Bruce Thomas

Bruce Thomas, late of Elvis Costello's band, The Attractions, is one of my all-time favorite players. His work on the albums This Year's Model, Armed Forces, and Get Happy!!, in particular, is just spectacular. Drop the needle anywhere -- Bruce is doing something that will blow your mind. Frankly, I'd be hard-pressed to name a stronger band than The Attractions during their late-70s/early-80s peak. Just listen to Elvis' Attractions-free debut record, My Aim Is True, to hear how essential Steve, Bruce and Pete were to his sound.

There's nothing particularly flashy on this song, it's just one of my favorites -- I particularly love his playing in the bridge:

Accidents Will Happen

My old band did a cover version of this one -- what a great part!:

Lip Service

Mike Rutherford

Mike Rutherford of Genesis (and -- Shhhh! Not so loud! -- Mike + The Mechanics) doesn't get nearly the recognition he deserves for his brilliant bass playing. One of these tracks is from the Gabriel-era and one from the Collins-era, and both feature bass parts which ROCK:

Watcher of the Skies

No Reply At All

Horace Panter

Horace Panter, bassist for The Specials. I could not possibly love the bass playing on this song more than I do -- maximum awesomeness achieved:

Too Much Too Young

Graham Maby

Joe Jackson Band bassist Graham Maby's incredible chops reached out and grabbed me when Look Sharp! was released back in 1979. His playing is as much the focal point of the songs as Joe's piano. Something about his style and tone on this song reminds me of John Entwistle's solo on "My Generation".

I had the great good fortune to see Graham perform live with They Might Be Giants a decade or so ago -- man, can that guy play.

Baby Stick Around

John Munson

"Who?" I hear you asking. John Munson, late of Semisonic and Trip Shakespeare, is a fantastic player in the McCartney mold. His playing is always melodic and inventive, treating the bass as a lead instrument without overpowering the song. Here's a favorite of mine, from the first Semisonic e.p., Pleasure:

Sculpture Garden

Colin Moulding

OK, this next series of posts will feature my all-time favorite bass players. I think these guys (and a few ladies) have certain similarities, but each has his/her own recognizable style. Today's star is XTC's Colin Moulding, one of the most endlessly inventive and melodic players ever. These songs are a few of my favorites, but you really can't go wrong with any Moulding track.

Earn Enough For Us

Love On A Farmboy's Wages

The Mayor Of Simpleton

Lee Sklar

Here's the song that made me decide to create this series of posts. I hadn't heard this song in years -- back when I was in high school, my bass teacher gave me an assignment to learn the bass part to James Taylor's song, "Your Smiling Face" (bass by Lee Sklar). To this day, I believe there's no better way to truly appreciate a player's originality and musicianship than to transcribe and learn their part. Sklar played on so many sessions over the past four decades, it would be impossible to overstate his influence. His part simply makes this song for me - whenever I play it, I have to hit repeat.

Your Smiling Face

The First in a Series

That's right, I'm planning to post more than twice this year! This will be the first in a series of posts devoted to some of my favorite bass parts. Today's entry features two very different songs: Matthew Sweet's "Divine Intervention" from his 1991 album, Girlfriend, (bass by Sweet himself) and Traffic's "Freedom Rider" from the 1970 album, John Barleycorn Must Die, (bass by Steve Winwood). In both examples, the bass part is melodic and complicated without being unnecessarily busy. Enjoy -- I'll be back next week.

Divine Intervention
Freedom Rider

Also-Rans and Honorable Mentions

2007 was a great year for music, and my Best albums of 2007 post barely scratches the surface of what was new and notable during the year. Accordingly, here are 20 more songs that stood out for me -- yes, some of these tracks were available as imports (or even domestically) in 2006, but I'm not of a mind to quibble over release dates.

All I can say about the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest is that Sweden was ROBBED -- The Ark clearly had the best song in the competition, and performed it flawlessly on the night. It will be interesting to see whether the voting rules are changed in the coming years, as the overwhelming success enjoyed by certain, frankly, uninspiring Eastern European performers was nothing short of scandalous! -- The Worrying Kind

I don't find Art Brut's latest record to be as compelling as Bang Bang Rock & Roll, but it has its moments: Direct Hit

Bloc Party: Hunting for Witches
Burial: Archangel
Caribou: Melody Day
Datarock: Computer Camp Love
Deerhoof: The Perfect Me

Another favorite from the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest was this outrageously camp number from Switzerland's DJ Bobo: Vampires are Alive

Fujiya & Miyagi: Collarbone
The Go! Team: Doing It Right
Hot Chip: The Warning

I love the fact that Laura Veirs kept this song in a key which extends just slightly below her vocal range -- makes me think of Liz Phair (the out-of-her-range thing, that is, not the song): Cast a Hook in Me

I have adored Les Savy Fav for years -- and am delighted that they released a new record this year. I especially enjoy the legend on their website: "Les Savy Fav: Missing out on cashing in for over a decade": What Would Wolves Do

Mew: Apocalypso
Midlake: In This Camp
Pelle Carlberg: Pamplona

Like the Pipettes? You'll like Shitt Hottt: Tony Danza Dancetravaganza

Tokyo Police Club: Cheer It On
The Voyces: You're In Charge Of Driving The Narcotics Trolley, And You're Doing An Excellent Job

The Young Knives are an absolutely fantastic band -- and their bass player's name is "The House of Lords." I truly cannot recommend their (2006) album Voices of Animals and Men too highly: Here Comes The Rumour Mill

OK -- one more:

Erlend Oye can do no wrong in my book. His latest project is The Whitest Boy Alive: Golden Cage

Best albums of 2007

Sure, I like the Radiohead record and the LCD Soundsystem record as much as the next guy, but I've lost count of the number of year-end best-of lists which boast the 1-2 punch of In Rainbows and Sound of Silver. Enough already!

Here's a song from each of the 10 albums to which I found myself returning again and again during 2007:

Mer du Japon - Air - Pocket Symphony

Fucking Boyfriend - The Bird and The Bee - The Bird and The Bee

Fancy Footwork - Chromeo - Fancy Footwork

Sit Tight - Field Music - Tones of Town

Golden Skans - Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

Latchmere - The Maccabees - Colour It In

All the Things that Go to Make Heaven and Earth - The New Pornographers - Challengers

She's a Rejector - Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

Don't You Evah - Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

See You at the Lights - 1990s - Cookies

Please consider doing one or more of these fine, hardworking artists a favor: if you like the song, click on the album link and buy the record!