal by a few, but there is more to story.

I've ben playing music my whole life, which along with Zeppelin started in '68. They're always been there, in my ear. I have all their albums. Yet I never really listened to JPJ's bass lines or considered him an influence, until recently returning to bass after a few years off. I always credited Geddy more ad my main prog rock influence. I guess I am now hearing it all with fresh ears. All I can say is Wow! He plays the fool out of some bass lines.
 
#20
JdoubleH said:
Everything JPJ did with Led Zep. I know the band us considered by some to be derivative blues rock by some snobs, and perhaps one of the progenitors of metal by a few, but there is more to story.

I've ben playing music my whole life, which along with Zeppelin started in '68. They're always been there, in my ear. I have all their albums. Yet I never really listened to JPJ's bass lines or considered him an influence, until recently returning to bass after a few years off. I always credited Geddy more ad my main prog rock influence. I guess I am now hearing it all with fresh ears. All I can say is Wow! He plays the fool out of some bass lines.
Click to expand...

Yes! Led Zeppelin aren't prog but JPJ is a genius.

JdoubleH said:
I'm almost with you there, but I'm not totally convinced that what they're doing is really prog. There are moments of brilliance, but some of what they do verges on art rock meets math rock.
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Mars Volta, on the other hand, ARE prog.


Oh, another one! Magma's Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh has some pretty intricate basslines but those guys are on some other level entirely... it's like they're not even from Earth...
 

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