Why the dislike for Jeff Ament?

[RickyWoo]

FWIW, this thread is the first time I think I've ever heard anything about it. LOL

 

[RickyWoo]

Never heard of him, never heard of the hate. You sure it was here?

Bassist for Pearl Jam.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

No hate here. Pearl Jam has always been a band I've admired since day one. His choice of outfits in the early years kind of screamed delta bravo, but his playing is great.

@organworthyplayer337 could you elaborate on your comment about him playing guitar. It doesn't quite make sense to me.

Some people here hate guitar players with a burning passion. They even have a derogatory name for that the mods have since banned.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

If there's one thing I've learned from TB, it's that bassists hate it when other bassists wear hats.

 

[PillO]

I thought hats were OK, but shorts, especially camo or cargo shorts were the problem.

If there's one thing I've learned from TB, it's that bassists hate it when other bassists wear hats.

 

[SteveHeissner]

Although I had heard Pearl Jam songs for years, I didn't know who Jeff was until I noticed his Mike Lull signature bass. Nothing to hate about that.

 

[Ulf Buck]

I Like the player the band doesn't hold up over time.

That singer's mopey smugness is very unappealing.

 

[PillO]

Like the player the band doesn't hold up over time.

That singer's mopey smugness is very unappealing.

I was thinking that perhaps I needed to go back and rediscover PearlJam. You have reminded why they eventually fell off my radar. Thanks for saving me a couple of hours.

 

[DrayMiles]

I've been a member of TB for around a decade, and I've never seen anything negative about Ament. Are you talking about negative commentary from elsewhere or are you pulling our collective G strings?

 

[RichardW]

People don't like bass players who wear hats? Uh oh.

Jeff Ament plays in a world famous band that has sold millions of albums and has toured globally for 20+ years. I wonder how many of the "haters" have the same credentials...

 

[Jamvan]

I've never noticed any hate for him personally but I am now listening to Ten for the first time in a long while. Great album!

 

[Panther]

Just another slow topic day, gota make something up...

 

[Ric5]

Up until recently (I think they've been deleted for some reason) there were lots of 'worst bassists' lists on the internet and Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament appeared on many of them. After listening to PJ's album Ten I am in disbelief of this.
First of all, on most of the songs he plays a fretless bass (that had no lines on the neck) very well, incorporating some nice little touches like harmonic slides on Even Flow and that upright-like riff at the start of Black. There are no audible mis-fretted notes and he played it all with his fingers.
Second, he plays a 12-string bass on the rest of the songs. Now THAT takes skill (and a strong left hand.) It's also very innovative. The sound he gets out of it is incredible in my opinion.
Thirdly, Jeff is very entertaining and active onstage, leaping around and headbanging wildly. He does all of this whilst playing his parts accurately and well. As a bassist who jumps around a lot myself, I can tell you that this is very difficult.
And finally, his basslines are really quite good and tasteful. Just take a listen to Alive, Why Go, Jeremy, Garden and Release. Plus, we can't forget that tribal-like intro at the start of Once. He doesn't just double what the guitars do, like many bassists, and has a very individual tone. Because of this, I think that Jeff Ament is a truly great bass player who deserves more recognition.

I don't hate him ...

 

[Spirit of Ox]

I dont' like Pearl Jam but I think Jeff and the rest of the band are talented.
In an interview with Geddy Lee several years ago, Geddy was asked what bassists he liked, and he mentioned Jeff Ament. If Geddy Lee praises you than it doesn't matter who likes or doesn't like you. It's like being graced by a God!

 

[two fingers]

Like the player the band doesn't hold up over time.

That singer's mopey smugness is very unappealing.

This. Exactly this. The bass work was the only redeeming quality of that band to me.

 

[Londo Molari]

Perhaps he should fire the drummer.

 

[Nev375]

Up until recently (I think they've been deleted for some reason) there were lots of 'worst bassists' lists on the internet and Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament appeared on many of them. After listening to PJ's album Ten I am in disbelief of this.

I am in disbelief too. As in I don't believe he was ever on such a list.

And even if he was... It's the internet. (99% unfiltered human stupidity and cats.)

 

[brendanbassix]

Best Alternative Band EVER!!!! Jeff is a great player even his bass lines on lightning bolt are fantastic.

Like the player the band doesn't hold up over time.

That singer's mopey smugness is very unappealing.

SHUT UP!!

 

[40Hz]

People don't like bass players who wear hats? Uh oh.

Jeff Ament plays in a world famous band that has sold millions of albums and has toured globally for 20+ years. I wonder how many of the "haters" have the same credentials...

Commercial success is no indication of the quality of what you produce. All it establishes is that that whatever you're producing (whether good, bad, or indifferent) appeals to the masses. And that usually means the lowest common denominator. Barry Manilow sold over 80 million records, had five singles on the best seller charts simultaneously (which puts him in a tiny elite category that includes the Beatles and Frank Sinatra) and continues to be selling strong after 50 years. Does that make him "better" than PJ?

That said, I don't have problem with Pearl Jam, even if I'm not particularly enamoured of them. And I can't say I've seen any "hate" directed their way. But people tend to toss the word 'hate' around pretty loosely these days. So maybe that's just me - and the dictionary definition of the word - that's missing something.

 

[Duder]

Great, now I'm jonesing for some old school Pearl Jam. Guess I'll be adding more songs to my phone.