My Top Bassists, Pt. 2

#8
Name: Kim Deal
Associated Bands: Pixies, The Breeders

Kim Deal is one of the best “bad” bass players. To describe her style as “simplistic” would be a wild understatement. She rarely plays anything beyond a repetitive line of eighth-notes, quietly echoing the chord progression. In many ways, she’s the living embodiment of every cliché about bass players. However, that simplicity is a hidden virtue and Deal proves that, sometimes, the easiest bassline to play may be the best for the song. The bass in Pixies songs rarely grabs your attention, but it effortlessly drives the songs along and gives them their very simple, punchy feel. Played with a subtle confidence and straightforwardness, Deal’s bass suits Pixies perfectly. On top of that, Deal is one of the best bassists for fledgling bass players to listen to, since her lines are easy to copy without feeling like you’re dumbing things down to a beginner level.

Required Listening:
“Bone Machine”, “Gigantic”, “Debaser”

#7
Name: Les Pattinson
Associated Bands: Echo & The Bunnymen

I absolutely adore post-punk music, mostly because it’s one of the few genres of music that really glorifies bass playing. This is because it’s a genre dominated by thin, scratchy guitar, allowing the bass player to pick up that slack and single-handedly create the backbone of the song. One of the best to do this is Les Pattinson, original bassist for Echo & The Bunnymen. His churning, nimble bass parts provided all the stability that guitarist Will Sergeant wasn’t giving the songs. Equally capable of funky grooves and dark, atmospheric parts, his bass absolutely dominates the Bunnymen’s first five albums. Although most of his bass parts are low and meaty, he often jumps to the high part of the fretboard, adding touches of higher-pitched melody. His propulsive, riff-driven lines ensure that each song has the right feel, all while imbedding catchy little snippets of music in your mind.

Required Listening:
“Crocodiles”, “Show Of Strength”, “All My Colours”