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Who's Overrated? Who's Underrated?

#221
FWIW- Flea is great with locking in with the kick drum and that's muy importante' as a bass player, especially in funk.

I think we are all over and underrated at times but who the !@#$$ really cares? If we play bass as a side job as I and most of you guys do, then what difference does it make?

Good conversation I guess.
 
#223
Bipslapper said:
FWIW- Flea is great with locking in with the kick drum and that's muy importante' as a bass player, especially in funk.

I think we are all over and underrated at times but who the !@#$$ really cares? If we play bass as a side job as I and most of you guys do, then what difference does it make?

Good conversation I guess.
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It's just for the sake of conversation.

I don't mean to insult anyone's tastes in bassists or music, honestly I'm sure some of the bassists I'm not a fan of are more accomplished musicians than I am and I can admit it... I just don't like their note choices :D

And this needs to be remembered: "OVERRATED" does not equal "BAD" or untalented. I think Flea is overrated but he is by no means a bad bass player and if there's something of his I admire is his stage presence: he just ALWAYS seems like he's having so much fun playing that bass which I think is awesome (and makes him fun to watch even if I'm not a fan of the music).
 
#224
Relayer71 said:
It's just for the sake of conversation.

I don't mean to insult anyone's tastes in bassists or music, honestly I'm sure some of the bassists I'm not a fan of are more accomplished musicians than I am and I can admit it... I just don't like their note choices :D

And this needs to be remembered: "OVERRATED" does not equal "BAD" or untalented. I think Flea is overrated but he is by no means a bad bass player and if there's something of his I admire is his stage presence: he just ALWAYS seems like he's having so much fun playing that bass which I think is awesome (and makes him fun to watch even if I'm not a fan of the music).
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I agree.

In the same way that "Underrated" does not mean "best bassist ever" or "virtuoso" or "jaco":D
 
#225
Just a note:

Some bassists can be perfectly rated.

I think Flea is rated well. He's great in that band! He knows his stuff. But if you break him down into little bits of knowhow and proper technique, you may find flaws.

But seriously, he's good. And the Mars Volta stuff he played on... PHENOMENAL!!!!


And RE: Simple Minds, check out "Speed your love to me" and tell me that bass line doesn't punch you right in the taint!
 
#226
plangentmusic said:
I'm sure this has been done before, but why not...
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Done plently, and I will tell you the achiles heel of these conversation is NOT that people are opened up to who's underrated, but actually people's responses to who is overrated.

Why?

Because such notions are inherently negative, and ultimately pisses on someone's (sometimes deeply held and dear) preferences, and also in the way such things are stated. Most of the time, this is divicive.

On the other hand, hearing who is underrated and why something thinks they are not getting the visibility and props they deserve is inherently positive and community building.

So...

Dr. Cheese more or less put the spotlight on Esperanza Spalding for me, and I'm glad for that. I think she's underrated. That's a real mega-find for me, and I really think that if this kind of sharing occurs with people building a good vibe. It sure beats the alternative...

So...

Esperanza Spalding. Underrated.
Colin Moulding. Underrated.
Mark Johnson. Underrated.
 
#227
plangentmusic said:
I'm sure this has been done before, but why not...

Let's hear it.

3 guys who kill but never got the deserved recognition.

3 guys who blow yet people adore. (And not just idiots in popular bands, but guys who bassists genuinely love, but you don't get why).

My choices of underrated greats --

Gary Thain.

Wild, reckless hard rock basslines that are both solid and surprising.

Glen Cornick.

Tull's first bassist who played great parts, fills and one of the most musical bass solo's ever recorded.


John Onder.

He only recorded a couple of things -- one being Joey Tafolo's Infra Blue and he is ridiculous -- kinda Like Billy Sheehan but with better chops.


3 most overrated.


John Patitucci.

Yeah, I get it -- he has insane skill. Great upright player too. Amazing facility. He just does nothing for me. No groove, no heart, no nothing. Lots of notes.


John Entwistle.

I like him! He's good! But I don't hear what's so amazing.


Carol Kaye.

For all her legendary status, I've never heard anything that stands out as particularly great . Most of her stuff was written out for her. And "The Beat Goes On is cute -- but, come on).


Who'd I miss?
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Thats pretty awesome you mentioned Jon Onder, I took some lessons from here a couple of years ago when he lived in Huntsville (he may still live in town I just lost touch with him through the years) ive never seen or heard anything like him in person. He plays with 4 fingers instead of 3 like sheehan does. And when he wants to can out shred any guitar player ive ever heard. He owned (I think he owned it may have just worked there) a cd store in town like 12 years ago and would sit around and improve on jazz tunes with a small amp, a modulus six and his cd player all day. Id browse cd's in his store just to hear him play. It was amazing to me that a guy like that had played in the capacity that he had was living in Hville! About 5 years later when I was taking lessons from him he had sold (or quit) the store and was a school teacher, I ask him about it, and If I remember correctly apparently he met his wife here and just decided to settle down. He was a very good teacher, his focus wasnt in patterns, and teaching songs, he was very methodical with theory and the importance of tasteful playing. I wish I could have continued, as he was teaching me alot about walking bass (which to me is still the hardest thing to improve and play on the fly or really to do well at all for that matter) but I started college full time and was working full time and just couldn't continue the lessons.
 
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#230
Beginner Bass said:
How could Fieldy be overrated? Nobody even likes him.
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Hahahaha! As far as over rated, most people mentioned to me.

I kinda dig on the dude from Muse's tone. But he isn't doing anything amazing to me. I really like a lot of the circa survive bass lines. All the baselines On glassjaw's "worship and tribute" album were awesome. So, justin beck (who I read wrote all the basslines on that album in an issue of bass player) is my vote for most under rated
 
#231
Overated players:

Flea-The fact that I really dislike RHCP and the whole "90s Funk Rock" genre probably biases me to a large degree though, still a great player.

Me- C'mon folks, I'm good, but not THAT good:p.

Underated Dudes:

Geezer Butler(My number one influence)-Is it only us Doom Metal fans who love him?

Alex James -Awesome busy melodic lines.

Felix Pappalardi-Cool fuzzed out yet elegant lines.

John Deacon-Fits Queen so well, ads so much to the songs, just listen to that beautiful run during the outro of "Bohemian Rhapsody" or dig deeper and listen to his solo on "Liar" from their first album.

Dug Pinnick-Entwistle/Squire/Lee fans(Like myself) check this dude out, amazing singer too(as our all the members of King's X).
 
#232
Underrated:

Liam Wilson - Saw him today at Warped Tour (he's in Dillinger Escape Plan). Flawless technique, great stage presence, and inventive basslines that are simultaneously groovy and heavy.

Manuel Carrero - The bassist for Glassjaw and the former bassist for Saves The Day. Knows how to hold down the low end with lines that seem to perfectly compliment the music.

Joe Lally - Currently a solo artist, but played in Fugazi before their "indefinite hiatus." His rubbery, dubby bass grooves got hundreds of kids to jump up and down at once.
 
#233
Underated: Richard Keith Lewis of Skunk Anansie
Probably not many have heard of this English band, but they certainly have their perfect moments, and Skin has one set of pipes in her. Bassist Lewis of the power three behind the vocals is a great rock/rock-punk/funk-rock player. Big and punch, to the gut lines to precise and speedy punk-hard-rock, to open warm ballad playing.
 
#235
Meddle said:
I would say Fieldy is overrated given the veracity of some of his defenders on the youtubes. They will learn. I guess they are 15 year olds who slap all day long with their shiny new Ibanez set down at their knees on a really long strap.

Anyway, I see this video as proof Fieldy is a bad bassist. Is this Korn trying to do prog?

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Fieldy is using one chord shape, but his right hand technique is beyond poor. He cannot play those triplets evenly, and he is using a horrible thumb-only technique. Add to that the terrible clack (I knew he loved his action low, but that clanking is horrible) and the nasty chorus/flanger sound and I feel ill!
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It's awful only good clank I know is Steve Harris! and his clank is little but just right.
 
#236
pocketgroove said:
Overrated:
Flea
Cliff Burton
Steve Harris
Jack Bruce (but to be fair I think Clapton is overrated as a guitarist, too)
Tal Wilkenfeld-She is very good, but I just can't connect with her playing. It doesn't resonate with me.
Carol Kaye - she's without a doubt a good player, but I don't think she's as good as some people say.

Underrated:
Geezer Butler
Roger Glover
Chris Squire
John Entwistle - Now, a lot of people would argue that he is far from underrated, and at one time i would have agreed, but I think he is better than people realize in some very subtle ways.
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I honestly think he is the most innovative bassists of all time, but we all are entitled to our opinion,
 
#240
Overrated:
Les Claypool: Hard to follow a tune because his bass licks are confused and distracting.
Victor Wooten: Lots of fancy finger work amounting to drawn out solos and toothy grins.

Underrated:
John Paul Jones- Overshadowed by a guitar great.
Nick Beggs- Short-lived Kajagoogoo's funk master- try "Too shy" on for size...

My personal favorite: Geddy Lee
 

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