Ad Absurdum (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ad00absurdum) wrote2012-01-27 07:11 pm
ad00absurdum) wrote2012-01-27 07:11 pm
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Seven Days with The Smiths. Day 2.
Day 2: Favourite Bass Line
Only second day and it's already time for the most difficult choice of this meme. I don't think I'm actually able to choose just one favourite bass line. Every time I listen to The Smiths, it seems like virtually every bass line is just too good to remain unmentioned. Obviously, I'll have to restrict myself to, er... four or five. Or six. Or seven.
First, Rusholme Ruffians because even though Johnny had totally ripped the melody off Presley's song - (Marie's the Name of) His Latest Flame - the bass stands out something unbelieveble. From totally flat original to a lovely bouncing line.
Next, What Difference Does It Make? where the bass is a brilliant contra to the guitar. A little bit funky, and the ending is just gorgeous (BRB, worshipping Rourkey).
This Charming Man has, in turn, such a jaunty bouncy bass line it's hard not to smile. Together with the guitar, the bass makes a the whole song a truly wonderful experience. Also, listen to how Andy's fingers walk all over that fretboard in chorus.
Then Girl Afraid with so many ghost notes it makes almost every aspiring bassist fail rather spectacularly.
In Andy's case, those ghost notes are probably a 'by-product' of him playing with a plectrum and the easiest way you can hear them is when they're absent. Listen to any cover of the song (there's even a bass cover on YouTube) and you'll see what I mean. And meanwhile, have the original:
Girl Afraid (Live at Rockpalast, 1984):
And finally, Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want where the bass line is so subtle most people don't even hear it. It's such a lovely little melody it's a shame it's so hidden.
As you can see, I listened to Hatful of Hollow while trying to decide. I really like that album because the production has pushed the drums and bass to the fore. You can really hear Mike's bass drum and how splendidly it doesn't go together with Andy's bass guitar.
Oh, all right, as a bonus track: Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others because I love this bass line to bits. Well, Johnny's guitar here is a bonny thing too, but the bass, the bass *makes 'me gusta' face*. The ghost notes at the end are so freaking awesome I have no words. Listening to Smiths' covers, I've never heard those notes played as they should be.
Only second day and it's already time for the most difficult choice of this meme. I don't think I'm actually able to choose just one favourite bass line. Every time I listen to The Smiths, it seems like virtually every bass line is just too good to remain unmentioned. Obviously, I'll have to restrict myself to, er... four or five. Or six. Or seven.
First, Rusholme Ruffians because even though Johnny had totally ripped the melody off Presley's song - (Marie's the Name of) His Latest Flame - the bass stands out something unbelieveble. From totally flat original to a lovely bouncing line.
Next, What Difference Does It Make? where the bass is a brilliant contra to the guitar. A little bit funky, and the ending is just gorgeous (BRB, worshipping Rourkey).
This Charming Man has, in turn, such a jaunty bouncy bass line it's hard not to smile. Together with the guitar, the bass makes a the whole song a truly wonderful experience. Also, listen to how Andy's fingers walk all over that fretboard in chorus.
Then Girl Afraid with so many ghost notes it makes almost every aspiring bassist fail rather spectacularly.
In Andy's case, those ghost notes are probably a 'by-product' of him playing with a plectrum and the easiest way you can hear them is when they're absent. Listen to any cover of the song (there's even a bass cover on YouTube) and you'll see what I mean. And meanwhile, have the original:
And finally, Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want where the bass line is so subtle most people don't even hear it. It's such a lovely little melody it's a shame it's so hidden.
As you can see, I listened to Hatful of Hollow while trying to decide. I really like that album because the production has pushed the drums and bass to the fore. You can really hear Mike's bass drum and how splendidly it doesn't go together with Andy's bass guitar.
Oh, all right, as a bonus track: Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others because I love this bass line to bits. Well, Johnny's guitar here is a bonny thing too, but the bass, the bass *makes 'me gusta' face*. The ghost notes at the end are so freaking awesome I have no words. Listening to Smiths' covers, I've never heard those notes played as they should be.