• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Who's Overrated? Who's Underrated?

#183
Cool (no flaming after 10 pages) :cool:

I might be able adding new ones:

UNDER (not mentionned enough for their achievements):
  • Simon Gallup
  • Sly Dunbar
  • Miroslav Vitous
  • Paul Jackson (Headhunters/H. Hancock)
  • Fima Ephron (Screaming Headless Torsos)
  • Trevor Dunn
  • James Jamerson
  • Dave Collins (Weedeater)
  • +1 for the already mentionned Peter Hook, Muzz Skillings & Joe Lally

OVER:
  • Jaco (i just think he's been over-mentionned).
  • Pattitucci
 
#187
nozkcb said:
I'll bite. . .

Underrated:
- Leland Sklar
- Pino Palladino
- T-bone Wolk
- Mike Rutherford
- Larry Graham
- David Hungate
- Verdine White
- sadly, many more. .

Overrated:
Many already noted in this thread and more. . .
Click to expand...

I'm going to agree on some points there:
- Lee Sklar
- Pino Palladino
- Mike Rutherford
- David Hungate

and I'll add:
- Graham Gouldman (10cc)
- Dee Murray (Elton John Band - RIP)
- Steven Amazing (UPP)
- David Paton (Camel, Elton John et al)
- Mo Foster
- Brian Beller
- Del Palmer

Overrated? Many, but some do have redeeming qualities. Some mention Flea here. I agree on the RHCP stuff, but I'm in awe of his bass on Alanis Morisette's "You outta know!". Jaco? Really? He really was that good, you know.
 
#191
From a purely rock bass player standpoint (since I listen to mostly rock music) a few players I can think of that are underrated in the sense that they are either unknown, not talked about or shadow behind the guitar player in their band.

Stu Zender (what happened to this guy?)
Duff McKagen
George Porter
Paul Turner
Tony Breit (his work with Lenny is spot on)
John Paul Jones (doubt I need to say anything)
Mike Inez (simple lines but very effective for the music they play)
Aston Barrett
Les Claypool
Noel Redding

As far as overrated players, these players are mostly guys (or gals) that just don't do it for me. Does not mean that they are not skilled players in fact they could be amazing but their music doesn't get me moving.

Victor Wooten (the slap stuff he does to me is kind of annoying)
Mark King (music is a bit over the top for my tastes but I should try to listen to more)
Pete Wentz
Gene Simmons (just not a big fan of kiss)
 
#192
i listen to alot of rock and as far as im concerned pete wentz is the most over rated person he even one bassist of the year just because he is likedby a bunch of girls, i think dan adriano is an awesome bass player for his genre and alot of people like alkalinetroio but dont realize just how good he is, another beast is cliff burton, first bassist for metallica, he made that band, they even admit but he died too soon so not alot of people know about him
 
#195
Big chicken said:
underatted
noel redding
the ox
stu cook
phill lesh
overated
phill lesh
me (my guitard thinks im the next entwistle im not even close..........yet:ninja:)
Click to expand...


Are you high? No offence but 1st of all you put Phil Lesh twice. I think given he started out in the 1960s he did very well for a guy contending with poor amps and PAs. He was an inspired and well travelled bassist who pushed technology a lot, and he is massively overlooked today.

Secondly how is The Ox underrated? People OUTSIDE the bass playing community know all about him and cite him as being the best. Look at any youtube video of The Who and all the non-bassists are going "OMG Entwistle is amazing" even if they don't know why.

Lastly I don't think Noel Redding is underrated at all. He was no pocket player, needed careful instruction to do the most basic things, had a cruddy live tone and a terrible attitude towards Hendrix. Billy Cox is an underrated player but Noel blew imho.
 
#196
chjohnst said:
As far as overrated players, these players are mostly guys (or gals) that just don't do it for me. Does not mean that they are not skilled players in fact they could be amazing but their music doesn't get me moving.

Victor Wooten (the slap stuff he does to me is kind of annoying)
Mark King (music is a bit over the top for my tastes but I should try to listen to more)
Pete Wentz
Gene Simmons (just not a big fan of kiss)
Click to expand...


That's one of the most mature things I've ever heard on any music forum. And that's just how it is. Not liking a particular genre or bass player or their band does not mean they suck. Pete Wentz is not the most amazing bassist but then again, his band's music doesn't call for flash. Same with Gene Simmons, he's a pretty good bassist within the contet of rock, and just because you don't like his atittude, or you don't like KISS doesn't mean he automatically sucks.

However, I have to disagree with you on Vic Wooten. But, opinions are opinions. For instance, I never cared for The Who, but Entwistle is just plain awesome.
 
#198
For overrated, the first person who comes to mind is Stanley Clarke... arg. Not that he didn't write some cool and fun stuff (The Sorceress, Song to John, Hot Fun), but for him to be considered even close to the artistic class of Jaco is preposterous (I gather people in the 70s used to compare them and have that kind of discussion. Don't know.)

Victor Wooten is a true natural and definitely has soul, but I know what people mean.... The whole genre of music that includes fusion and it's derivative forms is really almost completely banal.

Michael Manring is one of the few bassists known to me who is actively elevating the status of the instrument, but then again I stopped listening to this whole genre almost completely 15 years ago so I don't really know what I'm talking about!

I haven't seen anyone mention Skuli Sverrisson? Maybe he is unknown/underrated....
 
#199
Noseferatu said:
That's one of the most mature things I've ever heard on any music forum. And that's just how it is. Not liking a particular genre or bass player or their band does not mean they suck. Pete Wentz is not the most amazing bassist but then again, his band's music doesn't call for flash. Same with Gene Simmons, he's a pretty good bassist within the contet of rock, and just because you don't like his atittude, or you don't like KISS doesn't mean he automatically sucks.

However, I have to disagree with you on Vic Wooten. But, opinions are opinions. For instance, I never cared for The Who, but Entwistle is just plain awesome.
Click to expand...

Not to go back and forth with this, but check it out...

Sure, it's a show. Sure, it's not meant to dazzle. Sure, he never claimed to be a technical wiz, HOWEVER...this is a guy who's been playing for over 30 years and in a showcase moment, this is the best he can do? It has nothing to do with liking or not liking KISS. Gene is ASTONISHINGLY untalented. And I think he knows it himself.
 
#200
I'v eheard that Animalize tour solo clip a million times. It's become a cliche to use that to prove Gene is an untalented hack. He wasnt trying to solo. He was clearly trying to pump up the crowd. The person posting the video should rename it because it wasn't intended to be a solo.


If Gene is ASTONISHINGLY untalented, then so is Cliff Williams. 10x moreso.


I just found this clip of them playing Nothin To Lose in 2007 when Paul Stanley had heart problems. Anyway, Gene may not be the best bassist ever, far from it, but he is NOT extremely untalented.

Listen to how he improvises during the part starting at 0:51

 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back